ICE Holds Twin Soccer Players After Alabama Traffic Stop
Immigration custody has been ordered for two 19-year-old brothers who play for Wallace State Community College, pending a transfer to Louisiana.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Immigration
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is holding twin brothers Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro after a traffic stop in Talladega County, Alabama. ICE says their temporary permission to be in the country, granted in 2022, has expired, while their parents say the brothers have pending asylum applications and U.S. work permits valid through 2030.
Why it matters
The case shows how an expired temporary entry permission can lead to detention even when family members say pending asylum applications and work permits are in place. For Alabama residents, it highlights how routine traffic stops can result in immigration custody.
The brothers entered the U.S. in 2022 with temporary permission that ICE says has expired, while their parents report pending asylum applications and work permits valid through 2030. An immigration attorney said the twins could potentially qualify for bond, though no bond decision has been reported.
The players
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for immigration enforcement and detention in the United States.
Wallace State Community College
A public two-year college in Hanceville, Alabama, whose soccer team the brothers play for.
The details
The brothers were returning to school after visiting family in Georgia when the Talladega County traffic stop occurred. They were held at the Pickens County jail before being slated for transfer on Tuesday to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. Wallace State Community College issued a statement expressing concern for the students.
Timeline
2022: Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro enter the United States with temporary permission.
Tuesday: Expected transfer from Pickens County jail to a Louisiana ICE detention facility.
Legal Context
Cases like this turn on how expired temporary entry permissions interact with pending asylum applications, a question that has repeatedly arisen in federal immigration enforcement. The brothers' situation shows that a pending claim does not by itself prevent detention when the underlying permission has lapsed.
Alabama residents who hold temporary permits or have pending immigration applications should keep copies of those documents on hand during travel, since a traffic stop can lead to immigration custody. Families in similar situations may want to consult an immigration attorney early about bond eligibility.
The takeaway
Temporary permission and pending asylum applications are separate matters, and the expiration of one can trigger custody even when the other is pending. Anyone in a similar position should seek legal advice promptly.
What happens next
The brothers are expected to be transferred Tuesday to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana, where a bond determination could be sought.
Further reading
For more on related enforcement developments, see Immigration coverage across Alabama.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Waff.
