Staunton restaurant owner headed for deportation
[December 30, 2025]
By Beth Hundsdorfer
Business owner and father Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval is preparing for his
deportation to Mexico — a country he left decades ago and where his
attorney said he is afraid to return because of cartel violence, citing,
in part, his cousin’s murder at the hands of drug traffickers.
Ayuzo, 41, was moved to Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri,
last week after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer
rejected Ayuzo’s claim of reasonable fear and an immigration judge
concurred, according to Marleen Suarez, Ayuzo’s attorney.
A Capitol News Illinois request to ICE for Ayuzo’s status was not
immediately returned.
Suarez argued that Ayuzo would face physical harm by drug traffickers,
known as “Narcos” or “The Cartel,” if he returned to Mexico.
“Ayuzo stated that Narcos would target him because he has been in the
United States and was recently deported to Mexico. They would assume he
has money or access to money in the U.S. and would extort payment from
under the threat of harm, death or being ‘disappeared,’” she stated in
her memorandum in support of a finding of reasonable fear.
His return may also put his two daughters, who are minors and U.S.
citizens, at risk if they choose to join him in his hometown of Santa
Ana near the Mexican border. He further stated in the document that his
female cousin was “grabbed” by drug traffickers.
“She did not have what they wanted (probably money), and they cut her
leg and killed her,” according to Suarez’s memorandum.
No further details were provided in the filing.
The hearing officer rejected those claims. That ruling was upheld by an
immigration judge last week. With the rejection of his claims of
reasonable fear, Suarez said it is likely that after six weeks of
detention, Ayuzo’s deportation is imminent.
On Monday afternoon, Ayuzo was not listed on ICE’s locator website.
Ayuzo’s deportation
The morning of Oct. 29 was a typical morning by a relative’s account,
with Ayuzo making a trip to the gym, then an errand for his wife to
transport a forgotten power cord to his daughter’s school. ICE agents
picked up Ayuzo blocks away from Staunton’s elementary school.
Ayuzo’s detention sparked outrage within the Macoupin County town of
about 5,000 people where Ayuzo operated Caldera Bar and Grill on Main
Street. His neighbors claimed he worked hard, supported community causes
and was active in his daughters’ school.
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Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval is pictured in an Immigration and Customs
Enforcement booking photo.
“It has been an honor representing Mr. Ayuzo Sandoval through this
process. He is a successful businessman, devoted father and valued
community member. He has been trying to navigate the complex immigration
system in the U.S. to obtain a visa and remain here with his family,”
Suarez said.
The weekend after his arrest, hundreds of protestors turned out at a
park on Staunton’s Main Street to oppose ICE’s actions.
Ayuzo’s detention also sparked an inquiry into a staffer for Sen. Tammy
Duckworth. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons sent a letter to Duckworth’s
office, claiming one of her staff members misrepresented himself as an
attorney to get access to Ayuzo and falsified a federal document.
Duckworth denied any knowledge of her staffer’s actions, then terminated
his employment.
Lyons’ letter stated Ayuzo is a “40-year-old criminal illegal alien from
Mexico” who has been removed from the country four times and has been
convicted of driving under the influence.
“He was issued a final order of removal more than 20 years ago, in
2003,” the letter stated.
Ayuzo was charged with driving under the influence in St. Clair County
in 2008. In exchange for pleading guilty, paying a fine, completing
classes and community service, the conviction was not entered on his
record.
“While his visa application was pending, he was torn away from his
family community and business. It is hard to understand how his
deportation benefits the U.S,” Suarez said. “This is the type of
immigrant that we should be welcoming with open arms.”
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government
coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily
by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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