Grassley, Ernst, and Hinson mislead Iowans

As Pascual Pedro’s parish priest and godfather, I am deeply troubled by the recent statements of Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and Rep. Ashley Hinson regarding his unjust deportation to Guatemala. Each elected official has publicly commented, yet none have truly grappled with the injustice at the heart of Pascual’s deportation.

Pascual came to Iowa from Guatemala at age 13. He grew up in our community, attended West Liberty High School, and was confirmed into our Catholic faith at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where I proudly serve as pastor. He played soccer, graduated, and contributed as a construction worker. Pascual was dutifully attending annual ICE check-ins and living responsibly, complying fully with every requirement.

Yet, without warning, ICE arrested Pascual at his routine check-in on July 1, revoked his supervised release, and swiftly deported him under an "expedited removal" process. This practice sidesteps immigration judges and enables ICE officers — without judicial oversight — to issue deportation orders. It is a fundamentally unconstitutional procedure, undermining core American principles of due process and fairness.

Grassley told Radio Iowa on July 10 his hands are tied, claiming “I make law. I don’t enforce law." Yet Grassley — the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee — knows full well that senators have oversight powers and influence — he could directly pressure the administration to restore justice.

On July 9, Ernst issued a deeply misleading and generic statement that shamefully equated Pascual — a young man with no criminal record — with fentanyl dealers, falsely claiming he entered the U.S. under President Biden. In fact, Pascual entered the country during the first Trump administration and has no criminal record, not even a speeding ticket. Such careless rhetoric is both irresponsible and damaging.

Rep. Ashley Hinson asserted that Pascual " had due process," according to her statement on July 10. Due process should involve notice, a hearing before a judge, legal representation and a right to appeal. Because he had been targeted for expedited removal, Pascual did not receive these basic legal protections. Expedited removal inherently strips due process of all substance and meaning.

Their claims of powerlessness ring hollow: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise recently intervened directly to secure the release of an immigrant from detention, proving members of Congress can — and do — have the influence to correct injustices.

Iowa’s elected officials must stop hiding behind hollow rhetoric. In the last two weeks, over 3,000 everyday Iowans have joined our call to "Bring Pascual Back Now."

Sen. Grassley, Sen. Ernst, and Rep. Hinson: You have a moral and constitutional responsibility to right this wrong. I call on you to meet directly with Pascual’s family and with me, either here in Iowa or in Washington, DC, and commit to decisive action.

We demand leadership. We demand justice. We demand you bring Pascual home now.

Rev. Guillermo Treviño, Jr. is the pastor of St Joseph Catholic Churches in West Liberty and Columbus Junction, and the board president of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa.