A northwest Georgia community is rallying around a Trion High School senior who remains in federal immigration custody just days before graduation after being arrested earlier this month following a traffic crash in Walker County.
According to authorities, 19-year-old Elder Macario was arrested after deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash on Halls Valley Road in Walker County. Investigators say Macario was charged with driving without a valid license, improper lane change, and failure to maintain lane.
The Georgia State Patrol arrested Macario and transported him to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office for booking.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson told WRCB-TV in Chattanooga that Macario later posted bond on the local traffic charges, which totaled approximately $400. Macario was not released after posting bond because Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on him through the county’s participation in the federal 287(g) program.
Wilson said the program allows local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities when individuals booked into the jail are identified as being in the country illegally.
Two days after his arrest, Macario was transferred to the Floyd County Jail before later being moved to the Irwin County Detention Center, an ICE detention facility in south Georgia.
Before his arrest, Macario had been preparing to graduate from Trion High School. Family members say he has lived in Trion since he was a child after coming to the United States from Guatemala.
A GoFundMe organized by family members states that Macario played on the school’s soccer team and was studying welding at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
The case has sparked strong reactions throughout the community, with supporters calling for his release and collecting letters on his behalf for his attorney.
State Rep. Kasey Carpenter described the situation as heartbreaking and questioned whether immigration enforcement efforts should focus on students accused of minor traffic violations. Carpenter said immigration enforcement should prioritize individuals accused of violent or more serious crimes rather than traffic offenses.
With graduation approaching, supporters continue advocating for Macario while awaiting answers about his immigration case and possible legal options moving forward.