The mayor of a small town in Texas watched his husband get arrested for an immigration violation after tipsters reportedly complained to the local sheriff’s office.
The Zavala County Sheriff’s Office arrested Armando Garza Lira on Wednesday for allegedly overstaying his visa.
The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post the department received complaints that Lira was unlawfully in the United States.
NewsNation and other sources confirmed Lira is the husband of Jose Angel Cerda, the mayor of Crystal City, Texas, and the two were together when he was detained.
Deputies spoke with two people in a vehicle around 7:46 p.m. and determined that one of the men was Lira.
“ICE subsequently advised that Mr. Lira was unlawfully present in the United States in violation of state and federal law,” the sheriff’s office said.
Lira was transported to the Zavala County Jail, where he was transferred to jail personnel pending further immigration enforcement action by federal authorities.
The sheriff’s office said Cerda was released without further incident. Photos on social media show the two men together. The city’s website lists Cerda as the mayor.
Crystal City is 115 miles southwest of San Antonio and had a population of 5,871 as July 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.
The Zavala County Sheriff’s Office participates in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) program through the Jail Enforcement Model.
The sheriff’s office routinely processes individuals and logs federal ICE detainers through the program following local traffic stops and arrests.
“The Zavala County Sheriff’s Office will continue working with federal immigration authorities to fulfill its responsibilities under applicable state and federal law while promoting public safety throughout Zavala County,” the sheriff’s office said.
