GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� The University of Florida international student arrested near campus and sent to an immigration detention center has returned to Colombia, according to a new statement from his mother there.
Felipe Zapata Vel谩squez, 27, was arrested March 28 for driving with a U.S. driver鈥檚 license that had been suspended since January 2024 with an outdated vehicle registration. He was taken to Jacksonville by federal immigration agents after his arrest and told he could await his case鈥檚 resolution in jail in the United States or sign his self-deportation and return to Colombia, according to an interview on April 2 with his mother, Claudia Vel谩squez, by NTN24.
Zapata Vel谩squez chose to remain in the U.S. and was sent to Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami within days of his arrest, his mother said. Now he is back in Colombia, according to a new statement from her.
鈥淚 am pleased to inform that my son has returned to the country (Colombia) 鈥� from Miami. However, his immigration and academic situation with the University of Florida has not yet been resolved,鈥� said her statement in Spanish. 鈥淲e are confident that he will be able to count on the necessary support to complete his professional training.鈥�
Zapata Vel谩squez, a junior studying food and resource economics, told officers during his traffic stop that he was an international student in the process of renewing his F-1 visa after transferring from Santa Fe College to UF. Zapata Vel谩squez had lived in Florida for four years, according to court documents.
He was previously ticketed in December 2023 for an expired registration and driving without a valid license, and never paid the traffic fines, court records showed. That resulted in authorities in Florida suspending his U.S. driver鈥檚 license.
Separately, an Alachua County sheriff鈥檚 deputy also had ticketed Zapata Vel谩squez in August 2021 for driving 75 mph in a 45 mph zone. He pleaded no contest in court and was charged $349 but never paid the fine 鈥� resulting in court officials suspending the Colombian driver鈥檚 license he had been using, according to court records.
University spokeswoman Cynthia Rold谩n said federal student privacy laws prevented her from discussing details about Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 case.
The mother鈥檚 statement said Zapata Vel谩squez had returned to Colombia but did not specify whether he had signed his self-deportation paperwork. The Colombia consulate鈥檚 office in Orlando did not return phone messages Tuesday or Wednesday.
鈥淎t this moment, Felipe is in a process of physical and emotional recovery, and we are prioritizing his well-being and overall health,鈥� his mother said. 鈥淚 sincerely appreciate the interest, solidarity and support that many have expressed regarding my son鈥檚 situation.鈥�
Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 mother also did not specify when exactly he had returned to Colombia. She told NTN24 that he was in custody in Miami on April 2, and he did not appear in the government鈥檚 database of immigrants in ICE鈥檚 custody as recently as Monday. Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 family did not immediately return phone messages or texts on Tuesday.
Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 arrest and detention garnered attention throughout the state. Several lawmakers, including Florida Rep. Yvonne Hinson, D-Gainesville, and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, whose district is in central Florida, condemned Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 detention by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 mother said it is unclear whether her son will be allowed to return to the U.S. after his arrest.
鈥淲e are awaiting answers from the competent authorities, through the lawyer representing him, who has recommended not to make any public statements for the time being,鈥� her statement read.
The Gainesville police officers who ticketed and arrested Zapata Vel谩squez discussed whether the case would prevent Zapata Vel谩squez from lawfully remaining in the United States, according to video from their police body cameras.
鈥淭here goes his ability to get another visa, though,鈥� officer Tyler Allen told his colleague during the traffic stop.
Zapata Vel谩squez鈥檚 traffic case is still open in Alachua County. He was initially stopped because his registration expired in July 2024, and officers discovered he had been knowingly driving with a suspended license since early 2024.
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This story was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The reporter can be reached at blunardini@ufl.edu. You can donate to support our students .
