Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga, businessman and husband of host Inés Gómez Mont, is being held in an immigration center in Miami, Florida, for alleged irregularities in his legal status in the United States (US), and not for the money laundering and organized crime charges he faces in Mexico.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records, Álvarez Puga is in administrative custody at the Krome North Processing Center, a facility for individuals with irregularities in their immigration status.
According to official sources, Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga’s arrest was for immigration reasons, meaning he was not apprehended pursuant to an extradition order.
Although his arrest is not related to the crimes he is accused of in Mexico, US authorities could deport him if they confirm his illegal presence in the country or if an Interpol red notice is issued.
The fact that he is in immigration custody suggests that he does not have a work visa, a tourist visa, or any other document proving his legal presence in the United States.
If the US government determines his deportation, Mexico could request his immediate surrender, given that Álvarez Puga has an outstanding arrest warrant for embezzlement, operations with illicit proceeds, and organized crime.
The businessman and his wife left Mexico in 2019 and moved to Florida after criminal proceedings against them for alleged illicit operations and corruption during the administration of former President Enrique Peña Nieto (EPN) were uncovered. Since then, both have remained fugitives.
According to the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), Álvarez Puga is identified as the head of a network of shell companies that allegedly served to triangulate more than 2.95 billion pesos from two contracts.
