ICE Detains Elderly Man Who Arrived in the Country More Than 70 Years Ago
Posted on 11/18/25 at 12:52
- Elderly man arrested by ICE
- Health of detainee worsens
- Family demands his release
According to EFE, a 79-year-old man—born in a refugee camp in Germany and a U.S. resident for more than seven decades—is now facing deportation proceedings after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida.
The case involves Paul John Bojerski, who arrived legally in the country in 1952 when he was just five years old, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
His family says the elderly man’s health has deteriorated drastically since he was transferred to detention centers.
Bojerski is scheduled to appear this Tuesday before an immigration judge to determine whether he may obtain release on bond as part of the ICE elderly detainee case.
Paul John Bojerski’s Immigration History and Ignored Deportation Order
Paul Bojerski never gained official residency, but he checked in regularly with ICE for years. Then in July, at age 79, he was detained and sent to Alligator Alcatraz. https://t.co/86R34AJGJV
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) November 16, 2025
The arrest occurred in late October during a mandatory ICE appointment in Orlando.
Bojerski, of Polish origin and a resident of Sanford, had been attending these appointments for years as part of his immigration process.
Despite having lived nearly his entire life in the United States, he never obtained U.S. citizenship.
His file includes convictions from the 1960s and 1970s, which resulted in a deportation order that had not previously been executed.
Elderly Man Arrested by ICE and Transferred to “Alligator Alcatraz”
In July, Bojerski once again went to an ICE office in Florida as he regularly did.
There, he was told that he needed to leave the country voluntarily or he would be deported.
He was instructed to return on October 30 with travel plans prepared for his departure.
However, his family explained that he was unable to comply with this requirement because he does not have a passport or a country to return to.
Reported Conditions at the Detention Center
On October 30, after failing to provide the required documents, ICE proceeded to arrest him.
The elderly man was transported on an eight-hour trip to a detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
That facility, located west of Miami within the Everglades, has faced criticism from immigration activists.
Since its opening in July, organizations have denounced the center’s conditions as “inhumane.”
Family Reports Severe Health Decline
Bojerski’s family says his health has worsened severely since his detention.
They claim that he was previously able to walk unassisted, but now he relies on a wheelchair.
They also report that he has lost access to essential treatments related to back surgeries.
They further allege he fell from his wheelchair and remained on the floor for hours without receiving help.
The ICE elderly detainee case continues to generate significant concern among advocates and relatives.
