Longtime taco truck owner detained by ICE

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A longtime taco truck owner in South Houston has been detained by ICE agents, awaiting deportation to Guatemala.

Agapito Tax, also known as "Piro", owns Taqueria Gomez. ICE agents arrested him at his home a few weeks ago.

His daughter Jessica Guerrero, 22, is now helping her sister and mother keep the taco business afloat, taking time away from her college studies.

"Him not being able to see me graduate from college is going to be tough for me," Guerrero said.

Tax came to the United States in the '90s. His attorney, Raed Gonzalez, said Tax was being forced to join the military in Guatemala against his wishes.

"He was opposing it, and it was a forced recruitment so he decided not to," Gonzalez said.

He was sent back to Guatemala in 1994 and then made it back to Houston without going through immigration. Gonzalez admits his client had trouble with the law initially.

According to court records, Tax was convicted of a DWI in 2001, among other misdemeanor charges. His record has been clean for 14 years.

"It's really shocking for us, to everybody, especially to his friends," Guerrero said.