Costa Rican content creator Julián Valverde, known online as Julián Valjota, is in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a source close to the case.
The 26-year-old, whose full name is José Julián Valverde Meneses, is being processed by US immigration authorities. Costa Rican journalist Elías Alvarado confirmed Thursday night that Valverde was detained Wednesday in Orlando. The reasons have not been made public. Alvarado said people close to Valverde told him that Orlando police stopped the creator while he was driving.
Alvarado also said no official information yet establishes the circumstances of the detention, Valverde’s current immigration status, or whether he faces a final order of removal from the United States.
The Detention
The detention became public through fellow content creator Christopher Araya, known as Araya Vlogs. In a video, Araya said Valverde had been held for nearly 24 hours and had not yet appeared before a judge. He added that the group was in contact with Valverde’s attorney and with lawyers who specialize in immigration
Araya said Valverde had asked him to share the news to head off rumors. Valverde’s last social media post, published Wednesday night, was a video recorded inside his car with a patrol vehicle visible behind him
Costa Rica Responds
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is following the case. The ministry’s Consular Department and the Consulate General in Miami said they are aware of the situation and are making inquiries with US immigration authorities to learn more about the citizen’s circumstances.
The case also reached the Legislative Assembly. Frente Amplio lawmaker Joselyn Sáenz called on the Foreign Ministry to act to protect Valverde and all Costa Ricans held by ICE in the United States. She also criticized ICE over what she described as alleged inhumane, degrading, and discriminatory treatment.
Costa Rica is among the countries whose citizens are subject to mandatory consular notification when arrested or detained in the United States. US authorities must notify the relevant Costa Rican consulate without delay.
Who Is Valverde?
Valverde has lived in the United States for more than five years and left Costa Rica in search of work opportunities. He has frequently joked in his content about a possible deportation, though those remarks do not establish his current immigration status or explain this week’s detention.
What’s Next?
The next steps depend on facts not yet made public. If a final removal order exists, ICE could move ahead with his departure, including arranging travel documents. If he has an open immigration case, a pending protection claim, or another legal avenue to challenge removal, his attorneys could pursue those remedies.
The Bottom Line
Costa Rican TikTok star Julián Valverde is in ICE custody after being detained in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday. The reasons for his detention have not been made public. Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry is making inquiries with US authorities. A Costa Rican lawmaker has called for the government to protect Valverde and other Costa Ricans held by ICE. The next steps depend on his immigration status, which remains unclear.
My opinion
Julián Valverde built a following by making people laugh. He joked about deportation. He filmed himself in his car. He lived in the United States for more than five years. Now he is in ICE custody, and no one will say why.
That is the problem. Not the detention itself but the silence around it. Costa Rica has a right to consular notification. Valverde has a right to appear before a judge. His family has a right to know what he is being held for but none of that has happened yet.
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a public spectacle. But enforcement without transparency is intimidation. If Valverde has a final removal order, say so. If he has an open case, say so. If he is being held for no clear reason, say that too.
