High school theater manager to bond out of Tacoma immigrant lockup

A theater manager at Juanita High School in Kirkland is set to be released on bond from the Northwest ICE Processing Center after nearly two weeks.

During a hearing Tuesday, Tacoma Immigration Court Judge Tammy Fitting granted Fernando Alves Rocha a $10,000 bond.

Immigration officials arrested Rocha in the driveway of his home on July 18. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rocha had overstayed a tourist visa.

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His attorney, Adolfo Ojeda-Casimiro, said Rocha entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2018, then filed an asylum application a day before his visa expired. He said Rocha has had a valid work permit since his asylum application has been pending.

Now that Rocha is in deportation proceedings, Ojeda-Casimiro said that will speed up Rocha’s asylum case. It’ll also be tougher for Rocha to fight to stay in the U.S. compared to a regular asylum case, Ojeda-Casimiro added.

“Up to last year, somebody in his situation would not have been arrested,” Ojeda-Casamiro said. “I think the government, specifically Trump and [White House Deputy Chief of Staff] Stephen Miller, are just trying to put as much pressure as they can on any and all immigrants.”

He added ICE will still try to deport Rocha because his tourist visa lapsed after he first entered the country.

“At this point, it seems like they're finding reasons to apply laws they never applied before,” Ojeda-Casamiro said.

He’s warning other clients that this could also happen to them.

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In announcing Rocha’s arrest, Seattle ICE officials also alleged Rocha is wanted by law enforcement in Brazil for theft. Ojeda-Casamiro submitted background reports to the court to disprove that.

A spokesperson for the Lake Washington School District told KUOW officials were aware one of their employees had been detained by ICE.

“We have been in contact with the employee to provide appropriate employment documentation,” they said in a statement. “Due to privacy considerations, we are limited in what we can share, but we are monitoring the situation closely. Like all U.S. employers, LWSD completes Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for all new hires – citizens and noncitizens alike.”

Rocha has spent several years working different jobs at theatres in the Seattle area. That's how he crossed paths with longtime actor and Seattle-area director Rose Cano back in 2022, when Rocha worked as a lighting operator for one of Cano's plays.

“He does everything from being a teacher to a director to an author to performer, but he told me his first love is performing," Cano said. "He wanted to get back on stage.”

She said he was well loved at Juanita High School and a good mentor to students.

After his arrest, the theater workers union International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 15, started raising funds to help with the legal fight.

They were able to raise $36,405 in funding, using a part of that to pay Rocha's $10,000 bond.

Union organizers said the rest of the money will go toward Rocha’s asylum case.

Rocha had a role in an upcoming play directed by Cano.

She’s not sure he’s going to come back, but she says the door is still open.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was amended at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, to add additional reporting about Rocha's work in the Seattle theater community and his support from a director and from the union representing theater workers.