A predominantly Republican town in Illinois has come under fire on Reddit after some residents began questioning Trump’s immigration crackdown following the ICE arrest of a beloved local business owner. The man, identified as Jose Fiscal Belli, was detained in July and now faces deportation. His arrest has prompted an outpouring of support from residents of Paris, including some who voted for Trump.
However, several Redditors on r/illinois criticized the residents, accusing them of only changing their tune now that someone they knew had been affected.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Jose, 32, is a Mexican immigrant who has lived in the United States since he was a teenager. He runs a family-owned restaurant with his wife, Courtney, and the couple are raising four children together.
In his community, Jose has built a reputation for helping others. He volunteers as a Little League coach, supports local charitable initiatives, and has provided meals for children from low-income families.
The Tribune reported that on July 21, Jose was stopped by officers from the Indiana State Police for a parking violation. The encounter ended with Jose being handed over to federal immigration authorities.
The outlet reported that Jose had an outstanding deportation order dating back to 2011. His family maintained that he had been unaware of the order and had already been working toward obtaining legal status through his marriage to Courtney.
Despite having no criminal record, Jose was denied bond and remained in immigration detention as his family fought to prevent his deportation.
Illinois Residents Rally Behind Detained Business Owner
Jose’s arrest has been particularly upsetting for residents of Paris, a small town where Trump received overwhelming support in the presidential election.
Several community members have rallied behind Jose, raising money for his legal expenses and writing letters in support of his release. Even some local Republican officials have questioned why a man with a family, a business, and longstanding community ties should be facing deportation.
Paris Mayor Craig Smith, a Democrat, told the Tribune that Jose’s detention had deeply affected the community. He said many residents, including those who supported stricter immigration enforcement, were unhappy with how ICE was operating.
Perhaps some of the most revealing reactions came from Jose’s in-laws, Chris and Crystal White, who have been lifelong Republicans. Crystal admitted that she regretted voting for Trump, explaining that although the president had made his immigration intentions known, she had not expected his administration to enforce his policies this way.
“I will probably never call myself a Republican again,” Jose’s mother-in-law told the Tribune.
Her husband, Chris, similarly expressed disappointment with the administration, particularly the treatment of immigrants in detention. “What gets to me is the inhumane nature of what we’ve come to know as a reality that we would not have known had it not happened to our own family,” Chris stated.
Their comments, along with those of other residents, became a major talking point when the Tribune’s report was shared on the Illinois subreddit.
Redditors Criticize Town’s Republicans Over Their Change of Heart
Unlike the residents who rallied behind Jose, many people on the Illinois subreddit were less sympathetic toward the town’s Trump supporters. Some argued that these residents should have anticipated the consequences of the policies they supported, while others questioned why it had taken the detention of someone close to them to recognize the impact on immigrant families.
One Redditor commented, “This shouldn’t be happening to anyone, but god do I find it hard not to be pissed off at the people in that article, let alone feel any sympathy for that family.” Another wrote, “Anyone with a shred of sense knew that Trump wasn’t going to limit deportations to undocumented immigrants.”
A third mocked, “Republicans acting like they’re excused of [sic] their support for Trump.” Someone else added harshly, “MAGA losers love hurting others and are always shocked when the pain they voted for happens to them.”
Some Redditors also directed their criticism at Jose himself, apparently assuming he was a Trump supporter. “Is Jose super happy that he got to experience exactly what he voted for, you know how rare that is, you must be ecstatic,” one commenter asked sarcastically.
However, the Tribune article did not establish that Jose had voted for Trump. His wife, Courtney, said she voted for Kamala Harris.
Following his arrest, Jose was transferred between detention facilities before being moved to the Oldham County Jail in Kentucky, where he was being held at the time of the Tribune’s report. The Department of Homeland Security maintained that Jose had been ordered deported in 2011 after failing to appear for an immigration hearing and would remain in custody pending removal.
Meanwhile, his family and members of the community continue to advocate for his release, hoping to bring him home to his wife and children.
