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The recent arrest of Mexican presenter Inés Gómez Mont in Florida has sparked the question: how do US authorities know that a person remained in the country after their visa time expired?
Although the communicator faces legal proceedings in Mexico for alleged tax and financial crimes, her detention in the United States appears to be related to a migration situation.
Why was Inés Gómez Mont arrested?
The situation of Inés Gómez Mont is likely not directly linked to an extradition warrant. Before her arrest, President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that Interpol had removed the red notice that existed against her and her husband, Víctor Manuel Álvarez Puga.
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However, US authorities confirmed that the presenter was placed under immigration custody in Florida. According to ICE records, she is in the Broward Transitional Center (BTC), a facility supervised by the US immigration agency.
Likewise, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) reported that her location and apprehension were derived from an exchange of information between Mexico and the United States, and noted that the presenter still has an active arrest warrant in Mexican territory for her alleged participation in the crime of equivalent tax fraud.
How does ICE detect that a person exceeded their authorized visa time?
Many people believe that US authorities do not know when a visitor leaves the country. However, the federal government has various immigration control systems that register entries and exits.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explains that a person incurs a "visa overstay" when they remain in the United States beyond the period of admission authorized by immigration authorities. The allowed time does not always coincide with the expiration date of the visa stamped in the passport, but rather with the period authorized in the corresponding immigration record.
1. Entry and exit records
When a foreigner enters the United States, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) generates an entry record. Subsequently, airlines and other entities transmit information about international departures from the country.
Thanks to this data, the government can compare the date a person was supposed to leave the United States with the date they actually left, if such an exit record exists.
2. Cross-referencing immigration databases
Authorities also verify if the foreigner obtained an extension of stay, a change of immigration status, or any benefit authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
It is not enough to detect that someone is still inside the country after the initially authorized date. Before classifying a case as an overstay, authorities check if there is any valid extension or immigration adjustment.
3. Specialized ICE systems
ICE has tools specifically designed to detect possible immigration violations.
One of them is LeadTrac, a database managed by the Counterterrorism and Criminal Exploitation Unit (CTCEU), whose function is to analyze information about visitors who might have exceeded their stay time or violated the conditions of their admission. When a relevant case is identified, the information can be sent to field offices for investigation.
4. Investigations and information verification
The agency also uses intelligence, data analysis, and cross-referencing to locate people who allegedly breached immigration laws.
According to ICE, the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division develops investigations and actions directed against foreigners who are illegally in the United States or who violated the conditions of their stay.
What happens when a person stays longer than permitted?
Remaining in the United States after the authorized period can have significant consequences.
In addition to becoming subject to immigration proceedings, the foreigner may face difficulties in obtaining future visas or returning legally to the country. Federal authorities consider those who remain beyond the authorized time of admission without having a valid immigration benefit to be deportable.
Each year, the Department of Homeland Security publishes an overstay report based on millions of entry and exit records, with the goal of identifying those who remained in US territory without evidence of a legal extension or adjustment of status.
The case of Inés Gómez Mont shows that US authorities do not rely solely on complaints or criminal investigations to detect possible immigration irregularities. The government has electronic systems that record the entry and exit movements of visitors, as well as verification mechanisms that allow them to identify when a person remains in the country longer than authorized.
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