A letter that should have been a moment of joy turned into heartbreak for a North Texas widow when it arrived two weeks after her husband’s death.
The Approval Letter
A letter addressed to Miguel Garcia arrived in the mail this week, approving his request to move forward with obtaining legal status in the United States. Garcia, 31, was killed two months ago during a sniper attack at the Dallas ICE facility where he was being held in federal custody.
“Everything’s a reminder. The baby’s a reminder,” said Stephany Gauffeny, Garcia’s widow, who gave birth to their fifth child after his death.
Life After the Loss
Gauffeny said Garcia had worked for years to obtain legal status. “It’s something we were waiting for for two years,” she said. The approval letter grants Garcia the ability to begin applying for a visa or green card, something the couple had hoped would allow them to live without fear of deportation.
“It’s right before Christmas time, and it’s hurtful because if he would have been here, it would have been the total opposite,” Gauffeny said. “It would have been a moment of happiness.”
The Tragic Incident
Garcia was arrested for DWI in Arlington in August. In September, while detained at the Dallas ICE facility, he was killed along with another detainee when a rooftop sniper opened fire.
Questions and Unanswered Requests
Gauffeny questioned why U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would send a letter dated Dec. 9 — two months after her husband’s death. “I know he would have been really happy,” she said. NBC 5 has requested comment from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services but has not received a response.
Key Takeaways
- A letter approved Garcia’s U.S. legal status months after he was killed in a sniper attack.
- Garcia was a 31‑year‑old Mexican national held at the Dallas ICE facility.
- Stephany Gauffeny, his widow, is grieving and questions the timing of the approval letter.
The approval letter, arrived after Garcia’s death, serves as a bittersweet reminder of the life they hoped to build together.
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