A Washington state man who has lived in the United States for more than 25 years wasn't the intended target when ICE agents arrested him in late July, his attorney said Friday.Juan Gerardo Alatorre Martinez, 46, was detained on July 30 by ICE officials as he arrived for his shift at a gas station in Conway, where he worked full-time and had been well-known throughout the community, attorney Lisa Seifert told Newsweek...."What was he doing? His job," Seifert explained. "There was no reason to target this guy."Martinez, who is originally from Mexico, entered the United States in spring 2000 and later sought lawful permanent residency through his older brother, a U.S. citizen, Seifert said.Martinez told Seifert he spotted ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations agents outside the gas station on Main Street in Conway a day or so prior to his arrest. Prosecutors later acknowledged in court documents that they had been looking for another person at the time, according to Seifert.Martinez's attorney said she believes ICE agents may have been searching for the previous owner of his vehicle, a silver Honda that he recently purchased."He bought that car from someone and hadn't switched the registration yet," Seifert said. "So, when ICE continued looking around, they found the car and then they found him."Martinez remains in custody as of Friday at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. He's due back in court on October 8, Seifert said."We hope the judge is going to decide that he's eligible to become a permanent resident and approve his application that we have filed," she said.A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed late Friday ICE agents conducted a targeted enforcement operation in Conway on July 30 to arrest Martinez, a "criminal illegal alien" from Mexico.In 2016, Martinez had been sentenced to jail after being arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license. Four years later, he was convicted again on the same charge, as well as supplying or permitting minors to consume liquor. Martinez illegally entered the United at an unknown date and time, DHS officials said."He will receive due process and remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings," a DHS spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement. "Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S. We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you."An online fundraiser for Martinez has eclipsed $9,300 as he awaits his next date in court."Juan is a beloved friend and community member in Conway," the site reads. "If someone has spent any real time in town, there is a good chance they know Juan. For years, Juan worked at the local gas station, but Juan was never just the person behind the counter. Neighbors jokingly called Juan the 'Mayor of Conway' because Juan seemed to know everyone."Martinez regularly "brought kindness, laughter and conversation" to customers at the shop known as the Red Barn gas station prior to being detained as he continued to pursue lawful permanent residency, according to the fundraiser created by Tim Ferrell."Now Juan is facing a complicated and unusual immigration court process that no one should have to go through alone," the site continues. "Immigration court is high-stakes and frightening, with hearings, deadlines, evidence requirements, legal arguments, government attorneys, and decisions that can have life-changing consequences."Ferrell, of Big Lake, Washington, met Martinez about nine years ago upon hiring him for gardening and other work on his property."He is a super intelligent, worldly guy, very personable and fun to work with," Ferrell told Newsweek. "We did a lot of work together on the landscaping here and a variety of chores."Ferrell said Martinez contacted him after being detained by ICE agents and soon helped him connect with Seifert."So, I was sort of exposed to his life and I have a lot of empathy for him now," Ferrell said. "He's a respectable person and I think he deserves our defense. And it's turning out well for him; we're going to get him out in a month, I think."Lindsey Brooks, who regularly shops at the gas station, said Martinez's absence has left a void in the community."I didn’t know him that well, I knew him from the store, but he was always nice," Brooks said, adding that Martinez's arrest impacted her son."My son came home and was so upset," she recalled. "He said, 'They took him.'"Martinez, meanwhile, remains hopeful ahead of his next court appearance, Seifert said."His mindset is pretty good," she said. "I told him when he got to the detention center that he should really take care of his mindset — he should meditate, go to religious services — because it's tough to be there. And he took our advice about that. He's a very gregarious, friendly guy, so he has met a lot of friends there. Some have been moved to other detention centers, but I think his mindset is good."Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas