For nearly two months, Miguel Gusart has looked at an empty chair in his Spanish classroom at the Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center every day, confused.On a typical Monday in December, Gusart, the high school's head soccer coach and Spanish teacher, was talking to senior captain 18-year-old Mauro Henriquez about an upcoming game against Hightower High School. But he sensed that Henriquez was nervous about telling him something."He was saying he had an immigration meeting and he was a little scared," Gusart told Chron. "We were talking about how we had a game the next day, but he said he was not going to come to school because of the meeting." Article continues below this adHenriquez and his father hail from Honduras. According to Houston Public Media, they are currently in the U.S. seeking asylum—a formal request for protection made by individuals who fear persecution in their home country, as defined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.On the day of the meeting, Henriquez's mother called Gusart in tears, informing him that her son and her husband had been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gusart relayed this information to the team that afternoon. Students and community members protest the ICE detainment of Sam Houston Math Science & Tech Tigers' soccer captain Mauro Henriquez.Courtesy of Miguel Gusart"Obviously, it hit really hard. It was a very emotional day, crying," Gusart said. "We went out and played that game for him and we ended up winning 6-0 and pretty much after that—we've been playing for him." Article continues below this adHenriquez is the Tigers' starting center midfielder and volunteers as a soccer coach with his church. Gusart said Henriquez is an A and B student set to graduate this spring and is excited to help lead another playoff run for the Tigers this season. According to U.S. News and World Report, 95 percent of students at Sam Houston MSTC are economically disadvantaged. It has a 98 percent minority enrollment, and 91.7 percent of the student body is Hispanic. The harsh reality of Henriquez's detention is a first-hand embodiment of heightened fears, though some of the students, Gusart says, have seen family members deported over the past few months."When these kids tell me that their parents tell them they cannot go to practice because they're afraid—I've been very flexible," Gusart said. "It's the times we are in. Some have had parents not let them go to a late game because they arrive at 10 or 11 p.m., they tell me, 'We get scared when they don't come home.'"Article continues below this adHenriquez and his father have now been detained at Montgomery Processing Center for over 50 days. "I just don't agree with the 50 days—he's just kind of stuck there and I don't understand," Gusart said. "He's not getting deported and he's not staying here. When they tell me a lot of people come and go every week, I wonder why are they still there." Mauro Henriquez is a senior midfielder and team captain for the Sam Houston Math Science & Tech Tigers soccer team. Students and community members protested his detainment in January and February. Miguel GusartGusart says Henriquez has lived in the U.S. since grade school. According to a statement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to FOX 26, Henriquez's father was ordered for removal and deported to Honduras in 2008.Article continues below this ad"The media and the public need to understand that employment authorization does NOT confer any type of legal status in the United States. It is a permission to work, not a green card or visa, and does not grant lawful status or shield illegal aliens from immigration enforcement actions," the statement continued. "Additionally, simply applying for a change of legal status does NOT confer status to legally remain in the United States..." Even so, Henriquez continues to support his team. In December, he called Gusart from the detention center in Conroe to encourage the team."Keep doing what you're doing," he said in a recording taken by Gusart. "Keep going hard, winning those matches. And chin up, I'm fine here ... I love you all. A big hug, and we'll see each other soon."Article continues below this adMore SportsFeb 6, 2026Former Sports Culture ReporterLeah Vann is a former sports culture reporter who covered the Houston Astros, college football and notable Houston-area athletes. The Fort Worth-native is a graduate of both the University of Texas at Austin and Northwestern University. Prior to Chron, she worked as an LSU beat writer for The Advocate. Her work has also appeared in NBC News THINK, Baseball America, The Sunday Long Read, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News and The Forward.