We usually talk about theme park performers when there’s a new show to review or a fun behind-the-scenes peek to share. If you’ve been to Universal Epic Universe, you may have seen some of the talented acrobats in The Untrainable Dragon, the live show on the Isle of Berk inspired by How to Train Your Dragon.
This time, though, the headlines aren’t about a performance.
Two acrobats who reportedly worked at both Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after landing in Phoenix, Arizona. Their friends are speaking out, and many details are still unclear.
Here’s a rundown of what’s been reported so far.
Here’s What We Know
- Who: Augustin Baccega and Gustavo Romanello, two acrobats from Argentina, according to Phoenix station 12News.
- Where: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
- When: Saturday morning, after the men arrived on a flight from Florida, according to public radio station KJZZ.
- Why they were in Arizona: Their friend Jonathan Batchelor says they came back for a funeral.
- What happened: Batchelor told KJZZ he was on the phone with Romanello when two men in plain clothes approached the pair. Friends told 12News that ICE agents met the men right after they got off the plane.
- The photo: KJZZ reported that a photo shared with the station shows Baccega being handcuffed by an agent wearing a camo shirt and a baseball cap.
- Official response: ICE did not respond to KJZZ’s questions about the arrests.
Meet the Performers
Here’s what’s been reported about the two men:
- In the U.S. since: 2020, according to 12News.
- Education: Both graduated from college, and Romanello was valedictorian.
- Training ground: They spent several years at the Arizona Circus Center, where they became close with other performers.
- Theme park careers: After moving to Florida, they worked at Walt Disney World Resort, according to 12News. Their acrobatic work also includes The Untrainable Dragon at Universal Epic Universe.
- On social media: Both men have shared photos of themselves performing on Instagram.
Their arrest has rattled Arizona’s circus community. Fellow circus artist Crissy Jung told 12News, “It’s happening to people who make extraordinary contributions to society.”
In Their Friend’s Words
On their immigration status: “They came to the U.S. on visas; they applied for asylum, and the U.S. confirmed their applications. They were following the process. They had work permits; they were totally legal to be working. They were paying taxes and Social Security. All their documents were in order.” He also told KJZZ the men have pending immigration cases and no criminal record.
On the arrest: He said the agents gave no reason for detaining them. “It’s terrifying to have men who didn’t identify themselves basically snatch you off the street.”
On where they are: “One of them we know is at the Florence Service processing center. The other we’re told is being taken there, but we haven’t been able to confirm that.”
On their conditions: “They’ve now been for days without a blanket, a pillow, without anything to lay down on. They’re in a room with hundreds of people with no idea as to what’s happening.”
These are Batchelor’s accounts, and we have not independently verified them.
Your Questions, Answered (So Far)
Why were they detained? We haven’t seen a public explanation. ICE didn’t respond to KJZZ’s questions, and 12News said it hasn’t confirmed the legal basis for the detentions.
Doesn’t a pending asylum case protect someone from detention? Not necessarily. As 12News explained, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled on September 29 that a pending asylum application on its own isn’t enough to show a person is unlikely to flee.
Have Universal or Disney said anything? We haven’t seen any public statement from Universal Orlando Resort or Walt Disney World Resort.
What happens next? For now, friends are still working to confirm where both men are being held and to get more information about their cases.
We’ll Keep Following This
It’s not the kind of theme park news we usually cover, but these are two performers who have been part of shows that fans have enjoyed at both Universal and Disney. We’ll keep watching for updates and will share any statements from ICE, Universal, or Disney if they come.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from anyone who has seen these two perform, whether at Epic Universe, Walt Disney World, or in Arizona’s circus scene. Leave your thoughts in the comments. We know immigration stories bring out strong feelings on all sides, so please keep things respectful. There are real people, friends, and families at the heart of this one.
