An 18-year-old New Haven high school student who was slated to be deported to Guatemala on Thursday is set to be transferred to an immigration detention facility in New England instead, thanks to swift action from a local immigration attorney.
Tina Col贸n Williams of the said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials canceled the plane ticket for her client, Esdras R. , while he was in detention in Louisiana on Wednesday.
"The fight is far from over. This pause on their plans to immediately remove him is just the first step in securing him access to a full legal process and a hearing for a judge to consider his release," Col贸n Williams said in an email to 黑料新闻. "Hopefully he'll be back up north soon, but we don't know the timeline for sure. In the meantime, the outpouring of community support has been incredible and inspiring to see."
The news comes just after 150 community members rallied in support of the teenager.
Esdras R. is a rising junior at Wilbur Cross High School. He played in the orchestra, and he advocated for health care for all, regardless of immigration status, on 黑料新闻鈥檚 biggest political stage.
鈥淚 helped Esdras build his testimony when talking about Husky 4 Immigrants鈥� campaign. I helped him write all of it,鈥� said Melany Yunga, fellow CT Students for a Dream member. 鈥淲hen he wrote it, I know he felt inspired.鈥�
Esdras鈥� testimony urged health care access for everyone in 黑料新闻, and it was submitted to the state legislature鈥檚 appropriations committee.
鈥淗e was the kind of person that just cared for everyone and wanted to fight for everyone,鈥� Yunga said. 鈥淗e just wanted the world to be fair and right. He wanted justice.鈥�
Now, just months later, Esdras is being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a statement, federal immigration officials confirmed to CT Public that Esdras was detained by ICE last week while working at a car wash in New Haven 鈥� something the Trump administration says is part of its immigration crackdown.
鈥淲orksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to protect public safety, national security, and economic stability while rescuing individuals who may be victims of labor trafficking or exploitation,鈥� Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in the statement.
Yunga said these tactics had been top of mind.
鈥淗e was worried when everything started. Everyone was worried. It was not just him,鈥� Yunga said. 鈥淓very member of the organization was worried, and yeah, he lived in fear, just like almost everyone here 鈥� in 黑料新闻.鈥�
CT Students for a Dream and its partner organizations have created to help with Esdras鈥� legal fees. Yunga and other members of the student-led organization also rallied at Esdras鈥� high school campus Wednesday to bring awareness to his case.
In addition to the students, teachers and faith leaders came and spoke to the crowd of more than 100 people in the high school parking lot. Rev. Josh Williams is the lead pastor at Elm City Vineyard Church.
鈥淟ooking at the scriptures that I believe in, that I care about, and seeing on the pages, it says, 鈥楥are for foreigners, and care for them as if they were citizen-born,鈥欌�� Williams said.
Esdras first came to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor from Guatemala during the Biden administration, according to ICE.
鈥淲e're talking about a high school junior. We have to have that sink in,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淒o you remember what it's like to be a junior? What were your problems then? What were your worries? Was it being picked up by ICE and not knowing where you would be 鈥� that day, days later, almost a week later? Remember what it was like and have compassion. That's what we're asking for: common sense compassion.鈥�
This story has been updated with information about Esdr谩s R.'s legal representation.
