Latest news with #EllisPreparatoryAcademy
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Mother Of New York High Schooler Detained By ICE Speaks Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A distraught mother has told Newsweek how the detainment of her high school student son by federal immigration authorities feels like the "theft" of her child. Dylan, a student at Ellis Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, was detained on May 21 after attending a hearing over his asylum application at a New York immigration court. "We suffer firsthand the theft of our children, as is the case of my son Dylan, who, in complying with the laws, attended routine court and was deprived of his liberty without explanation or arrest warrant," Raiza said in a statement shared with Newsweek. The family has requested that their surname be withheld from publication. Why It Matters Arrests at immigration courts have become a common tactic deployed under President Donald Trump's administration. ICE appears to be using a new strategy that places apprehended migrants into a process that allows for faster removal without the need for traditional court hearings. This approach, known as "expedited removal," can be applied to individuals who have been in the country for less than two years. Dylan, a student at Ellis Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, was detained on May 21 after attending a hearing over his asylum application at an immigration court. Dylan, a student at Ellis Preparatory Academy in the Bronx, was detained on May 21 after attending a hearing over his asylum application at an immigration court. NYLAG What To Know Speaking through a statement translated from Spanish by the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and shared with Newsweek, Raiza condemned what she called a cruel and unjust system that punishes those who follow the rules. "We don't decide where we are born or our race, but that doesn't make us more or less than anyone else. It's right to enforce the laws, but without committing injustices. "It's inhumane to go against people and deprive them of their liberty without reason or cause to justify bad behavior. Many of those deprived are students, hardworking mothers and fathers in search of a better future and stability, helping to forge a country with our effort and sacrifice, giving the best to a homeland that gave us shelter since we are orphans of our land." Dylan, 20, entered the country in April 2024 through a Biden-era asylum program and had been working and attending school while awaiting his court date. Although a judge dismissed his deportation case, the decision unintentionally made him subject to expedited removal. Following the hearing, ICE agents detained Dylan, despite his lack of a criminal record and apparently without providing access to legal representation at the time. What People Are Saying Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously told Newsweek: Dylan "is an illegal alien from Venezuela who illegally entered the U.S. more than one year ago. Under the Biden administration he was encountered at the border and released into the country. She added that on May 21, 2025, he was "arrested and placed in expedited removal proceedings." Raiza said in a statement: "He is forced to suffer in prison as if he were a criminal or delinquent. We can only hope and trust in God that divine justice will allow an end to the injustices that we Hispanic people suffer today in this country. We only ask for mercy and empathy … there are more of us who are good. "My son is losing months of his life in prison simply because he wasn't born in this nation … because he didn't even want to enter without authorization and he waited for his appointment to be admitted." A spokesperson for the New York Legal Assistance Group said in a statement: "Dylan entered the United States with permission to seek asylum, and his detention robs him of the opportunity to seek that relief with the full protections offered to him under the law."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
NYC says it will support Bronx student from Venezuela detained after attending immigration hearing
New York City said it is standing behind a Bronx high school student from Venezuela who was detained last month by immigration agents after attending a routine court hearing. The city filed an amicus brief on behalf of Dylan Lopez Contreras, a 20-year-old student at Ellis Preparatory Academy, arguing that he is being detained without cause and in violation of his right to due process. Contreras has no criminal history and was pursuing a green card, according to the city's news release Monday. He is being held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. "Dylan Lopez Contreras was going through the exact legal proceeding that we encourage new arrivals to go through in order to be able to work and provide for their families — and even accessed the center that we created for migrants to be able to avoid city shelters and become independent," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. "But instead of being rewarded for following the law, he was punished for doing what we all asked him to do," the mayor added. The Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X that Contreras illegally entered the country more than a year ago, and that under the Biden administration, he was encountered at the border and released into the U.S. He was detained May 21 and placed in expedited removal proceedings. "Biden ignored the law and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been," DHS said. "If individuals have a valid, credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation," the DHS added. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the city's amicus brief. The New York Legal Assistance Group, which is representing Contreras, said he came to the U.S. legally to seek asylum and is arguing for his immediate release. The brief said that using Contreras' mandatory immigration hearing as an opportunity to detain him "threatens to deter people from accessing the court system on which local governance depends." Detaining migrants immediately after their court hearings has become one of the tactics used under President Donald Trump's mass deportation operation. Billy Botch, who works for the American Friends Service Committee Florida, previously told NBC News that the arrests happen almost immediately after the person's case is closed or dismissed. Contreras arrived in the city in the spring of 2024, according to the brief. He has accessed multiple services intended to help immigrants, including visiting a city asylum help center and attending a program at Ellis Prep to help him learn English, the brief stated. He was also working part-time to help support his family, the brief added. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said Contreras was "by every standard, contributing to his community and making good on the promise of the American dream." Torres demanded an explanation from the Trump administration. City Council member Carmen De La Rosa said Contreras should be "in school with his friends, not shuffled around a disgraceful immigration system." This article was originally published on
NBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- NBC News
NYC says it will support Bronx student from Venezuela detained after attending immigration hearing
New York City said it is standing behind a Bronx high school student from Venezuela who was detained last month by immigration agents after attending a routine court hearing. The city filed an amicus brief on behalf of Dylan Lopez Contreras, a 20-year-old student at Ellis Preparatory Academy, arguing that he is being detained without cause and in violation of his right to due process. Contreras has no criminal history and was pursuing a green card, according to the city's Monday news release. He is being held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. "Dylan Lopez Contreras was going through the exact legal proceeding that we encourage new arrivals to go through in order to be able to work and provide for their families — and even accessed the center that we created for migrants to be able to avoid city shelters and become independent," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. "But instead of being rewarded for following the law, he was punished for doing what we all asked him to do," the mayor added. The Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X that Contreras illegally entered the country more than a year ago, and that under the Biden administration, he was encountered at the border and released into the U.S. He was detained on May 21 and placed in expedited removal proceedings. "Biden ignored the law and chose to release millions of illegal aliens, including violent criminals, into the country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. ICE is now following the law and placing these illegal aliens in expedited removal, as they always should have been," DHS said. "If individuals have a valid, credible fear claim, they will continue in immigration proceedings, but if no valid claim is found, aliens will be subject to a swift deportation," the DHS added. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the city's amicus brief. The New York Legal Assistance Group, which is representing Contreras, said he came to the U.S. legally to seek asylum and is arguing for his immediate release. The brief said that using Contreras' mandatory immigration hearing as an opportunity to detain him "threatens to deter people from accessing the court system on which local governance depends." Detaining migrants immediately after their court hearings has become one of the tactics used under President Donald Trump's mass deportation operation. Billy Botch, who works for the American Friends Service Committee Florida, previously told NBC News that the arrests happen almost immediately after the person's case is closed or dismissed. Contreras arrived in the city in the spring of 2024, according to the brief. He has accessed multiple services intended to help immigrants, including visiting a city asylum help center and attending a program at Ellis Prep to help him learn English, the brief stated. He was also working part-time to help support his family, the brief added. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said Contreras was "by every standard, contributing to his community and making good on the promise of the American dream." Torres demanded an explanation from the Trump administration. City council member Carmen De La Rosa said Contreras should be "in school with his friends, not shuffled around a disgraceful immigration system."
