On March 19th, the Governor of New York, Mr. Hochu, and the Mayor of New York City, Mr. Mamdani, held a joint press conference at a church in Manhattan to celebrate the release of Dylan Lopez Contreras, a high school student from New York City who was arrested and detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ten months ago. Supporters who had been fighting for Dylan’s freedom for the past ten months were present at the event, overwhelmed with tears of joy.
As the speakers talked about Dylan regaining his freedom, Dylan embraced his mother, tears welling up in their eyes.
“I want to thank everyone who extended a helping hand and worked hard to help me out of this predicament,” Dylan said. “Many people sent messages to me, wrote letters in support, and there are still many others who are struggling and need help. I want to thank the entire city of New York, thank every person who stood up and accompanied me all the way.”
Dylan continuously expressed his gratitude in Spanish, also stating that he feels “saddened” for those still detained in immigration facilities, believing they too deserve freedom.
Although Dylan is now free to return to school and continue his asylum application, he has been fitted with an ankle monitor for monitoring purposes by the Department of Homeland Security.
Dylan legally entered the U.S. and obtained special immigrant juvenile status, allowing him to work while studying to support his family.
On May 21st last year, Dylan went to apply for asylum at 290 Broadway Street and was arrested by ICE agents wearing masks outside the court. His family and legal team insisted that this was an illegal detention.
However, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that Dylan entered the U.S. “illegally” in April 2024, a statement strongly denied by Dylan’s lawyer. The lawyer maintained that Dylan entered the U.S. legally and promptly applied for asylum, complying with all court requirements.
Following Dylan’s arrest, various officials in New York State, including several senators such as Minority Leader Schumer, joined efforts to advocate for Dylan’s release.
“He has been detained for nearly a year, deprived of everything he should have had. Because first and foremost, Dylan is a New Yorker. He belongs to New York; this city has been missing him all along,” Mamdani said.
Governor Hochu described Dylan’s arrest as a “shame.”
“For the past ten months, he should have been out there receiving an education, working as a delivery person to support his mother and family, but instead, he was thrown into a prison in Pennsylvania like trash,” she said. “Shameful. Yes, it is shameful, but this country should do better. I am tired of families being constantly harassed across the nation, especially in places like New York.”