A 20-year-old Venezuelan immigrant student studying at a high school in the Bronx borough of New York City recently found himself in a rapid deportation process after attending an immigration court hearing without a lawyer present, leading to the loss of his temporary protected status. He was subsequently arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), marking the first case in New York of an immigrant student being detained by ICE after a court appearance.
According to education media outlet Chalkbeat, the student, identified as Dylan, attended his immigration court hearing on May 21 as required. He is a student at Ellis Prep Academy in the Bronx, a school designed for English language learners and older students.
Normally, court appearances like Dylan’s should be relatively straightforward immigration court procedures. However, when Dylan and his mother arrived at the immigration court located at 290 Broadway Street in Lower Manhattan on May 21, government lawyers made an unusual request. According to his mother and lawyers, the government attorney asked the judge to dismiss Dylan’s deportation proceedings.
However, when Dylan’s deportation case was dismissed, his asylum application was also revoked, leaving him without legal protection and enabling the government to initiate a rapid deportation process.
Dylan’s legal team at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) pointed out that having a lawyer present at the time might have allowed for the rejection request to be opposed or at least for a fuller understanding of the potential consequences of the decision.
Raiza, Dylan’s mother, mentioned that she had unsuccessfully sought a lawyer before the hearing. After Dylan’s case was dismissed, two men followed her and Dylan out of the courtroom and into an elevator where they were subsequently arrested.
Due to having underage children to care for, Dylan’s mother was released, while Dylan was taken into custody. Reports indicate that Dylan completed high school in Venezuela in 2024 before coming to the United States in 2024 to live with his mother and two younger siblings who had already arrived in 2023.
In April 2024, Dylan voluntarily surrendered himself to U.S. authorities at the U.S.-Mexico border and applied for asylum under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program offered by the Biden administration at that time. However, the program was terminated by the Trump administration on February 1, 2025, with the Supreme Court ruling in agreement on May 19.
Melissa Avilés-Ramos, the Director of Education in New York City, released a statement on social media expressing concern for the detained student and sympathy for his family. She assured all families that even though the incident did not occur on school grounds, they would continue to advocate for the safety, dignity, and rights of all students.
A spokesperson from Mayor Eric Adams’ office also responded, stating that the city’s law enforcement agencies do not engage in federal civil immigration enforcement but are accountable only for criminal activities. The spokesperson confirmed that the statement from the Director of Education represents the official position of the city government.
Dylan’s attorney stated that he suffers from a severe stomach ailment and did not receive timely medical care while in custody. He will undergo a hearing in accordance with the juvenile immigrant status.