NYC public school student detained by ICE: Who is Dylan Contreras?
Latest on Bronx student detained by ICE
The 20-year-old was arrested after attending a mandatory immigration court hearing in Lower Manhattan, nonprofit newsroom Chalkbeat reports. FOX 5 NY's Jessica Formoso has the latest.
NEW YORK CITY - Dylan Josue Lopez Contreras, a New York public school student from Venezuela, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 21.
Detained in immigration court
What we know:
The 20-year-old was arrested after attending a mandatory immigration court hearing in Lower Manhattan, nonprofit newsroom Chalkbeat reports.
20-year-old Dylan Contreras
Contreras is a student at Ellis Prep. Academy, a Bronx high school geared toward educating immigrant students that are 16 and older. He had previously graduated from high school in Venezuela, but decided to pursue schooling at the academy to improve his English and prepare for college.
He, along with his mother and two younger siblings, fled Venezuela last year using the Biden-era entry program CBP One, a mobile device app that provided travelers with access to select U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) functions before arriving in the U.S.
President Trump ended CBP One for new entrants on the first day of his second term.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Contreras had been arrested and placed in expedited removal proceedings.
FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt reported that Contreras' lawyers have stated he has been moved between four different states – New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Louisiana – to various ICE facilities.
Contreras is the first known example of a current New York City public school student detained by ICE during Trump’s second administration.
Protests and rallies
About 500 New York City high school students staged a walkout on Tuesday, May 27, in response to Contreras' detainment, The New York Post reports.
New York Congressman Dan Goldman held a press conference at 2:45 p.m. today, May 29, to detail his experience of witnessing masked ICE agents arrest several migrants at the same courthouse where Contreras was detained, Schmidt reports.
A rally supporting Contreras and demanding his release was held outside Tweed Courthouse.
Schmidt reports that immigration advocates and city council members were in attendance at the rally, as well as Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Chancellor of New York City Public Schools Melissa Aviles-Ramos.
Reactions from politicians and officials
What they're saying:
New York Attorney General Letitia James posted a statement regarding Contreras' detainment.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams had this to say on the matter: "I want to be extremely clear. That did not happen in a school," Adams said. "We do not coordinate with ICE on civil detainers. I think that is a question for federal authorities."
New York State Assemblymember and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani specifically pointed to Adams' response to the matter in his post.
Representative Ritchie Torres also posted about the arrest.
Chancellor Aviles-Ramos issued the following statement on X: "New York City Public Schools stands firmly with our students, including our immigrant students, and our schools will always be safe spaces for them."
Trump admin's approach to immigration
Dig deeper:
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelans in the country. Temporary Protected Status prevents an individual from being detained by DHS on the basis of his or her immigration status in the United States.
The Source: This article includes reporting from nonprofit newsroom Chalkbeat, press releases issued by government departments like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security and posts made by several government and public officials.