CNY Hospital Workers Freed from ICE Custody After Months of Detention

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Alex González and Yan Vázquez, an immigrant couple from Cuba who work at a Syracuse hospital, were released from the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility this week after being detained for months over their pending legal status. Activists and colleagues from their labor unions raised money to pay their bonds - $5,000 for Vázquez and $15,000 for González, his husband. Though they are now free from detention, their cases for permanent asylum are still pending as they had filed appeals in January after a federal judge ruled for them to be deported to Ecuador, a country they have no connection to. Neither González nor Vázquez have a criminal record.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by immigrants seeking legal status in the U.S., even those who are employed and contributing to their local communities. The detention of González and Vázquez raised concerns about the treatment of undocumented immigrants and the impact on families and healthcare workers.

The details

González and Vázquez, who are from Cuba, were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while seeking legal status to remain in the United States. They had filed appeals after a federal judge ruled for them to be deported to Ecuador, a country they have no connection to, rather than being granted asylum. Their argument for asylum rests on the threat of persecution in Ecuador or Cuba for being gay. During their months-long detention, activists and colleagues from their labor unions worked to raise the funds needed to secure their release on bond.

• González and Vázquez were released from the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility this week.
• They had filed appeals in January after a federal judge ruled for them to be deported to Ecuador.

What’s next

González and Vázquez's cases for permanent asylum are still pending, and they will continue to fight deportation to Ecuador.