An 18-year-old student from Detroit's Western International High School, Maykol Bogoya-Duarte, is facing imminent deportation following the denial of his request for a pause on the deportation process by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As reported by CBS News, Bogoya-Duarte was detained last month by federal agents after a traffic stop during a school field trip escalated when he was unable to communicate effectively in English, leading the police to call Border Patrol for language assistance.
The incident has sparked considerable local outcry and support for the Columbian national, culminating in demonstrations and urgent pleas from the school community. The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, which is representing Bogoya-Duarte, confirmed that he was transferred multiple times between detention facilities and currently awaits deportation in Louisiana. As per FOX 2 Detroit, Kristen Schoettle, a teacher at the high school, stressed that the infractions leading to the student's arrest were minor and should not warrant the harsh consequences he now faces.
Despite the efforts of the community and representations from local and state officials, The Detroit News reports that ICE's Detroit office has rejected the appeal for a stay of Bogoya-Duarte’s removal. More than 100 community members expressed their support at a school board's monthly meeting, and there has been vocal support from Michigan's U.S. Representatives. Yet, the legal avenues to prevent his deportation seem to be exhausted.
At the heart of the contention is the impact on the student's education, with the Detroit Public Schools Community District strongly advocating for a formal stay on his deportation so he can finish high school. "Maykol is part of our DPSCD family, and we are heartbroken by the fear and disruption this situation has caused his loved ones, classmates, and school community," officials said in the district’s statement, according to FOX 2 Detroit. Customs and Border Protection responded by saying Bogoya-Duarte had lost an appeal against a removal order and that his legal status was the reason for the federal agents' actions.
