An 11th-grade student from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing concern from local residents and city officials. The student, whose identity has not been disclosed, was apprehended during an asylum hearing earlier this week, as reported by the Gothamist. This incident represents another instance of immigration authorities becoming involved in the lives of public school students in New York City.
According to the FOX 5 NY, Sen. Mike Gianaris and Assemblymember Claire Valdez were notified by the school's principal about the student's detention. Having not seen his family since Wednesday. Gianaris expressed concerns on X, lamenting the practice of "apprehending minors in courthouses and separating them from their families."
In response to the incident, New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos emphasized that schools remain safe havens for children. "This young person should be returning home from school today, surrounded by family — not facing detention," Aviles-Ramos stated as obtained by the Gothamist. Aviles-Ramos reiterated the schools' commitment to providing secure and welcoming environments for all students, including newcomers to New York.
This incident strikes a chord especially as a Bronx high school student, Dylan Lopez Contreras, remains in ICE custody since last month. Contreras was detained during what has been termed a "routine" immigration court hearing. Fleeing hardship in Venezuela, Contreras had sought asylum under a Biden-era entry program, now finding himself in a prolonged detention at Pennsylvania's Moshannon Valley Processing Center. The city, as reported by FOX 5 NY, has filed a motion for his release on the grounds of due process.
Following ICE’s recent actions, community members and officials have expressed support for the affected students and their families. The increasing number of detentions has raised concerns about the impact on immigrant students within the city’s public school system. ICE has not provided a response to requests for comment. Local officials have stated that educational institutions should serve as secure environments for all students.
