The community of Lower Manhattan has responded to the recent detention of Luis Fernandez, a 50-year-old waiter at the Square Diner, by ICE. Fernandez, an Ecuadorian immigrant who has lived in New York for 35 years, has worked at the Square Diner for seven years. His detention has drawn attention from regular customers, coworkers, and residents of Tribeca.
According to CBS News New York, Fernandez was arrested during a visit to a Long Island immigration office on June 24. An ICE spokesperson attributed Fernandez's arrest to his two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated. However, coworkers and customers at the diner have voiced their dismay. "It really makes no sense," one coworker remarked. "We're hoping he's going to be back soon."
Fernandez is currently being held at the IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility in Texas. The path from his detention in New York to Texas has been a complex one, involving transfers across multiple states. A Square Diner manager told Fernandez that there is a chance he could return home "next week," but details remain uncertain. As per Eater, the detainee has already secured legal representation and has the backing of neighborhood advocates.
Concerned citizens are taking action, including Tribeca resident and attorney Kristopher Brown, who sent a letter to ICE highlighting Fernandez's contributions to the community. "Luis is a beloved figure in our neighborhood, well known to our small community and always helpful and encouraging to patrons, neighbors, and others,” Brown's letter stated, as cited by Eater.
