On May 14, 2026, 18-year-old Daniel Romero crossed the stage at Ooltewah High School and picked up his diploma. Four days later, on May 18, he was in federal custody. Romero was detained during what his family describes as a routine immigration check-in in Chattanooga and is now being held at the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, while awaiting transfer to a detention facility in Louisiana, according to his relatives. They say the family had been enrolled in a supervised Alternatives to Detention program and had kept up with required reporting.
ICE account versus family paperwork
An ICE spokesperson told reporters that Romero was arrested on May 18 “following several significant violations of his Alternative to Detention program requirements” and alleged that he missed four mandatory check-ins, as reported by WSMV. The Romero family, however, shared records that show a biometric registration completed on May 4 and say they submitted the weekly photo reports required under their ATD supervision. They also say agents took Daniel’s phone during the Chattanooga appointment, which the family describes as their strongest evidence that those check-ins actually happened.
Family says phone seized, teen alleges ‘inhumane’ treatment
Relatives told reporters they were separated from Daniel during the appointment and later informed that he would not be going home. They insist their documentation backs up their story and contradicts ICE’s account, Telemundo Nashville reported. In a phone call to his mother from detention, Romero said he was being treated “like an inmate” and described conditions at the facility as “inhumane,” according to the same outlet.
School community stunned as family scrambles for legal help
Back in Ooltewah, Romero’s former teacher told local media he was a quiet and “very gentle” student, and classmates say graduation decorations are still up at his home, WSMV reported. His mother, Alexandra Romero, has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal costs. According to WSMV, the fundraiser had collected more than $7,200 at the time of publication.
How the Alternatives to Detention program works
ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program relies on case management and monitoring tools such as scheduled check-ins, electronic tracking, and photo or biometric reporting to supervise people who are not being held in custody. Official materials state that participants must follow all reporting rules and that failure to do so can result in termination from the program and a return to detention, according to ICE.
Advocates see a broader regional pattern
Immigrant advocates and affected families say Romero’s case is not isolated. They point to several recent incidents involving students and young adults detained by immigration authorities across the Southeast this spring, including a north Georgia high school senior taken into custody just weeks before graduation and a Memphis student whose case drew a federal judge’s concern. Coverage by WSB-TV and the Daily Memphian highlights the legal fights and community pressure building around these detentions.
What comes next for Romero
The Romero family says they are in the process of securing legal representation as immigration officials continue to process Daniel’s case. Relatives and supporters say they plan to keep pressing for clear answers and a thorough review of the records the family has already provided. ICE has not released further specifics beyond its claim that Romero missed required check-ins, and any decision about his future will come through immigration proceedings, not criminal charges.
