NEW YORK (PIX11) — Bronx high school student Dylan Contreras, who Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained on May 21, 2025, is expected to hold a press conference alongside several local immigration, legal aid groups, and elected officials on Friday morning.
Contreras was released from a facility in Pennsylvania after being detained while going through the legal process of seeking asylum at an immigration hearing in Lower Manhattan.
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The Department of Homeland Security said Contreras illegally entered the United States from Venezuela during the Biden administration and that he had been encountered at the border and released into the country.
Contreras was 20 years old at the time of his detention and attending Ellis Prep in the Bronx, a high school for older immigrant students who have been in the country for less than a year.
According to the New York Immigration Coalition, Contreras was the first high school student in New York City known to be detained by ICE since President Trump returned to office.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson wrote in a statement: “Dylan’s experience in custody is beyond unacceptable, and his story reflects a disturbing pattern of unfair enforcement by federal authorities that has harmed countless families across our nation.”
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New York City Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels wrote: “Time meant for learning, laughter, and growth was taken from him, and we stand firm and united against the unlawful detention of young people. With the support of Project Open Arms, we will ensure Dylan has a supported transition back to school.”
PIX11 News reached out to the DHS for a comment following Contreras’ release.
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