{"id":60645,"date":"2025-12-04T12:58:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T12:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/60645\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T12:58:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T12:58:32","slug":"back-in-their-arms-how-parents-of-nyc-high-school-student-worked-with-team-of-advocates-to-win-his-freedom-from-ice-custody","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/60645\/","title":{"rendered":"Back in their arms: How parents of NYC high school student worked with team of advocates to win his freedom from ICE custody"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Mom\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A high school student brutally arrested by ICE during a routine court hearing last week was released back into the arms of his family Wednesday after a massive fight for his release.<\/p>\n

Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n

Tears of joy poured from the parents of an NYC high school student brutally arrested by ICE<\/a> during a routine court hearing last week as he was released back into the arms of his family Wednesday following a fierce fight for his freedom.<\/p>\n

Deglis Yohardis Salazar Osuna, 20, appeared before a judge wearing an orange jumpsuit and chains inside 40 Centre St. on the afternoon of Dec. 3. He looked like a criminal, but he had not committed a crime.<\/p>\n

It took minutes for the judge to hear the argument and grant his immediate release. Osuna\u2019s parents wept with joy as they walked down the stone staircase to the courthouse, knowing they would soon see their only son again.<\/p>\n

Both the mother and father, who asked to remain unnamed, wiped tears from their eyes, the patriarch holding a cellphone FaceTiming other overjoyed family members. A class on a school trip saw the couple and, although not quite understanding what had taken place joined in, cheering them on in celebration.<\/p>\n

Although he has missed Thanksgiving with his family, Wednesady turned out to be a different day of giving thanks for Osuna\u2019s family.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI really can\u2019t express how grateful I am. I don\u2019t have the words in this moment to express how grateful I am,\u201d his mother said with the help of a translator. \u201cI am blessed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\"\"Both the mother and father, who asked to remain unnamed, wiped tears from their eyes, the patriarch holding a cellphone FaceTiming other overjoyed family members.Photo by Dean Moses \"\"Both the mother and father, who asked to remain unnamed, wiped tears from their eyes, the patriarch holding a cellphone FaceTiming other overjoyed family members.Photo by Dean Moses \"\"The family hugs Peter Melck Kuttel. Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n

A team effort to secure teen\u2019s freedom from ICE<\/p>\n

Eyewitnesses say that on Nov. 25 at around 11 a.m. on the 14th floor of 26 Federal Plaza, Salazar Osuna was violently accosted by a group of masked ICE agents. Not fully understanding what was happening, he attempted to break free but was forced into an open elevator and shoved against a wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was outside the elevator banks as we were walking over, the agents had jammed the elevator doors open so no one could call down an elevator, effectively trapping us on the floor with the family. And that gave them enough time, I guess, to see Deglis and then go to work detaining him,\u201d Peter Melck Kuttel said, a volunteer who has been donating his time to aid those dealing with ICE separations. \u201cHe got thrown into the elevator, pinned up by a few agents into the corner, and then we never saw him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kuttel worked with Father Fabian Arias of Saint Peter\u2019s Church, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, and U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman\u2019s office to fight the detainment.<\/p>\n

For just under a week, Osuna was held at the Orange County Detention Center. After the dogged determination of his legal time, he was finally cut loose late Wednesday afternoon.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are just so happy to be able to have the family united and together for the holidays, to be able to be with the entire family,\u201d his mother said.\n<\/p>\n

\"\"Emerging through the door, his mother leapt to her feet, wrapping her arm around her son and letting out wails of pain and happiness.Photo by Dean Moses \"\"Emerging through the door, his mother leapt to her feet, wrapping her arm around her son and letting out wails of pain and happiness.Photo by Dean Moses \"\"The family wiped their tears.Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n

The parents waited inside Congress Member Goldman\u2019s office as a representative for the congressman collected the young man.\n<\/p>\n

As Osuna rode the building\u2019s elevator, he seemed to tighten, his nerves spilling over as he waited to see his mother and father again.\n<\/p>\n

Emerging through the door, his mother leapt to her feet, wrapping her arm around her son and letting out wails of pain and happiness. The father followed behind and joined in.\n<\/p>\n

After the reunion, Salazar Osuna showed his wrists where the handcuffs had dug into his skin and pointed to his arm where he said he received an injection, although he does not know why or what it was for. But more then anything, he said he was just happy to be back with his loved ones and said all he wanted to do was go home and shower.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very happy. I prayed for them every day and every night,\u201d Salazar Osuna said. \u201cI love them very much.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

While this is one small victory for this family, Kuttel pointed out that there are so many others who need help but also added those who are fighting these detainments are working harder.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of many, but we\u2019ve got many more. What I do love about it is that we\u2019re getting faster, we\u2019re getting smarter. I think a lot of people are realizing now that something can be done, that there is still a semblance of America left,\u201d Kuttel said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Salazar Osuna showed his wrists where the handcuffs had dug into his skin and pointed to his arm where he said he received an injection,Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n

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