ICE Family Separation in NYC: A Father and Son's Story

The Detention and Separation of Fay Zang and His Son

• 💔 A six-year-old boy, Yansen Zang, and his father, Fay Zang, were detained at an ICE check-in in New York City on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving.
• 📍 The father was transferred to an adult detention center in Orange County, while the son was taken into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
• 🏠 The family had entered the U.S. seeking asylum in April and had been previously detained twice, most recently released on October 24th, just a month before their rearrest and separation.
• ❓ The whereabouts of the child remain unknown to his father's lawyer and advocates, raising significant concerns.

Broader Context of Child Arrests by ICE

• 📊 Data from UC Berkeley's Deportation Data Project indicates ICE has arrested at least 150 children in the New York City area from January through mid-October.
• ⚡ Arrests and deportations often happen very quickly, making them difficult to track and corroborate, especially for families in mixed-status households who fear speaking out.
• 🗣️ Activists at a recent rally highlighted the distress of the situation, emphasizing that this child is "not the only one."

Explanations and Discrepancies in the Separation

• ⚠️ DHS stated that Mr. Zang was disruptive and refused to board a plane, leading to separation and the child being placed in protective custody.
• ✈️ However, the separation occurred at 26 Federal Plaza, which does not have planes, casting doubt on DHS's explanation.
• 💬 An advocate reported Mr. Zang had an incident in August related to anger at 26 Federal Plaza, but this does not align with the DHS account of events.

Legal Recourse and Transparency Challenges

• ⚖️ While the father has a lawyer and legal advocates are involved, the specific facility where the child is held has not been officially confirmed.
• 📜 Mr. Zang had been released on a year-long parole, which included a clause that DHS could change its mind at any time, highlighting the uncertainty faced by immigrants.
• 🔍 Reporting on immigration enforcement is challenging due to a lack of transparency and difficulty in obtaining official information, even when warrants are issued for specific purposes like seizing electronic devices.

Potential Legal Avenues for the Family

• 🏛️ Lawyers are exploring legal avenues, potentially including federal lawsuits like a writ of habeas corpus, to address the separation and the child's location.
• ❓ While ICE may have more leeway to make arrests under an order of supervision, the separation of a father and son is expected to be a significant point of legal contention.