Long Island Teen Detained by ICE Agrees to Self-Deport to Guatemala

Teen Detained by ICE Agrees to Self-Deport

• 💔 An 18-year-old student from Long Island, Alvaro Velasquez, has agreed to self-deport to Guatemala.
• 🎓 Velasquez was weeks away from graduating high school when he was detained by ICE.
• 🏫 His diploma and gown remain with the Roosevelt School District superintendent.

Circumstances of Detention and Deportation

• ⚠️ Velasquez was randomly picked up by ICE days before graduation, despite having no criminal record.
• ⚖️ He had been granted deferred action and was lawfully awaiting his green card.
• ✈️ He agreed to self-deport rather than remain in detention, a decision that has left his community fearful.

Background and Future Aspirations

• 😥 Velasquez came to the U.S. alone from Guatemala at age 16 after his mother died and father was absent.
• 📚 Teachers describe him as an exceptional student who appreciated his time at Roosevelt High School.
• 📈 He had aspirations of attending Nassau Community College and starting his own business.

Community and School Response

• 💬 The Roosevelt School District superintendent visited Velasquez in detention, describing the visiting conditions as stark, separated by bulletproof glass.
• 📣 The superintendent is determined to travel to Guatemala to provide Velasquez with the rights of passage he missed at graduation.
• 😟 The community, with a significant Latino and Hispanic population, fears the message this deportation sends to similar individuals.
• 🗓️ Velasquez has until October 20th to self-deport.