Family and Supporters Plea for Release
A vigil was held Friday night outside the Houston immigration facility where 15-year-old Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia remains in custody. Family members and immigrant rights group FIEL organized the event, calling for his release and reunification with his mother. Emmanuel, who relatives say has the mental capacity of a 4-year-old, has been held for nearly two weeks.
How He Ended Up in Federal Custody
Emmanuel wandered away from his mother on Oct. 4 and was found the next day by Houston police. Officers turned him over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, classifying him as an unaccompanied minor. His mother argues he should not be held there, as he is not unaccompanied.
The case drew controversy after Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz questioned Emmanuel’s autism diagnosis, saying he communicated clearly with officers and gave a different name than the one on the missing person report. Diaz defended his department’s actions, saying they contacted federal authorities only as a last resort.
Community Leaders Speak Out
U.S. Rep. Al Green attended the vigil to support the family. “I’m going to be visiting with the people who can make a difference and ask them to have mercy,” Green said.
Advocates at the vigil urged federal officials to release Emmanuel and called for greater transparency. His legal status remains unclear, raising questions about whether he will be freed amid the administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown.
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