Advocates Call for Release of Undocumented High School Student

Strategic Insights -

Advocates are calling on Michigan lawmakers and school officials to condemn the immigration arrest of an 18-year-old Western International High School student, Maykol Bogoya-Duarte. Maykol, an undocumented immigrant, had planned to return to Colombia with his mother after he graduated from high school but was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month. He faces an "imminent" risk of deportation and is now being held in a federal facility. Advocates want him to be released so he can complete his schooling in the U.S.

Key Takeaways:

  • Maykol Bogoya-Duarte, an 18-year-old undocumented immigrant, was detained by ICE on May 20 while driving with friends to a school field trip.
  • He is 3.5 credits away from graduating and is being held in a federal facility, facing an "imminent" risk of deportation.
  • Local police officers who pulled him over could not speak Spanish and called Customs and Border Protection, which advocates say could be seen as racial profiling.
  • Advocates are calling on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, several Democratic lawmakers, and Detroit school district leaders to fight for Maykol's release.
  • The Detroit Public Schools Community District board meeting will be held on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to urge school leaders to make public statements.
  • Advocates want the district to ensure its policies and practices support the needs of community members with immigration challenges.

Statistics:

  • Maykol is 3.5 credits away from graduating.
  • He has been detained in a federal facility for over a month.
  • Nearly 900 people have signed a petition asking Michigan officials to condemn Maykol's arrest and urge for his release.
  • The petition calls for action from several state and national lawmakers.
  • The Detroit Public Schools Community District has approximately 120,000 students.
  • Birmingham, a Detroit suburb, has an estimated 4600 public school aged children.

Sources:

  • Chalkbeat
  • 482Forward
  • MI Students Dream
  • The People's Assembly
  • Michigan Immigrant Rights Center
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • Detroit Public Schools Community District
  • Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
  • U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin
  • U.S. House Representatives Shri Thanedar and Rashida Tlaib