· Desk editor: Kamran Abbas · · 2 sources

Haitian boy detained by ICE in San Diego remains missing

Relatives of an eight-year-old Haitian boy taken into custody by federal immigration officers in San Diego on November 4 cannot locate the child.

Lawmaker calls detention despicable

California Democratic congressman Juan Vargas stated that the third-grader's whereabouts are currently unknown. He described the situation as despine and inhumane while working to reunite the boy with loved ones. Video footage shows armed officials leading the child away after a routine appointment. The boy attends Fay elementary school where he was in the care of his uncle.

Guardianship transfer failed

The Haitian Bridge Alliance executive director Guerline Jozef explained that the father was deported last year. Officials could not prove legal guardianship under federal anti-trafficking laws requiring care for unaccompanied alien children. A homeland security spokesperson said Immigration and Customs Enforcement took custody out of an abundance of caution. The boy lacked legal immigration status after his father was sent back to Mexico by Customs and Border Protection.

Community leaders express concern

School district officials wrote to ICE regarding the revocation of temporary protected status safeguards for Haitians. Trustee Cody Petterson stated that the best place for the child is with their uncle. The community lives under a cloud of terror following the loss of TPS protections. Families feel incredibly painful impacts after building lives in the United States without these safety nets.

2 outlets, different leads

  • The Guardian

    Haitian boy, 8, detained by ICE is now unaccounted for, lawmaker says

  • The Hill

    Family unsure where 8-year-old Haitian boy is being held after ICE detention

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2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.