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Father of 26 Years Released From ICE Detention After Community Effort

Aug 8, 2026·Location: South Orange, NJ

Country of origin: Costa Rica

Father of 26 Years Released From ICE Detention After Community Effort
Photo via montclairlocal.news

Tonny Quesada-Ramirez, a Costa Rican national who has lived in the United States for approximately 26 years, was detained by ICE agents on August 7, 2026, while working on a home addition project near his South Orange residence. He lives with his wife and two children, one of whom has Down's syndrome, and had begun the green card application process when he was detained. Through efforts by South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum, Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative attorneys, immigration attorney Kate Reilly, and the group SOMA Community Cares, Quesada-Ramirez and two other local men were released from Delaney Hall detention center a few days after their arrest. ICE has stated he remains in removal proceedings, citing a prior 2001 removal order after he failed to appear in court and a 2010 arrest followed by release on bond in 2011; community members had raised over $50,000 to support him and others detained in the same enforcement action.

Timeline

Aug 8, 2026—South Orange Mayor Sheena Collum confirmed detentions; community began documenting enforcement activity and organizing support
Aug 8, 2026—Neighbor launched GoFundMe for Quesada-Ramirez's legal defense; community fundraising effort surpassed $50,000
Aug 7, 2026—Tonny Quesada-Ramirez and at least four others detained by ICE in South Orange-Maplewood area; detainees held at Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark
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