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Queens high school student detained at court hearing, held in overcrowded ICE cells, released after six weeks

Jul 18, 2025·Location: Queens, NY

Country of origin: Ecuador

Queens high school student detained at court hearing, held in overcrowded ICE cells, released after six weeks
Photo via nyti.ms

Derlis Snaider Chusin Toaquiza, a 19-year-old 11th grader from Ecuador at Grover Cleveland High School in Queens, was detained by ICE on June 4, 2025, during a scheduled immigration court hearing. He was initially held at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City in severely overcrowded conditions—confined in a room so crowded he could not lie down and forced to sleep sitting up with approximately two dozen other people. Over two days of detention at that facility, he was given only two meals total. He was then moved to a gymnasium inside the facility that was equally overcrowded with no beds, blankets, or access to basic necessities. After six weeks in a Texas detention facility, the Envision Freedom Fund posted his $20,000 bond, and he was released on July 18, 2025, to reunite with his family.

Timeline

Jul 18, 2025—Released on $20,000 bond posted by Envision Freedom Fund after six weeks in custody
Jun 6, 2025—Transferred to gymnasium at same facility, conditions remained overcrowded with no beds or blankets
Jun 4, 2025—Detained by ICE at immigration court hearing and held at 26 Federal Plaza in overcrowded conditions with limited food and basic necessities
Jun 2025—Transferred to detention facility in Texas
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