by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie
MERIDEN, CT — The festive atmosphere of a family reunion Monday was tempered by the lingering presence of one who wasn’t there.
The town of Meriden celebrated the return of Kevin, 16 (he turns 17 on Christmas Day) from a detention center in Texas after six months of detainment with a homecoming event at the public library. Kevin and his father had been grabbed by ICE agents when they showed up for what they thought was a routine check-in in June, days before Kevin was due to graduate high school early.
The status of Kevin’s father remains unclear after supporters declined to comment on his situation.
“Kevin is an extraordinary young man, and we’re overjoyed to have him home for Christmas and his 17th birthday,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of Connecticut students for a dream. “Today we celebrate him and the Meriden community that stood by his side. Tomorrow, we continue the work to protect every young person facing unjust detention.”
Kevin himself, speaking through an interpreter, thanked those in attendance and his legal team, both in Connecticut and Texas, that spent six months fighting to free him from ICE detention.
Sonya Jelks, Meriden City Council majority leader, issued a warning not to ignore the damage caused by his prolonged detention.
“This should never have happened, but Meriden will continue to stand up for its residents and demand humane immigration policies,” she said.
State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, was part of Kevin’s legal team in his role as an attorney with Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, said Kevin’s return was a triumph for him and his community, but also for the rule of law.
“His imprisonment was cruel, unjust, and violated federal law; and his return should send a message to the Trump Administration,” Blumenthal said. “When our immigrant neighbors are unjustly detained, Connecticut communities and lawyers will fight back.”
Blumenthal said the legal team had filed court documents demanding information about why the federal government felt it had a legal basis to continue holding Kevin in Texas. When confronted by a judge with that very question, rather than answer, Kevin was released.
Blumenthal said it shouldn’t require the persistence of a legal team to get Kevin and others like him out of detention a thousand miles from home and back with their families.
“It should be enough that they’re kids,” he said. “In this country, it should be enough that they’re just human beings.”