Meriden community welcomes home teen detained by ICE before high school graduation
Federal and state leaders, local school officials, city council members and many more gathered at the Meriden Public Library to welcome 16-year-old Kevin home.
Dozens of people came together on Christmas Eve in Meriden to celebrate something other than the holiday — the release of a local teen who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement just days before his high school graduation in June.
Federal and state leaders, local school officials, city council members and many more gathered at the Meriden Public Library to welcome 16-year-old Kevin home. The former honor roll student was visibly overwhelmed by the love as he addressed the crowd.
"You got this, Kevin!" Someone from the audience shouted.
With one of his attorneys by his side, Kevin, who's originally from Ecuador, thanked the community for everything.
He's had an army of support behind him for over six months, ever since ICE took Kevin and his father into custody at what was supposed to be a routine check-in.
"Kevin's sudden detention shocked classmates, educators, faith leaders, and elected officials, all of whom quickly mobilized to demand his release," said Kica Matos, National Immigration Law Center president.
At Maloney High School's graduation, students honored Kevin by leaving an empty chair where he should have been.
"My first reaction was disbelief. I was aghast. And I thought to myself, 'Not in America?!'" recalled U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who attended the homecoming reception.
Kevin was sent to an immigration facility in Texas, thousands of miles away while a team of attorneys in Connecticut and Texas fought to reunite him with his family, friends and community. The group included Blumenthal's son, State Sen. Matt Blumenthal.
"Kevin's release and his return today is a victory, not only for Kevin, not only for his family and not only for this community. It is a victory for the rule of law," Matt Blumenthal explained. "He shouldn't have to be on the front lines of this fight, but his strength and his courage should inspire us."
Kevin never planned to be in the spotlight. But on Wednesday, despite nerves, he used it to ask for help for other immigrant kids and families.
"It's not easy, and we're all human, and we shouldn't be treated like this," Kevin said in Spanish.
Kevin will get the chance to bring that message to an even larger crowd. The elder Blumenthal said he plans to invite Kevin to Washington D.C. so lawmakers can put a face to the current immigration policies.
"A remarkable young man who one day I hope — in fact, I believe — will be a citizen of the United States of America," Richard Blumenthal told the crowd to applause.
Kevin's return wasn't just an early holiday gift for him. Christmas is also his 17th birthday.
