New York Assemblyman Francisco Moya Blasts Trump Administration for Detention of Westchester High School Student

NEW YORK, N.Y.  – In response to the arrest last week of a 19-year-old Ecuadorian-American high school student by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just days before he was set to graduate, New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya (D – Corona), the country’s first Ecuadorian-America elected to public office, is blasting what he is characterizing as the Trump Administration’s “unhinged” immigration policies surrounding the controversial detention.

“At what point does this administration admit that their immigration policy has immeasurably overstepped itself? The arrest of Diego Macancela, just days ahead of his graduation, demonstrates just how unhinged DHS and ICE protocol has become under Donald Trump. Neither a danger to national security or his community, Diego is simply a 19 year old student who only aspired to graduate with a high school degree.

“As an Ecuadorian elected official that represents a district of so many immigrants like Diego, this shows how close to home this war has come. I await ICE’s explanation, although I expect their statement will do nothing to justify Diego’s detention. The Trump administration owes the American public an explanation, and countless apologies to the families he has torn apart,” said New York State Assemblyman Francisco Moya.

Assemblyman Moya’s blistering criticism comes in response to the June 8th detention of Ossining, N.Y. high school senior Diego Puma Macancela. According to published reports, ICE agents, acting on a judge’s order for removal issued last November, detained the 19-year-old on the morning of his senior prom, causing the young man to miss the event and possibly preventing him from graduating.

The raid is the latest in a number of controversial detentions by ICE as part of the Trump Administration’s new anti-immigrant policies. This has created fear and suspicion among New York’s large immigrant communities, including Moya’s 39th Assembly District in Queens. The Ecuadorian-American legislator represents the communities of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona, widely considered to be among the most diverse communities in the entire country.

Moya has made immigration policies a centerpiece of his work in Albany, proposing bills that would extend New York’s existing sanctuary city policy to the entire state, and offering undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply for driver licenses. In light of this most recent ICE detention, Moya is vowing to continue to fight the Trump Administration on its immigration policies.

“So long as this administration continues to pursue a reckless immigration policy which targets the most vulnerable, New York has an obligation to step in and defend its communities,” concluded Moya.