Congresswoman Adams Calls on ICE to Release NC Teens from Stewart Detention Center

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12) has called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release three young men who are being held by the department for the duration of their ongoing legal proceedings. The letter comes shortly after Yefri Sorto-Hernandez, Pedro Salmeron, and Alexander Josue Soriano-Cortez received temporary stays of deportation from the Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).

“These individuals have received temporary stays of deportation from the Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and while I am pleased that they will remain in the country as their cases move forward, I have serious concerns,” Congresswoman Adams wrote in the letter.

The letter continues, “It is my understanding that their legal proceedings could take several months to be completed during which time, if these young men remain in detention, they will endure further psychological and physical harm. Additionally, Yefri and Pedro will be prohibited from continuing their education and fulfilling their dreams of graduating from high school. This is especially concerning because neither Yefri, Pedro,nor Alexander, have criminal records or present a threat to public safety or national security.

“These cases are a high priority for my office and for the communities that I represent. I respectfully request that in the absence of sound reasoning for their continued detention that you do all that is in your power to reunite Alexander, Pedro, and Yefri with their families,” the letter concludes.

Congresswoman Adams has been actively engaged with Yefri, Pedro, and Alexander’s cases. Her staff has been working with ICE and local community organizations since they first learned of the cases in February. On February 9, 2016, Congresswoman Adams convened a conference call with their families. Congresswoman Adams called ICE Director Chris Cronen on February 10, 2016 to ask for prosecutorial discretion for Pedro and Yefri of Charlotte and Alexander of Thomasville, and asked that they be released from ICE’s Stewart Detention Center in Georgia.

The full text of the letter is attached.