Congresswoman Torres Condemns ICE for Leaving Released Detainee Without Support, Calls for Basic Human Dignity
Washington, D.C – Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement after Maykel Andree Fonseca Cabrera was released from the Adelanto Detention Center by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and left without assistance to reach his family in South Carolina from California:
“After more than a year and a half in detention, Maykel Andrew Fonseca Cabrera was released by ICE Adelanto with no plan, no support, and no safe way to get home. ICE didn’t just release him, they abandoned him.
“This is unacceptable. No one should be dumped at an airport or on the street and told to figure it out on their own after prolonged detention. That is not how a government that claims to value human dignity should operate. Mr. Fonseca Cabrera was released without confirmed travel arrangements or clear guidance on how to reunite with his family. With no one available to receive him upon release, he was left in a vulnerable and confusing situation.
“My office stepped in to make sure Mr. Fonseca Cabrera had at least a meal and immediate support but that should not fall on congressional offices or outside groups scrambling at the last minute. ICE must do better.”
Rep. Torres is calling on ICE to implement clear, humane release protocols that ensure individuals are not left stranded without basic necessities, transportation coordination, or communication with family members.
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