AUSTIN, Texas – Austin activists are celebrating an immigrant teen being reunited with his family after he was detained for more than four months.

“It was Feb. 15. We were at work doing construction. Suddenly police came, immigration came and took us all without motive. We’ve never had any issues,” said 19 year-old Alberto Contreras.

It was the start of a harrowing journey for the 19 year old with no criminal history, who along with his uncle and a group of other men, were rounded up as part of a raid.

“Alberto and several others were detained while working at a construction site in Round Rock. They were simply there doing their job,” said Emily Timm of the Workers Defense Project.

It was his lowest moment, said Contreras, made worse by what he calls dehumanizing treatment by immigration agents.

“I was heartbroken. I cried. I was treated like a criminal for trying to work. I was handcuffed and chained,” said Contreras.

His temporary freedom came at a hefty price. His costly released was set at $11,000, which some argue shouldn’t have been so high.

“A youth, for someone who doesn’t really have any background or justification for such a high bail. No charge whatsoever in the first place but now we’re seeing that it’ happening with more frequency,” said Timm.

Thanks to a community-wide effort led by the Workers Defense Project, his release was secured.

“I’m still so surprised. I never expected anything like this. I’m so grateful to them and to God for getting me through this,” said Contreras.

While he is out on bail the proceedings are ongoing meaning his future in the country is still up in the air.