BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Ernesto Manuel-Andres, an 18-year-old immigrant, and his father were detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency three weeks ago.

What You Need To Know

  • Ernesto Manuel-Andres was detained just weeks after he graduated high school in Bowling Green

  • According to Luma Mufleh, the CEO of Fugees Family, Manuel-Andres had Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

  • Manuel-Andres is now in a detention center in Louisiana

  • A hearing was set for June 18, but has been delayed

According to Luma Mufleh, the CEO of a nonprofit called Fugees Family, Manuel-Andres had Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which grants legal protection to undocumented juveniles even after they turn 18.

“A young man like that, with legal papers, just trying to track a future for himself in the United States, is arrested.” Albert Mbanfu, the executive director of the International Center of Kentucky, said.

Advocates are outraged by Manuel-Andres being detained, as he also had deferred action from the Department of Homeland Security, which exempts him from being deported until 2029.

“That should be a call for concern for all of us,” Mbanfu said.

Manuel-Andres, who is originally from Guatemala, was detained just weeks after he had graduated high school.

According to Mufleh, ICE detained Manuel-Andres as a “collateral” and pressured him to self-deport, which he refused.

Manuel-Andres is now in a detention center in Louisiana. Despite being many miles away, Kentuckians are still seeking justice.

“It’s a city with a big heart,” Mbanfu said. “A city that welcomes. A city that loves. When I see the population come out to demand that this young boy to be brought back. That is who we are.”

Religious leaders have come out in Manuel-Andres’ defense.

Adam Shrouds, the senior pastor at Broadway United Methodist Church, held a vigil last night for him.

“We want him to be home,” Shrouds said. “We feel like the unity of the faith community, the power of prayer, the power of coming together is a powerful statement for the right thing to be done.”

Shrouds said he uses religion as a means to love his neighbor.

“I think it comes from the Old Testament, which says we should show hospitality to the foreigner because we were once foreigners. That’s God's desire that we would not only reach out or care for people who are from other places, but that we would show extra hospitality,” Shrouds said.

A hearing for Manuel-Andres was set for June 18, but has been delayed.

ICE has not responded to Spectrum News 1’s request for comment.

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