NYC Backs Legal Fight to Free Bronx Teen Detained by ICE Despite Approved Immigration Status
New York City has formally intervened in the legal case of Joel Camas, a 16-year-old Bronx high school student currently held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, filing a brief today in support of his petition for release.
Camas, a junior at Gotham Collaborative High School with aspirations of becoming a certified mechanic, was taken into custody during a routine ICE check-in in October, despite having an approved Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) – a pathway to a green card – according to court filings. He arrived in New York with his mother in late 2022 and began the Family Court process in May 2024 after his father abandoned him; a Bronx County Family Court judge ruled in December 2024 that it was not in his best interest to return to Ecuador. His lawyers state he was detained after appearing for his scheduled check-in on October 23rd and transferred to Office of Refugee Resettlement custody.
City officials argue in court filings that Camas’s detention disrupts his education and jeopardizes the stability of local schools, highlighting his strong academic record, 100% attendance this year, and involvement in programs like The Door, a youth development agency. “These detentions have not only impacted the detained students but have rippled throughout the City’s education system, leaving teachers reeling and frightening parents and peers,” the city wrote in its amicus brief. This case underscores the growing tension between local efforts to support immigrant youth and federal immigration enforcement policies.
Camas’s attorney, Beth Baltimore of The Door’s Legal Services Center, emphasized that her client “does not pose a threat to public safety” and has “fully complied with each and every imposed condition” from ICE. Mayor Eric Adams stated the city is “proud to support his petition for justice,” adding, “[Joel Camas] is a hard-working student…who followed the proper immigration process.” ICE and U.S. attorneys for the Southern District of New York have not yet responded to requests for comment, and Camas remains detained while his case proceeds.
