Victor Gonzalez-Triana of Barrington, N.H., was released from custody Tuesday, after he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(An earlier version of the story continues below here...)
Attorneys for a man who was recently granted permanent resident status in the country say he's being held by ICE unlawfully.
Victor Manuel Gonzalez-Triana -- a resident of Barrington, New Hampshire -- had his deportation case dropped by an immigration judge five days ago. His lawyers say his Green Card arrived in the mail Monday.
But they say he's still being held by ICE in Massachusetts.
Attorney Stephanie Marzouk says she tried to call the government attorneys prosecuting Triana's case, but was not able to get anyone on the phone. She believes the partial government shutdown is to blame.
"Really the immigration courts and the Office of Chief Counsel, I think, are on a reduced staff,” Marzouk says. “They're only handling detained cases and they just don't have extra hands around to, kind of, answer the phone and do these basic things."
Marzouk says she has since been in contact with ICE, who say they're working on Triana's release.
On Monday, the ACLU filed an emergency petition for a hearing on Triana's behalf.
“What should be an exciting day for our client—finally receiving his proof of permanent residency -- has been marred by the fact that he is still being held by ICE,” SangYeob Kim, Immigration Legal Fellow at the ACLU of New Hampshire, said in a statement. “We look forward to his release so that he can continue living the life he has built in the United States.”
