Bronx, NY: Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) today issued the following statement concerning the ongoing deportation case of Javier Castillo Maradiaga. Javier’s deportation was halted early Friday morning and he was not deported to Honduras. He remains in ICE custody in Alexandria, Louisiana.

“Javier’s deportation has been postponed—but only temporarily. ICE’s repeat game of threatening deportation and then delaying it abruptly has the effect of terrorizing Javier and his family. End the terror. Send Javier home to his family in the Bronx. Enough is enough.

It is hard to overstate the senseless terror and trauma that ICE causes.  ICE has discretion, as all enforcement agencies do, to halt deportations—at least until the DHS Secretary is confirmed.

Instead of exercising enforcement discretion in accordance with the express will of President Joe Biden, ICE continues to execute the policies of Donald Trump, acting like the rogue agency it has long been.”