Department of Homeland Security blocks release of Bowling Green area graduate

MONROE, La. – The Department of Homeland Security has blocked the release of a recent Bowling Green graduate.

According to a release by Fugees Family, on Monday, the DHS blocked 18-year-old Ernesto Manuel-Andres’ release despite a “federal immigration judge’s order that he should be freed on bond.”

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At Monday’s hearing, the release says the LaSalle Immigration Court, the judge set Manuel-Andres’ bond to $1,500. Fugees Family says the judge stated this is the lowest bond legally allowed.

The release states moments later, DHS used the right to appeal, which will cause Manuel-Andres to remain incarcerated, potentially for weeks.

“It is hard to overstate how devastating this is,” said Luma Mufleh, founder of Fugees Family, a national nonprofit serving immigrant youth. “To dangle freedom in front of him and then snatch it away, this is not justice. This is heartbreak.”

Fugees Family states, “Ernesto is in the United States legally. He holds Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status and Deferred Action, meaning the government has already ruled he poses no threat and determined he should not be deported.”

The nonprofit says despite this, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Manuel-Andres earlier this month while looking for a different individual.

Manuel-Andres has been transferred across multiple states and days before reaching Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana.

“This is a test of what kind of country we are,” said Mufleh. “Our laws say kids like Ernesto should be protected. What happened today was cruelty, pure and simple.”

News 40 will continue to provide the latest updates on this case as they are released.