Chelsea Community Holds Vigil After Two Students Detained by ICE

In Chelsea, Massachusetts, the community has rallied in support of two young men, a high school student and a recent graduate, who were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite having no criminal records and proper documentation. Belizario A. Benito Vazquez, a 19-year-old student seeking asylum from Guatemala due to family abuse and gang threats, was detained after a meeting he believed was part of his asylum process, causing distress to his family who fear for his safety if returned. Similarly, 20-year-old Geovani De La Cruz Catalán, who graduated from Chelsea High School just days before his detention, was stopped near his home and taken into custody, leaving his family devastated. Community members, including school officials, have expressed solidarity with the families, emphasizing the need to keep families together and calling ICE’s actions an injustice. Vigils and rallies at Chelsea City Hall have drawn dozens of supporters holding signs advocating for immigrant rights and demanding the release of the two young men as the community voices concerns about being targeted by ICE. Both families continue to plead for their sons' release to allow them to continue their education and asylum processes safely.