SWIRC celebrates another release from detention.

In the bustling suburbs of Detroit, brothers Javier and Diego had built quiet, hardworking lives after fleeing instability in Venezuela. To their neighbors and coworkers at Whole Foods and Amazon Flex, they were simply “the favorites”—reliable, polite, and deeply devoted to their families. But despite their valid work permits and protected status, the brothers found themselves swept up in the chaotic machinery of immigration enforcement just as the 2025 holiday season began.

The Background

The brothers’ journey to safety was long. Diego, a former oil worker and human rights defender in Venezuela, had faced threats from “colectivos” for his activism, prompting him to seek asylum in the U.S. in 2021. His case was strong; in fact, his removal proceedings had been terminated in November 2024 after he was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Javier, who entered the U.S. in 2018, had also played by the rules, maintaining valid employment authorization and TPS status while raising his U.S. citizen son, Gabriel, with his partner, Elena.

The Arrest

The nightmare began on November 23, 2025. Both brothers were working their shifts delivering for Amazon Flex when they were abruptly apprehended by ICE officers. It appeared the officers had been watching them prior to the arrest, targeting them at their workplace despite their lawful presence and documented status.

The detention was a shockwave to their families. Javier’s partner, Elena, who suffers from mobility issues after a serious accident, was suddenly left alone to care for their 3-year-old son, Gabriel, who began crying himself to sleep asking for his father. Diego was separated from his fiancée, Ashley, a U.S. citizen who was left scrambling for answers.

The Legal Fight

The Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center (SWIRC) immediately stepped in. Legal Director Alex Vernon and attorney Kevin Piecuch mobilized to correct this injustice. They highlighted a critical failure in the enforcement action: both men had legal rights to be in the country. Javier held valid TPS and a work permit, and Diego’s deportation case had already been dismissed by a judge a year prior. Both men had entered the country lawfully and were unambiguously eligible for a bond hearing before the immigration court.

The SWIRC team compiled a mountain of evidence proving the brothers were assets to their community. Letters of support flooded in—from Amazon colleagues praising their professionalism to friends describing Javier as a “devoted father” and Diego as a man of “strong moral character”.

Reunion

The persistence paid off. On December 18, 2025, the Judge granted Javier a bond of $3,000, recognizing he was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.

Just in time for the New Year, the steel doors opened. Javier was released on December 29, 2025, just two days before his birthday. The very next day, December 30, Diego followed him to freedom.

The brothers returned home to a tearful and joyous reunion, ringing in 2026 where they belonged: with their families. Their story stands as a testament that even in the current mess of immigration enforcement, dedicated advocacy can protect the rights of immigrants and keep families together.

CAPTURED MOMENTS: (Left) Javier is reunited with his 3-year-old son, Gabriel, just two days before his birthday. (Center) Diego shares a moment of relief with his fiancée, Ashley. (Bottom) The brothers celebrate with their family and community, marking the start of 2026 in freedom.

Note: While this story and the legal victory are real, names have been changed and photos have been obscured to protect the privacy and safety of our clients as they continue their immigration journey.