Rep. Thanedar Calls for Release of 18-Year-Old in ICE Custody
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Shri Thanedar sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the detainment and imminent deportation of 18-year-old Maykol Bogoya-Duarte.
Bogoya-Duarte is a student from Western International High in Detroit, Michigan, who was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on May 20, 2025. The letter respectfully requests an immediate update on his well-being, the reasons why he was initially targeted by law enforcement, and that he be granted a stay of deportation to complete his education.
As an immigrant himself, Rep. Thanedar is very concerned about this issue and the targeting of non-violent, hard-working people who are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Maykol was just 3.5 credits away from graduating from high school. His future, promising and bright, now remains uncertain in the face of this unjust detention. Mr. Bogoya-Duarte posed no threat to the community. He was in the process of working with ICE and the Colombian Consulate to obtain proper travel documents and arrange a safe return to Colombia in compliance with a judge's orders.
Rep. Thanedar will not stand by as our youth are criminalized for pursuing an education and a better life. These actions have had a profound impact on Maykol and his family, and our office hopes this letter will prompt the Department of Homeland Security to take immediate action and release him from ICE custody. He must be allowed to return to school and complete his education without disruption.
A full copy of the letter can be found below.
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