9-year-old who pleaded to go to spelling bee is released from ICE detention
9-Year-Old’s Spell-Bee Plea Leads to ICE Release
A 9-year-old boy, Deiver Henao Jimenez, who urged his family to be released from an immigration detention center so he could participate in his state spelling bee, has been freed, according to his family’s lawyer. The decision came after a request filed by Corey Sullivan Martin, the legal representative, and followed media attention on the case. Deiver, an asylum-seeker from Colombia, had been held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas since early March, when he and his parents were detained during an immigration check-in in New Mexico.
Child’s Emotional Appeal Sparks Release
Deiver’s plea during a video call with children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, highlighted his longing to return to school. “I don’t want to be here anymore,” he said, expressing his dissatisfaction with the detention environment. “Nothing is good here.” The conversation, shared on Accurso’s social media, also revealed his concerns about missing the New Mexico state spelling bee in May, which he had qualified for by placing third in a regional competition.
“I don’t see how it was necessary at all to detain a child who was doing exactly what we want children to do,” Sullivan Martin remarked. The family plans to resume their immigration check-ins in New Mexico while their case continues.
Humanitarian Parole and Advocacy Efforts
ICE granted the family humanitarian parole Wednesday, approximately a week after Sullivan Martin submitted the request. The move follows pressure from immigration advocates, who have criticized the facility for its conditions. Deiver’s elementary school principal had previously written a letter in mid-March supporting his release, emphasizing the child’s academic dedication and strong attendance record.
Meanwhile, Gael, a 5-year-old with developmental disabilities, also received release after his case gained public focus. His parents described worsening medical issues during his time at Dilley, where lights remain on continuously and officers monitor the premises. The facility has drawn scrutiny for alleged shortcomings in medical care and education, with some families reporting poor food and lengthy waits for treatment. DHS has defended the facility, stating it provides adequate services tailored to detainees’ needs.
Ms. Rachel’s Role in the Movement
Accurso, famed for her pink headband and upbeat style, has become a vocal advocate for detained families. After her video sessions with children, she called for the closure of Dilley and the return of families to their communities. During their interaction, Deiver shared that he missed his friends and found the food at the center unappealing, causing stomach discomfort.
“We’re trying to get a child out of a jail to do a spelling bee,” Accurso stated last week, noting the unexpected nature of the situation. Mike Hixenbaugh, a senior investigative reporter for NBC News and author of They Came for the Schools, covered the case, underscoring its broader implications for immigration policy and children’s rights.
