Austin Nonprofit Helps Reunite Migrant With Family

AUSTIN, TX — An immigrant youth was reunited with his family after four months following a campaign by a local nonprofit to ensure the reunion, officials said Tuesday.

Late Monday evening, 19-year old Alberto Contreras was released back to his family after over four months in the South Texas Detention Center, officials at Workers Defense Project, an Austin non-profit advocating for immigrants, said. Along with three other workers, the teenager was detained at a Central Texas construction work site raid in February. The young man, along with three others, had never been charged with a a crime and was simply doing his job remodeling an apartment complex in Round Rock at the time of the arrest, officials said.

His bail of $11,000 , an amount unusually high for someone with family and no criminal charges, was raised with support from Workers Defense Project, the Detained Migrant Solidarity Fund and broad community support.

“I am grateful to be home again with love ones,” Contreras said in a prepared statement. “Its unbearable to have your freedom taken away. I showed up for my job one morning in February and for nothing other than being Latino, I end up in ICE detention for 4 months. It was devastating to be away from my family that long.”

Contreras contributes to the household income comprising his aunt and uncle, who have cared for him and his three cousins since he was orphaned at a young age, WDP officials explained. Mayra Huerta, campaign manager with Workers Defense Project, led the campaign to bring the teenager home. “Today we celebrate that this young man is reunited with his loving family," Huerta said. "Alberto’s aunt, uncle and 11 year old niece have been fighting to get him home. In this era of rampant family separation, every family that is reunited is a victory against this vile policy of tearing families apart.”

Contreras is scheduled to be officially welcomed home Tuesday with a celebration at Workers Defense Project at 5604 Manor Rd. at 7:30 p.m. The event will also commemorate the passage of the Freedom Cities Policy by Austin City Council last week, which aims to reduce unnecessary arrests and detentions of members of the central Texas community.

>>> Photo of rally with protesters condemning current federal immigration policy at the state Capitol last week by Tony Cantú/Patch staff