In a heartwarming Thanksgiving story, a Manhattan father has been released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after more than three months of detention, allowing him to reunite with his severely disabled teenage son just in time for the holiday season.
Emotional Reunion After Prolonged Detention
Heury Gomez, a 43-year-old green card holder from Manhattan, was finally released from ICE custody on November 22, ending his 108-day ordeal that began on August 6. His first priority upon release was to see his 18-year-old son Noah, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
"Noah was really happy. He was smiling and laughing a lot," Gomez told the New York Daily News in Spanish, describing their emotional reunion. The moment was particularly poignant given Noah's condition - the young man is nonverbal, cannot walk, and depends on a tracheostomy tube for breathing.
Carolina Zapata, Gomez's cousin, witnessed the reunion and described it as a "beautiful moment" that moved her to tears. She emphasized the special bond between father and son, noting that Gomez is Noah's sole caretaker and primary source of comfort.
Unexpected Detention After Brief Vacation
The trouble began when Gomez returned from what was supposed to be a brief five-day birthday trip to Mexico City. According to CNN reports, he had taken this short vacation as a final respite before beginning intensive home medical training to care for Noah more effectively.
Upon landing at Newark International Airport on August 6, immigration officials detained Gomez based on prior convictions from nearly a decade ago. The convictions included two misdemeanors: assault with intent to cause physical injury and petty larceny from 2015.
Zapata explained that these convictions stemmed from a "petty argument" over an EBT card. Gomez had already served his time - 20 days in jail - completed probation, and paid all fines related to these decade-old offenses.
Legal Battle and Eventual Release
The breakthrough came during a cancellation of removal hearing on November 12, when a government attorney surprisingly did not contest Gomez's defense. Immigration Judge Ian Simons subsequently ordered his release from the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan.
Brian Pu-Folkes, Gomez's lawyer, revealed that the judge specifically cited the "extraordinary hardship his son would face if he was deported" as the primary reason for granting release. This acknowledgment of Noah's complete dependence on his father proved crucial in the case.
During his detention, Gomez reported difficult conditions, including feeling unsafe at times, experiencing inadequate food provisions, and witnessing tensions among detainees. His release came as a tremendous relief not just for him, but for his entire family support system.
Broader Immigration Context
This case occurs against the backdrop of expanded immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. As CNN reported, Gomez's situation reflects a broader pattern where green card holders and other legal residents increasingly face removal proceedings even for minor or old offenses that they've already served time for.
Despite the joyful reunion, the experience has left lasting scars. "This has been a traumatizing experience for him... it doesn't erase the injustice and the scars left behind from this ordeal," Zapata told the New York Daily News.
Since his release, Gomez and his cousin have resumed the necessary medical training to bring Noah home to their Hell's Kitchen apartment, where they can provide the round-the-clock care the young man requires. The family now looks forward to rebuilding their lives together after the traumatic separation.
