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High school senior detained by ICE at asylum check-in, released after months

May 26, 2026·Location: Chicago, IL

Country of origin: Colombia

High school senior detained by ICE at asylum check-in, released after months
Photo via WBEZ

Ricardo Navarrete, an 18-year-old senior at Mather High School, was detained by ICE agents on March 16, 2026, during a scheduled check-in appointment for his pending asylum case. He had fled Colombia in 2022 seeking asylum, held a valid work permit and REAL ID, and had been accepted to play soccer at Truman College. Following his detention, Ricardo was transferred between multiple ICE detention facilities across Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, where he reported sleeping on floors without blankets and spending time in solitary confinement. His attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention, and he was released on May 26, 2026, just days before his high school graduation.

Timeline

May 26, 2026—Ricardo Navarrete released on bond, days before his high school graduation
May 19, 2026—Liliana Navarrete released from ICE custody after federal judge ordered her release
Mar 16, 2026—Both transferred to separate ICE detention facilities in Kentucky with minimal contact
Mar 15, 2026—Ricardo Navarrete and mother Liliana detained by ICE agents during scheduled asylum check-in appointment at federal immigration office
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