Protest held for Elder Aguilar-Macario following transfer to ICE detention center
CHATTOOGA, Ga. (WDEF) – The family of Elder Aguilar-Macario is calling for his release after the Trion High School student was detained by ICE following a motor vehicle crash earlier this month.
On May 1, Aguilar-Macario was involved in a crash that resulted in his arrest and transfer to an ICE detention center.
Today, the Chattooga County Democratic Party hosted a protest outside the Chattooga County Courthouse in support of the teen’s release.
Cries from Aguilar-Macario’s mother could be heard as she called for the return of her son.
Aguilar-Macario’s father translated a message from her after the protest.
“She said, if he gets to see this message, the only thing she wants to tell him is that she loves him. She cannot wait for him to get back home and give him a big ol’ hug and tell him how much she loves him.”
According to the arrest report, Aguilar-Macario was charged with failure to maintain lane and driving without a license following the crash.
Driving without a license is considered a misdemeanor offense.
CRASH REPORT:
News 12 also spoke with Katie Long, the daughter of the driver involved in the crash.
Long said she supports the protest and does not believe Aguilar-Macario should remain in custody.
“I support the protest. He should not be held in custody,” Long stated in part. “Mom also believes he should be let go because after the wreck he was so respectable and nice. He was quick to make sure she was okay, and in no way do we believe that this should be happening to him.”
Protest organizer Sammy McGraw questioned why the teen was transferred to ICE custody.
“To be taken away from the family and everything, the ICE detention center seems a little out of pocket to me,” McGraw explained. “He could’ve went to jail for a couple nights like everybody else does, but to get taken in before he graduates.”
Another organizer, Holly Chaney, said she believes there should be a clearer pathway to citizenship for families like Aguilar-Macario’s.
“He should be offered citizenship and a pathway, and so should his parents, and so should all people who want to be here the right way,” Chaney elaborated. “It should be easier and more accessible to everyone. If everyone wants to be documented and we want to make sure who’s here, let’s give them that pathway. Let’s make it affordable and let’s do it quickly.”
News 12 asked Aguilar-Macario’s parents why he did not have citizenship.
They said they had attempted to complete the process.
“She tried. The only thing that happened is that she could not provide everything they asked for, asking for video, pictures, all of it, by the way, what was going on at the time, and she could not provide it.”
Aguilar-Macario’s brother, Yostin Aguilar-Macario, said he hopes to see his family reunited soon.
“It means a lot to me and for him, and it means a lot to him,” Yostin Aguilar-Macario shared. “People want to see him come back home a lot. Hopefully he’ll come back home. I really want to see him home.”
As the family continues calling for Aguilar-Macario’s release, supporters say they plan to continue advocating for him while awaiting updates on his detention status.
We will continue to keep you up to date on this developing story.
