Local teen detained by ICE after waiting four years to enter ICE’s ATD program

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (WDEF) – Continuing our coverage on Daniel Garzon Romero, the recent Ooltewah High School graduate currently being detained by ICE, News 12 spoke with Romero, his parents, and local translators about how the situation unfolded.

News 12 was able to make contact with Romero while he remains in ICE custody.

The family spoke through translators, including Romero’s teacher, Rebekah Langford, who helped explain the conditions he described while detained.

“They gave him his food. Basically, they’re just waiting for anything they need to do, and they’re just waiting for the next moment, the next day. It’s just like a holding pattern,” Langford translated.

Romero’s mother claims her son had been waiting for years to enter an asylum program that would allow him to continue working toward citizenship.

According to Alexandra Romero Garzon, the family attended what they believed would be a routine appointment before Daniel was detained.

“So I went into the office and they pulled my husband and I into one room, and then Daniel into another room,” she explained. “When we left the room, we didn’t see him, so we asked where he was, and they said he had been detained. I was frustrated because they were not telling me why or what happened.”

The family stated that during the weeks leading up to the appointment, the app used for check ins was not functioning properly.

They also provided conversations and screenshots they say show attempts to resolve the issue.

Romero said officials later told him he was detained because of alleged missing photos during his required check ins.

“I had four weeks of an error with the photos I was supposed to upload into the app, and they didn’t care,” Romero explained. “Even though we had proof on my phone, they didn’t let me show them anything. They arrested me.”

The teen’s parents stated that his court date to enter the asylum program was expected to happen sometime in December 2026.

Now, they say they are uncertain about what comes next.

“I just want you to know, son, that we are moving heaven and earth to get you out. I love you,” said Alexandra Romero Garzon.

Daniel’s father, Giovanni Valerrama Paez, also shared a message of encouragement for his son.

“Danny, I have told you several times that everything happening right now is a big twist, and you have handled it very well,” he stated. “We are going to get through this. God gives His toughest battles to His strongest warriors.”

When asked if he had a message for the community, Romero thanked those supporting him and his family.

“My message is that we should not hide because we are not doing anything wrong,” Romero said. “We are only trying to have a better life so we can be happy and stay together. ”

The family says Romero has since been transferred from Alabama to a detention center in Louisiana.

News 12 has also reviewed translated messages between Alexandra Romero Garzon and individuals she contacted while attempting to fix the app issue before Daniel’s detention.

The messages appear to show the family repeatedly seeking help after the application logged Daniel out and would no longer allow him to sign back in.

News 12 will continue following this story as the family awaits further updates regarding Romero’s case.

TEXT MESSAGES TRANSLATED FROM LANGFORD:

“Saliendo de su zona de inclusión maestra”
→ “Leaving her inclusion area, teacher.”
“Buen día, quisiera informar que la aplicación de mi hijo se cerró y no pudo acceder nuevamente”
→ “Good morning, I would like to inform you that my son’s application closed and he was unable to access it again.”
“Hola como asi?”
→ “Hello, what do you mean?”
“Buena noche a el le dieron un usuario y una clave para ingresar, pero ayer mismo reviso la aplicación y se habia cerrado sesión cuando el intento ingresar con los datos que le dieron sale que son datos incorrectos”
→ “Good evening, they gave him a username and password to log in, but yesterday when he checked the application, it had logged him out. When he tried to log in with the information they gave him, it said the information was incorrect.”
“Buen dia acabamos de presentarnos en la oficina de chattanooga Tennessee pero no nos atendieron por que los de BI no estan aquí solo de lunes a miércoles”
→ “Good morning, we just went to the office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but they did not help us because the BI staff are only here from Monday to Wednesday.”
“Ok entonces por favor valle el dia lunes a las 8 para que le puedan transferir el caso”
→ “Okay then, please come Monday at 8 so they can transfer the case.”
“También, le pueden ayudar a su hijo.”
→ “They can also help your son.”