“This is hell, I can’t stand it, I want to be with my family.”
This is how Oscar Chico Castillo describes his experience of being locked up for two months in an immigration detention center in Buffalo, New York.
His son Oscar is very sorry for what happened: “It is something very painful, very painful and I would not wish it on anyone,” he says.
Oscar Chico Castillo lived for 20 years in Queens and worked in a pizzeria. In November 2022 he decided to return to Mexico to open a business and live out his retirement with his other family members.
However, he received threats from the cartel in the region where he lived.
“He was mistreated in Mexico, his life is in danger, they threatened to kill him and that is why he decided to return here, to the United States,” adds his son.
In September of this year, Castillo arrived across the border from Montreal, Canada.
Immigration agents arrested him and according to his lawyer, they have not given the reasons for his detention.
Deisy Flores, Immigration Attorney, Make the Road NY indicates:
“Mr. Oscar does not have any criminal charges. The only charge he has is that he entered the United States and was detained by ICE.”
He added that the asylum department denied him an interview to request this protection.
“Right now we are waiting for the immigration judge to review the decision of the asylum office to see if he can stay here in the United States,” says Flores.
Yatziri Tovar works for the non-profit organization, Make the Road fighting for immigrant rights. She says her father-in-law’s case is a calling.
“That we have to do more for our immigration system. We have to keep putting pressure on this Biden administration because it has been. Just as my family is separating now, many families have separated,” explains Yatziri Tovar, his daughter-in-law.
Together with the organization they have created a petition to free their father-in-law.
We contacted the immigration detention department and the court to learn more details about Oscar Chico Castillo’s case but at this time we have not received a response.
Meanwhile, this family is waiting for just one thing.
“That they let him out, that he can reunite with his family, with us and to be able to meet his granddaughter for the first time,” adds his son.
