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Under the first snowfall of the year, dozens of people gathered on November 11 in front of the federal Hanley building in Syracuse, New York, to demand the release of Alcibiades Lázaro Ramírez González and Yannier Vázquez Hidalgo, a recently married Cuban couple detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The case has sparked a wave of solidarity in the city.
With placards, chants, and messages of support, coworkers, local activists, and union members called for their immediate release and denounced what they see as a violation of fundamental values of justice and human dignity.
“No one should be separated from their loved ones for daring to believe in the American promise”, stated Melinda Person, one of the participants in the protest.
A similar message resonated in the voice of William Magnarelli, who recalled that the story of this couple "is not different from previous generations of immigrants who came to downtown New York" and that "no one should be torn from the people they love for daring to believe in the American promise.”
Protest under the snow and a message of resistance
Despite the cold and snow, the demonstration outside the courthouse was massive. Amidst the calls for their release, one of the detainees managed to communicate by phone from the detention center to thank those who raised their voices for them.
The gesture moved those present and strengthened the commitment to continue the fight.
"We will continue protesting until they are released," said several protesters, who also expressed solidarity with other immigrants facing similar situations.
"We're not going to stop until they return home," they insisted.
A detention that has shaken the community
The couple, known among friends as Alex and Jan, was detained on October 29 during a routine appointment with immigration authorities, as part of their legal process to regularize their status in the country.
Just two months earlier, they had married in the United States and were working as employees in the Environmental Services team at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where they had earned the appreciation of their colleagues for their supportive attitude and commitment to their work.
His arrest took those who knew him by surprise, and for many, it symbolizes the rift between the promises of a more humane immigration policy and the reality faced by immigrants in the United States.
“They are not criminals, they came here to survive”, said Ashley Clark, friend and colleague of the couple.
“They are a beacon of light at work, giving everything to help others,” he added.
Clark has led a support campaign that includes collecting letters of recommendation, selling shirts with the message “Survival isn't illegal”, and organizing public demonstrations such as the one in Syracuse.
Union support and fear of deportation
The cause of Alex and Jan has been supported by the unions United University Professions (UUP) and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), which have denounced the policy of detentions and deportations that affects even individuals without a criminal record, such as this couple.
Both men remain detained in a facility in Batavia, New York, and are facing court hearings that could determine their immediate future.
Family members and advocates fear they will be deported to Cuba, where they assert they were victims of political persecution and homophobia.
"There is no protection or justice for them there," warned a close relative recently.
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