UPDATE: ICE Says Ossining High School Senior Was Ordered Deported in November

UPDATE: A 19-year-old Ossining resident who was detained by immigration enforcement officers Thursday had been ordered deported by a judge back in November, according to ICE officials. Diego Puma Macancela's mother was also picked up by ICE agents in Ossining, according to Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

ICE also disputed the village mayor's statement about their visit to Ossining this week to detain Puma Macancela, who was just about to finish high school.

Spokeswoman Rachael Yong Yow said local officials had been notified:

ICE officers arrested Diego Ismael Puma Macancela, 19, an Ecuadorian national, June 8 pursuant to a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge Nov. 16, 2016. Puma Macancela is currently in ICE custody pending removal from the United States. Contrary to a statement issued from the Ossining Mayor’s Office, local police received prior notification that ICE would be in the local area conducting targeted enforcement actions.

Mayor Victoria Gearity's statement (see below) said ICE agents had not notified local officials about the location of their operation in Ossining.

Lowey (D-Rockland/Westchester), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the arrest of the 19-year old Ossining High School senior by federal immigration authorities:

“On Thursday morning, federal authorities took a 19-year old Ossining High School senior into custody on the day of his prom and just weeks before graduation simply because of his family’s immigration status. Instead of celebrating the end of high school with his friends and peers, this young man was arrested and processed for deportation to Ecuador. The Ossining community has admirably risen to show support for this young man who was well-liked and admired.

“In the Lower Hudson Valley, we understand that our tightly knit, diverse communities are places where people of all backgrounds work to build a brighter future together. It is unconscionable that the Trump Administration would violate this fundamental trust, and I am deeply concerned this reckless action will have a chilling effect on the critical relationships between immigrant communities, law enforcement, and school officials. Young people who were brought to the United States as minors and have no criminal record should never be subject to such a cruel, deportation-first policy.

“I have been in touch today with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to express my concern for the wellbeing of the student and his mother, who was also arrested earlier this week. I join with Ossining community leaders in calling on ICE to immediately grant this young man a stay of removal. While it is critical we work to improve our nation’s immigration system, the Trump Administration’s increasingly aggressive assault on immigrant families does not reflect the values on which this nation was founded. Congress must immediately work to pass a comprehensive immigration package that will reform our nation’s broken immigration laws, keep families together, and protect our economy.”

UPDATE: School superintendent Ray Sanchez says that Ossining would welcome Diego Puma Macancela back to finish his senior year so he can graduate from high school, if the court permits it. The 19-year-old was picked up by ICE agents on Thursday. According to his online supporters, the enforcement effort happened the morning of his senior prom.

Statement from Superintendent Ray Sanchez:
We were recently notified of this situation. We understand from the family's legal counsel that an appeal will be filed to at least grant our student the ability to finish high school over the next several weeks, as he was on course to do. Given permission by the courts, we would, of course, welcome our student back for his final exams and graduation next week. As always, we will continue to provide our students with a safe and supportive environment including any and all students impacted by this situation.

The district is not lobbying the court, Sanchez said.

OSSINING, NY — An Ossining High School student was picked up by U.S. customs enforcement Thursday. He had apparently been working for years to be allowed to stay legally. Those efforts had finally been exhausted.

Diego Puma was picked up the morning of his senior prom.

"The incident took place yesterday across the street from my house. It was early morning as families and children left for work and waited at the bus stop a few feet away," said Mayor Victoria Gearity.

Sad and angry, members of the community have started an online petition.

"He works with me, and he's a very good kid. Works very hard and does not deserve this," said one signer, Luis Q.

Village officials issued a statement Friday:

Ossining Village Officials and the Ossining Police Department have worked hard to strengthen relationships between the immigrant community and local law enforcement. As a result of recent incidents involving federal immigration agencies in the Village, fear and anxiety is felt by many of our residents.

Thursday morning federal immigration authorities initiated an investigation in our community. Local police were not notified of the location of this operation. It is also believed that this federal agency had been operating in the Village the previous day, again, without notifying the local police department.

The person taken into custody today by federal immigration authorities was an 19 year old Ossining High School student. There was a final order of deportation that had been issued by an immigration judge. We believe this individual had been permitted to remain in the United States for several years while his case was reviewed.

Mayor Gearity states, "Village of Ossining local law enforcement and elected officials continue to strive for improved communication with Ossining's immigrant community. It is our hope that federal agencies will properly notify the Ossining Police Department whenever they are working in the community, and keep the department up to date as circumstances change. Ensuring that residents feel safe in our community, and will report crimes and seek assistance from the local police department, is essential for keeping everyone in Ossining safe."

PHOTO/ Petition SAVE OSSINING STUDENT DIEGO PUMA