A father from Queens, New York, has been reunited with his family after months of detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Manuel Mejia Hernandez was released just in time to celebrate Christmas and the first birthday of his daughter, Mia Hernandez. His reunion with wife Alexandra Alvarez took place at LaGuardia Airport on December 5, 2025, marking a poignant moment for the family after a challenging separation.
Alvarez waited anxiously at the airport, cradling Mia in her arms as the clock approached midnight, the moment marking their daughter’s milestone birthday. The couple had been separated since October 22, when Hernandez was detained during a routine immigration check. His journey included time spent in various detention centers, far from his family, and he had no prior criminal record.
When Hernandez finally emerged from the escalator at LaGuardia, he was still wearing the same clothes he had on the day of his detainment. The emotional reunion was bittersweet; although he rushed to Mia and kissed her cheek, she did not recognize her father after such a long absence. Nevertheless, the warmth of the moment enveloped the family as they shared a tear-filled embrace, the airport’s Christmas decorations adding a festive backdrop to their reunion.
“I feel a weight has been lifted. It’s like I am not carrying a burden anymore,” Alvarez expressed, her gratitude palpable. “I’m so grateful to God and for everything that has happened.” Hernandez’s release came after a prolonged ordeal that included harsh treatment during his detention. He recounted being transported in shackles and experiencing inadequate conditions, including minimal food and lack of medical care.
Hernandez described a particularly distressing transfer to an Arizona detention center where detainees were reportedly kept handcuffed for up to 48 hours. “They put us in shackles and transferred us to El Paso, Texas. My ankles hurt. They even kicked me,” he recalled. In an effort to survive the experience, he worked in the facility’s laundry for just one dollar a day, folding used clothes in exchange for an extra meal.
Despite these challenges, Hernandez found solace in faith. He and fellow detainees gathered to read the Bible, with Hernandez often praying for his release in time for Mia’s birthday. “Every night I prayed and said to God, ‘This is all coming to an end now. May it be the best gift to spend the first year with my daughter,’” he shared.
The family’s journey began in Ecuador, where they fled after their home was bombed due to Hernandez’s efforts to discourage young people from drug trafficking. Alvarez explained the dangers of speaking out in their home country, where such actions can have grave consequences.
As the couple prepared to celebrate Mia’s first birthday on December 6, they transformed their home into a joyful space filled with balloons and a bright pink cake. Family members gathered to join in the celebration, singing happy birthday to Mia and expressing their gratitude to those who helped reunite the family, including local clergy and their legal representatives.
While the family celebrated, Hernandez still wore a GPS ankle monitor, a stark reminder of their ongoing uncertainty. The monitor flashed as they blew out the candles, symbolizing their hopes for a stable future. “Ten years working here, being able to retire and provide my daughter with her own – the same for my wife,” Hernandez said, expressing his aspirations for a peaceful life ahead.
The joyous reunion, amidst the backdrop of Christmas festivities, marks a new chapter for the Hernandez family, filled with hope and resilience as they navigate their future together.
