A father from Queens, New York, regained his freedom just in time to celebrate Christmas and his daughter’s first birthday after being held for months by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Manuel Mejia Hernandez was reunited with his wife, Alexandra Alvarez, and their one-year-old daughter, Mia, at LaGuardia Airport on December 5, 2025. This emotional reunion came after an extensive ordeal that began on October 22, when Hernandez was detained during a routine immigration check.
Alvarez waited anxiously on the second floor of the airport, holding Mia as midnight approached, marking her first birthday. Her eyes searched the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Hernandez. When he finally emerged from the escalator, still wearing the same clothes from the day of his detention, the moment became a bittersweet reunion.
Mia, however, struggled to recognize her father, having been apart from him for so long. As Hernandez embraced his wife and daughter, the airport’s festive Christmas decorations contrasted sharply with the family’s previous struggles.
“I feel a weight has been lifted. It’s like I am not carrying a burden anymore,” Alvarez expressed. “I’m so grateful to God and for everything that has happened.” She emphasized her belief that even in challenging times, help had always arrived.
Hernandez’s journey through the immigration system was fraught with difficulties. He described being shackled and transferred between detention facilities, enduring harsh treatment including inadequate food and long periods of confinement. “They put us in shackles and transferred us to El Paso, Texas. During that trip, they tightened the handcuffs on my ankles too much. My ankles hurt,” he recalled.
Inside the detention center, Hernandez managed to find solace through faith, reading the Bible with fellow detainees. His greatest wish was to return home in time for Mia’s first 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 struggles began long before Hernandez’s detention. They fled Ecuador after their home was bombed due to Hernandez’s efforts to steer local youth away from drug dealing. Alvarez explained the dire consequences of speaking out against such activities in their home country, saying, “You have to keep quiet because it’s worse to say that you know who they are because that costs your life. They’re going to kill your family.”
Throughout autumn, Alvarez faced the emotional toll of her husband’s absence while caring for Mia alone. Yet, December 6 marked a shift in the family’s fortunes as they prepared to celebrate Mia’s birthday. The atmosphere in their home transformed from one of uncertainty to joy as they decorated for the celebration.
As family members arrived to honor both the birthday and the reunion, they expressed gratitude to Father Fabian Arias of Saint Peter’s Church, Congressman Dan Goldman’s office, and their legal team for their support. The festive gathering included singing and sharing a birthday cake, creating cherished memories for Mia.
Though Hernandez now bears a GPS ankle monitor as a reminder of his recent challenges, the family remains hopeful. “Ten years working here, being able to retire and provide my daughter with her own – the same for my wife,” Hernandez said, sharing his aspirations for a peaceful future.
The family’s reunion, marked by love and resilience, illustrates the human impact of immigration policies and the importance of community support in times of crisis. As they celebrated Mia’s birthday with laughter and joy, they made a collective wish for stability and togetherness, hoping to never face separation again.
