An organized vigil was held for Byron Martinez, who was wrongfully detained by ICE

Last night about 30 people gathered at St. Dominic’s Church to hold a vigil for Byron Martinez, the young Ecuadorian man who was wrongfully detailed by ICE in February.

Movimiento Cosecha organized the vigil, which has been part of their Free Byron campaign that began in late February, which included a Press Conference. Byron Martinez was stopped by ICE agents on February 3rd in Grand Rapids, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the GRPD.

At the vigil Gema Lowe with Movimiento Cosecha provided an update on Byron, since several of their members had recently visited him at the ICE Detention Center in Baldwin, Michigan. They shared that after the community pressured the privately own detention center to provide proper medical care for Byron, his health did improve temporarily. However, after finally receiving antibiotics that reduced swelling in his face, Byron was now experiencing a skin condition which he believes to be the result of insects that are emanating from the sinks/drains in the Northlake Detention Center.

Cosecha organizers also told those in attendance that a judge had recently ruled that Byron was wrongfully detained by ICE. One would think that this would result in his immediate release, but that is not the case. In fact, Byron now goes before a judge on Monday for a bond hearing to determine if he is eligible for being released on bond.

A friend of Byron’s also spoke during the vigil and talked about how important it was for all of us to resist state carceral violence. There was also a member of GR Rapid Response to ICE who talked about their work and why it is vitally important that we resist ICE and do whatever we can to make sure that no one has to go through what Byron has gone through at the hands of ICE.

At one point during the vigil another Cosecha member read the name of people who have died in ICE detention facilities since the beginning of 2025.

People were also invited to write letters on Byron’s behalf, letters that would be delivered to the judge as part of the bond hearing on Monday.

When Cosecha members visited Byron on Thursday, they shared that he expressed immense gratitude for all the solidarity and support people were offering for him and that he was praying for everyone and hoping to be released on Monday.