Movimiento Cosecha statement on the Court’s decision to deny Byron Martinez asylum in the US

Yesterday, I wrote about the Press Conference that Movimiento Cosecha hosted on their Free Byron Campaign. After Byron had his asylum hearing with the Judge this morning, they released this statement:

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that this morning a federal judge denied Byron Martinez asylum in the United States. This decision comes after Byron spent 100 days detained at the GEO Group-owned North Lake detention center in Baldwin, Michigan.

Despite months of organizing and advocacy by Movimiento Cosecha Michigan and our partner organizations through the #FreeByron campaign, we were ultimately unable to secure Byron’s freedom. He now faces deportation back to Ecuador, the country he fled after experiencing violence and threats to his safety. Supporters fear that Byron could face continued danger upon his return.

Byron Martinez was unjustly arrested and detained in Grand Rapids in February after ICE agents, assisted by ATF and GRPD officers, stopped him and used force against him despite the fact that he had asylum documentation in his possession. Advocates maintain that had officers allowed Byron the opportunity to present his paperwork, there would have been no legal basis for his detention.

During his detention, Byron endured harsh conditions, emotional trauma, and inadequate medical care. His case became a rallying point for community members, faith leaders, immigrant advocates, and supporters who organized press conferences, vigils, legal support efforts, public pressure campaigns, and community solidarity actions demanding his release and humane treatment.

Byron’s case is one example of the cruel and punitive immigration detention system that continues to impact countless immigrant families across the United States. As an immigrant-led organization, Movimiento Cosecha remains committed to resisting ICE and fighting for dignity, respect, due process, and permanent protection for all undocumented immigrants.

We will continue organizing, advocating, and standing in solidarity with immigrant communities facing detention, deportation, and separation from their loved ones.

Abolish ICE now!

I had a chance to talk with Cosecha organizer Gema Lowe and her reaction to Judge’s decision to deny asylum to Byron.

Many Latin American countries are in a very unsafe situation. In speaking with Byron directly about keeping himself safe and his family safe in Ecuador, he told me his mother’s business was bombed in, which forced his family to relocate. This was the primary reason why he came to the US in the first place. Now he has to face this danger again, with his losing his asylum case. He and his family made the decision for him to come to the US, but in this case he has had no say in what is best for him, the US government has decided and taken away his agency as a human being. This is what injustice looks like.