Legal immigrants can still find themselves in federal custody. Raiza Contreras knows this firsthand, and she brought that reality with her to the 2026 State of the Union as a guest of Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Schumer invited Contreras to the address to spotlight the case of her son, Dylan Lopez Contreras, a New York City high school student whom U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has held in detention for roughly nine months, despite his legal entry into the United States and lack of a criminal record.

The address on February 24 marked the first annual State of the Union of President Donald Trump’s second term. While Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers, Schumer and Contreras used the platform to push back against the administration’s immigration policies and highlight the human cost of federal enforcement actions.

“I am completely grateful and appreciate the opportunity to continue shedding light on my son Dylan’s case. Being an invited guest of Senator Schumer allows me, as a mother, the opportunity to speak with people about my son Dylan and share how wonderful he truly is as a human being,” Raiza told BET. “I am glad that Senator Schumer has taken on this cause and has promised to continue pushing for the release of my son. I have been praying for a decisive moment in this terrible experience, and I have hope that God sent Senator Schumer to make sure that my son is finally released and brought home to us in New York.”

Dylan entered the United States from Venezuela in 2024 after being granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and humanitarian parole through CBP One, a mobile application that U.S. Customs and Border Protection used to schedule appointments for lawful border entry and processing. The app, introduced under the Biden administration, was discontinued and rebranded in 2025 under the Trump administration.

Raiza, 41, said authorities arrested Dylan after he appeared for what he believed was a routine immigration court hearing. He has remained in federal detention as his case works its way through the backlogged immigration court system.

“Dylan had what was supposed to be a routine court hearing on May 21, 2025. I accompanied him to the courthouse in downtown Manhattan, and we both entered the courtroom. We did not think anything bad would happen since Dylan entered the country legally through a government program called CBP One, in which you wait your turn at the border and are examined before entering,” Raiza said.

“Unfortunately, on the day of his court hearing, the judge and the government prosecutor dismissed Dylan’s case, which we later learned was a new tactic used to justify ICE detaining an individual. When we left the courtroom, ICE agents followed us and began to arrest my son. I witnessed everything happening before my eyes. They took him away, and when I panicked, I began calling his high school counselor to ask for help. The counselor directed me to an organization that began supporting me with legal representation.”

Dylan’s attorneys have since filed an appeal to challenge the dismissal.

The arrest at 26 Federal Plaza in May is consistent with a pattern of enforcement actions by ICE that have drawn scrutiny from advocacy groups and some lawmakers.

Unlike many detainees whose cases were publicized under previous administrations to highlight criminal histories, Dylan’s situation stands apart: the Bronx high schooler had no prior run-ins with the law.

“Dylan is a very good boy. He is the kind of child you would like your children to be friends with. He loves photography and nature and is an educated, respectful, honest, and considerate human being. He is not a criminal,” Raiza told BET. “He is studious and works hard to help his mom and his two siblings. He entered the country legally and has done everything legally necessary to comply with his immigration requirements. Please help free my son and return him to my arms and to the arms of his two younger siblings.”

ICE targeted Dylan only after his case was dismissed, sparing his siblings and mother, whose cases are separate.

“No mother should have to go through what Raiza is experiencing right now, being unjustly separated from her son. Dylan followed the rules. He entered through a legal process, obtained permission to work to support his family, enrolled in school, and showed up to court as required,” Schumer said in a statement. “Instead, ICE ripped their family apart.”

The Contreras family is holding on to the hope of Dylan’s release. The high schooler has kept himself occupied with reading; Raiza said he is an avid fan of Marvel books, including X-Men and Avengers, as well as the Star Wars series, and has a strong curiosity about history.

What pains Dylan most as he awaits the outcome of his immigration appeal inside a Pennsylvania detention center is the time spent apart from his family and friends at Marble Hill High School for International Studies, whom he considers a second family.

One of the last things Dylan cherished most was playing music, a fondness he shared with one of his sisters. He passed down his ukulele to her, and she has been practicing it along with her flute.