A young Ecuadorian immigrant with special federal protection was arrested by ICE during an operation in Albany, New York, despite not being the person the agency was looking for. His arrest has raised alarms among lawyers and advocates who considered the case a recent example of "collateral" arrests. Fernando Isaias Carranza Chuqui ended up in federal custody even though he had valid documents and an immigration status that should have protected him. An arrest that occurred during an operation not targeting him. According to the Times Union, Carranza was detained while on his way to work. Agents intercepted his vehicle and, although there was no specific warrant against him, proceeded to arrest him as part of the operation deployed in the area. Following his arrest, he was transferred to the ICE facility in Buffalo, where the agency decided to revoke the protection he had under Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a program created to protect immigrant minors who faced abandonment or vulnerable situations. This change in policy allowed his deportation proceedings to be reactivated, something his lawyers considered a direct violation of the guarantees granted by special status. ICE's Stance and Criticism of the Agency's Actions In its official response, ICE did not provide a clear answer regarding Carranza's arrest, but argued that the Ecuadorian immigrant's status did not exempt him from immigration action and raised doubts about the validity of his protection, even though the young man had a valid work permit. However, this position has been questioned by immigration specialists. According to Carranza's lawyers, ICE overlooked the fact that the state court had already evaluated his case, determined his vulnerability, and granted him a status that should have prevented his arbitrary detention. Fernando's Life: His Arrival, His Family, and His Integration in New York. Fernando Isaias Carranza is originally from Ecuador and arrived in the United States as a minor.a condition that allowed him to access the SIJS program after a judicial evaluation determined that he could not safely return to his country.

In Albany, he maintained a stable life: he worked formally, lived with family,had no criminal record, and had completed the necessary requirements to move toward permanent residency. His legal team affirms that the young man had punctually fulfilled all the commitments of his immigration process.

His work and family routine contrasts sharply with the impact his arrest has had, which put his income, daily life, and path to legalization on hold.

What's next in his case

The defense is requesting that a federal court halt the deportation and reinstate his special protection. Meanwhile, community organizations continue to press ICE to review its procedures and explain why it detained a young man who was not the target of the operation.