By Kaitlyn Cupelli

SEAFORD — Gov. Matt Meyer took to social media Dec. 17 to call for the immediate release of Victor Acurio Suarez from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Pennsylvania.

The governor stated that the Seaford man is mentally disabled, has no criminal history and relies on his family for daily care. He has been in ICE custody since September.

“Delaware believes in upholding public safety and ensuring that our systems are not inflicting harm on individuals who pose no threat and are uniquely vulnerable,” Gov. Meyer posted.

“Detaining someone in his condition, despite full compliance with the law and a pending asylum claim, serves no legitimate public safety purpose and inflicts real harm on an exceptionally vulnerable person.”

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Acurio Suarez — who has been in the U.S. since 2021 — will be in custody until his immigration hearing, during which he will be granted asylum or sent back to Ecuador. That hearing was set for Dec. 18 but was postponed.

In his posts, Gov. Meyer added that he had personally written the court urging his release. He stated that his potential deportation would place him at “grave risk,” would separate him from his caretaker and would send him back to a country that he “previously fled (due to) brutal gang violence.”

“That is not justice, and that is not who we are as a state,” the governor continued.

When contacted by the Daily State News on Dec. 18, Jason Koontz, the public affairs officer for the ICE field office in Philadelphia, issued the following statement:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is firmly committed to the health, safety and welfare of all detainees in custody. ICE’s national detention standards and other ICE policies require all contracted facilities to provide comprehensive medical and mental health screenings from the moment an alien arrives at a facility and throughout their entire time in custody.”

According to the ICE website, Mr. Acurio Suarez is being held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.