CPS student reunites with mother in Chicago after both were detained by ICE

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A mother and son finally reunited in northwest Indiana on Tuesday after both were detained by ICE.

Ricardo Hernandez Navarrete, 18, was released from federal custody in Kentucky on Tuesday. He and his mother, Liliana Navarrete, were taken into custody back in March.

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Now, the Mather High School senior and his mother are together again in Chicago.

For months, the community surrounding Ricardo and Liliana rallied, raised money, and spoke out about their case. All of that hard work led to Tuesday night's powerful reunion between a mother and son.

"I am very happy, and I thank God for the miracle he gave us," Liliana told ABC7 in Spanish.

It has been weeks since Liliana has been able to hold her son like this. The emotional embrace in Crown Point came after the two had been detained by ICE and separated.

"I am very happy because that my brother is back home," said Ricardo's brother, Steven Navarrete. "It's a joy that is unexplainable."

Ricardo and his mother were taken into custody back in March after they were asked to appear in immigration court in Chicago. The mother and son moved to at least eight detention camps before both ended up in Kentucky.

Liliana was released last week as family friends continued to rally to bring Ricardo home.

"It's indescribable, honestly. The last 10 weeks have been full of so much stress, so many unknowns, so many ups and downs, hope, and then, days of despair," said family friend Kristy Morrow.

Morrow led the charge on fundraising efforts to help the family, and, over the past few weeks, she checked in with Ricardo daily. Now, she, too, relishes in the moment.

The Chicago Public Schools student is now back home, just in time for his high school graduation, with plans to play soccer at Truman College in the fall.

"I am so, so happy for him that this was not taken from him," Morrow said. "We brought Liliana home last Wednesday, and in less than a week later, we brought Ricardo home. And that's the way it's supposed to be."

DHS says the family entered the U.S. illegally from Colombia in 2022. Liliana says they immediately applied for asylum when they arrived. They are due back in immigration court in July.