A nine-year-old honor student detained with his family at a Texas immigration facility has been released after pleading on video to attend his state spelling bee competition, marking the second child freed from the controversial center in two days.

Student Detained During Routine Check-In

Deiver Henao Jimenez and his parents, asylum seekers from Colombia, have been held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas since early March. The family was detained during a routine immigration check-in in New Mexico, according to their attorney Corey Sullivan Martin. Immigration and Customs Enforcement freed the family on humanitarian parole on Wednesday, approximately one week after Martin filed a release request and days after national media coverage of their case.

During a video call this month with children’s entertainer Rachel Accurso, known professionally as Ms. Rachel, Deiver made an emotional appeal for release. The young student told Accurso he missed his friends and complained the facility’s food caused stomach problems. His primary concern remained competing in New Mexico’s state spelling bee in May after placing third at a regional competition.

School Officials Support Release

Deiver’s elementary school principal submitted a letter in mid-March supporting the family’s release, describing him as a dedicated student with excellent attendance and high marks. Sullivan Martin questioned the necessity of detaining a child who demonstrated exactly the academic achievement and civic participation Americans value. The attorney said Deiver looks forward to returning to school, rejoining gifted and talented classes, and resuming spelling practice. The family plans to return to New Mexico and continue checking in with immigration officials while their case proceeds through the system.

Growing Scrutiny of Family Detention Facility

The Dilley facility faces increasing scrutiny from immigration lawyers and advocates who report children struggle to access adequate medical care and education. Families describe an environment where lights remain on continuously and guards maintain constant presence. Some detainees report poor quality food and lengthy waits for medical attention. The Department of Homeland Security disputes these accounts, maintaining that families receive appropriate care in a facility designed for their specific needs. Deiver’s release came one day after ICE freed Gael, a five-year-old boy with developmental disabilities whose medical condition reportedly worsened during detention. Following video meetings with both children, Accurso called for the facility’s closure and for families to be returned to their communities.