A crowd of Syracuse medical workers, union members, community residents, and politicians gathered Monday evening in downtown Syracuse — bearing frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall — to protest the detention of two Upstate Hospital employees.
The rally filled the exterior of the James M. Hanley Federal Building, where speakers called for the release of Alex Gonzalez and Yan Vasquez, a married couple who sought asylum in the United States after fleeing Cuba.
Alex’s cousin, Miriam Manso, said both men attended a scheduled immigration hearing on October 29, when ICE agents forcefully transported them to the Buffalo Federal Detention Center in Batavia, New York.
“They had a routine visit, and as soon as they walked through the door, they were told they were being detained,” Manso said. “We’ve been given no explanation.”
Relatives and coworkers described Alex and Yan as steady contributors to Syracuse life; they are both active union members, they work extensive hours at the hospital, pay U.S taxes, and have advanced through the legal immigration process.
“They were in the final stages of getting their working green cards,” family interpreter Nancy Hayman said. “They bought a house, they bought a car, they’re upstanding members of our society.”
Alex’s other cousin, Jesus Gorra, a Syracuse University Department of Public Safety officer, said he tried to visit the detention center to check on his cousins and get answers the day they were detained.
“I was not allowed in the building,” Gorra said. “After the conversation got a little heated, I pulled out my badge. The gentleman looked at me, they were not willing to identify themselves as officers. They asked if I was their attorney. When I replied no, they shut the door and ended the conversation.”
Gorra added that both Alex and Yan remain in good physical health, but the experience has been emotionally challenging.
“We just found out they were separated from each other in the cells,” Gorra said.
“It’s given them more anxiety,” Hayman added.
Standing at the podium while snow continued to fall, new Syracuse mayor-elect Sharon Owens told residents not to look away.
“Alex and Yan kept their word,” Owens said. “They went through a process set up by our country. Our federal government did not keep its word…When you are taken and you haven’t committed a crime, you have been kidnapped.”
Owens warned against complacency, telling the crowd that ignoring injustice in the community allows more suffering to spread.
“If you ignore the plight of your neighbor because that neighbor doesn’t look like you, speak like you, love like you,” she said, “you better believe that evil will someday knock on your door. Don’t get comfortable.”
As chants of “Bring them home!” echoed outside of the Federal Building, family members said their goal is to see Alex and Yan back home in Syracuse soon, but they have no knowledge of where ICE plans to take them next. The family said both men are sharing an attorney, but only Alex has a confirmed hearing scheduled next week in Batavia.
