ICE Seizes UUP and CSEA Members at Hearing

From Brendan McGovern, UUP Binghamton Chapter President

While attending a scheduled immigration hearing on October 29, 2025, Upstate Medical Center UUP member Alex Ramírez González and CSEA member Yan Vázquez, a married couple who fled repression in Cuba, were seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Both men followed the law and appeared for their hearing as required. Instead of due process, they were taken into custody and remain detained at this time.

On November 10, 2025, nearly 400 workers, elected officials, union members, and community supporters gathered at the Federal Building in Syracuse to demand justice for Alex and Yan. The rally was organized by a broad coalition of labor organizations including United University Professions, CSEA Local 615, NYSUT, and the Greater Syracuse Labor Council. The message was clear. Labor will not stay silent when our members are taken, families are separated, and basic rights are denied.

Alex and Yan had nearly completed the legal process to remain in the United States when they were detained. Both sought asylum through established legal channels and were contributing members of their hospital and community when they were taken and transported to a detention facility in Batavia, New York. Their detention underscores the growing danger faced by immigrant workers who do everything asked of them and are still punished.

The coalition named the action Bring Them Home. Speakers emphasized the injustice of detaining workers who showed up in good faith and complied with the law. UUP President Fred Kowal noted that only in today’s America would two union members seeking asylum, contributing to their workplace, and caring for others be swept up by immigration enforcement on their way to a court date. His remarks reflected a broader concern that current immigration policies tear families apart rather than uphold due process and human dignity.

Labor leaders and elected officials made clear that this is not only an immigration issue. It is a labor issue and a human rights issue. CSEA Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf spoke about Alex and Yan as valued members of the community who should not be punished for striving to build a life here. NYSUT President Melinda Person condemned the cruelty of detaining people who seek freedom and safety. State Senator Rachel May and Syracuse Mayor elect Sharon Owens called on the federal government to respect basic rights and the rule of law.

Mindy Heath, UUP Upstate Chapter President, spoke powerfully about what this means for union members. Alex and Yan are part of our union family, she said. “They show up every day to care for others in one of the most demanding healthcare environments in the state. To have them taken like this, without warning and without justice, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. UUP will keep fighting until they are both home, safe, and free.”

The rally demonstrated the power of labor solidarity in action. Workers from different unions stood alongside immigrant rights advocates, community organizations, and local leaders. Signs calling for justice were held high. Chants of Bring them home echoed across the plaza. The message was unmistakable. Labor stands together.

For unions affiliated with Higher Education Labor United, including UUP and NYSUT, this moment reinforces a core truth. Worker rights, immigrant rights, and human rights are inseparable. When immigrant workers are targeted, all workers are at risk. HELU’s commitment to solidarity across campuses, unions, and communities means standing up not only at the bargaining table, but also when members are harmed by unjust systems.

There are concrete steps readers can take. Contact federal representatives and demand intervention and oversight in the detention of Alex and Yan. Support local and national immigrant rights organizations through donations, volunteering, and public advocacy. Show up at rallies, vigils, and union actions that demand due process and humane treatment. Talk with union leaders about making immigrant justice a visible and sustained priority.

Alex and Yan remain in detention, and reports indicate they may not be released in time for the holidays. Their families, coworkers, and union siblings continue to fight for their freedom and reunification.

This moment is a reminder of what labor solidarity looks like at its best. When unions, workers, community members, and public officials stand together, we build power that extends far beyond any single workplace. We defend dignity, protect families, and affirm that justice belongs to all workers, regardless of immigration status.