Students from Crystal Lake Central High school decided to take matters into their own hands when one of their own was facing deportation.
Together, the students and staff of Crystal Lake Central High School raised over $10,000 on GoFundMe to pay for the release of classmate Meydi Guzman, and to cover the teen’s legal fees as she fights her immigration case, reports NBC News. Meydi Guzman has been released and reunited with her classmates.
School counselor Sara Huser, one of Meydi’s fiercest champions, posted her bond and the teen was released after 4 months behind bars.
“I am really happy and thankful for all the people who helped me,” Meydi told reporters.
Meydi fled her home in Honduras when she was 16, after being sexually assaulted by gang members. She came to the U.S. seeking asylum, accompanied by her father.
Unfortunately, due to a scheduling paperwork mix-up, father and daughter missed one of their court dates. When they appeared for their next one, the two were arrested and taken to an immigration center in southern Illinois
Meydi’s father remains in custody — so her counselor has volunteered to take Meydi into her home.
“I’m truly, truly blessed and so very happy that she is going to come join my family, come back to Crystal Lake, get back to school, back to her life,” Huser said in a press conference.
Although Meydi is getting back on track to graduate with her class, she still has a long battle ahead of her.
High school students raised over $10K on GoFundMe to help release a classmate who spent 4 months in an ICE detention center and is still battling possible deportation to Honduras — the country she fled after being sexually assaulted by gang members. https://t.co/CTZpp8KKxJ
— NBC Latino (@NBCLatino) February 14, 2020
Crystal Lake Central HS Senior Meydi Guzman Rivas has been release on bond from ICE custody. IEA Member & Meydi’s counselor Sara Huser who tirelessly fought for Meydi’s freedom picked up Meydi this afternoon. Tonight, Huser & the Crystal Lake community will welcome Meydi home. pic.twitter.com/gJ7th6HeCm
— IEANEA (@ieanea) February 13, 2020
