Community Corner

Student Detained By ICE Released, Will Return To School Next Week

Meydi Guzman Rivas, 18, has been in ICE custody since October. She is expected to be released Thursday and return to Crystal Lake.

(Patch graphic)

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A Crystal Lake Central High School senior who has been in ICE custody since last fall has been released and is expected to return to school next week. Meydi Guzman Rivas, 18, fled from her native Honduras about 16 months ago with her father and was living in Crystal Lake "seeking asylum and going through the court process" when they allegedly missed a court date last February, according to a GoFundMe set up to help raise money for their legal expenses.

The case was continued to October. When Rivas and her father showed up for court that day, ICE agents were waiting and took them both into custody, according to the GoFundMe. Meydi was transferred to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in southern Illinois.

On Wednesday, a judge issued a $2,000 bond for Meydi, and she was expected to be released Thursday morning, according to media reports and a GoFundMe update from Sara Huser, Meydi's counselor. Huser wrote that she would pick Meydi up Thursday morning.

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Huser and her husband, John Huser, will take Meydi in and plan to host a small party with Meydi's friends and teachers at their home in Crystal Lake, according to the Chicago Tribune. Sara also plans to bring Meydi to a spa and hair appointment when she gets back home.

“She’s been detained for so long,” John Huser said. “We’re just so happy to have her out. This is the right thing to do.”

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Meydi is expected to return to school next week, according to Huser's update on the GoFundMe page. Meydi had been on track to graduate this May prior to being taken into ICE custody.

Meydi's father remains in custody at an ICE facility in Kankakee and her mother and siblings are believed to still be in Honduras, according to the Chicago Tribune.

As of Thursday morning, more than $10,400 has been raised for Meydi. The money will be used for Meydi, her legal expenses and to help cover her bond, according to the GoFundMe.

More via the Chicago Tribune and GoFundMe


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here