15-year-old Houston teen reunites with family: What was said
15-year-old Houston teen reunited with family
15-year-old Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia was released back to his family after being held at the Office of Refugee Resettlement for almost 50 days on Friday.
HOUSTON - After 48 days away from his family, 15-year-old Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia was released back into the custody of his family Friday night.
The release comes after his mother, Maria Garcia, originally reported her son missing in early October.
Family speaks to media
15-year-old Emmanuel Garcia with his mother after being released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement on Nov. 21.
What they're saying:
While the family reunited Friday night, Emmanuel and his mother spoke with the media about their experiences.
Emmanuel said during his phone calls to his mother, monitored by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, he felt sad. He told FOX 26 that after the calls ended, he would ask when he could be reunited with his mother.
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15-year-old Houston teen reunites with family after nearly 50 days in federal custody
Emmanuel Gonzalez-Garcia was released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement on Friday night after 48 days in custody.
His mother, Maria Garcia, said she couldn't believe that her son was actually being released. She said she called her mother and others in her family to tell them the news.
Maria also spoke about her disappointment with Houston Police.
She claimed she felt ‘failed’ by Houston Police and Houston Mayor Whitmire. Maria also called out to other Houston mothers, encouraging them to speak up for the children.
No comment from officials
The other side:
FOX 26 reached out to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for a comment on Emmanuel's case. They sent the following:
"As a matter of policy, to protect the privacy and security of unaccompanied alien children referred to us, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a program office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), does not comment on specific cases."
Houston teen taken into custody
Missing Houston teen in federal custody: HPD chief gives police timeline
The Houston City Council session took time to address the situation surrounding a 15-year-old boy with autism who has been in federal custody for more than a week. HPD Chief J. Noe Diaz provided a timeline of the events that began on Oct. 4.
The backstory:
Emmanuel Gonzalez-Garcia went missing on Oct. 4 while selling fruit with his mother and sister in Spring Branch. His mother filed a missing person report with Houston Police that day.
On Oct. 5, Houston Police reportedly found the teen.
According to a statement from ICE, Garcia couldn't identify himself or any relatives. His family says he's autistic and sometimes non-verbal.
ICE then helped HPD place him with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). They emphasized in their statement that Garcia was never in ICE custody.
Garcia's family didn't know where he was until Oct. 10 after holding a press conference with FIEL Houston. Houston Police reportedly contacted the family to tell them Emmanuel was in federal custody.
The 15-year-old had emergency surgery while in custody on Oct. 13 to have his appendix removed. His mother was able to visit him at the ORR.
The Source: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Houston Police, ICE and FIEL Houston along with attorneys representing Maria Garcia.