Graduation Ceremony Highlights Immigrant Student Struggles

In a vibrant Bronx auditorium, 50 students gathered, chatting enthusiastically and snapping photos together, many adjusting the bright sashes they wore—each one decorated with flags representing 17 different nations. These symbols told stories of their heritage, with countries like the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Gambia, Senegal, and Mali stitched into the fabric of their garments.

The room buzzed with the sounds of Spanish and French as emotional parents stood nearby, clutching balloons and watching their children with pride. These students had arrived in the United States roughly four years ago, many of them unfamiliar with English at the time. For these families, this graduation marked far more than an academic milestone—it was a testament to perseverance and transformation.

Among the many graduation ceremonies taking place across New York City’s public schools this month, the one hosted by Ellis Preparatory Academy stood apart. The Bronx-based school, which serves around 250 students, is one of the rare public institutions specifically designed to serve newly arrived immigrants—many of whom face uncertain legal futures or live without documentation.

As the celebration began and the graduates prepared to receive their diplomas, the school’s principal, Norma Vega, felt the need to pause the festivities. She wanted to honor a student who couldn’t be present—someone whose absence was deeply felt.

“One of our own is missing,” Vega said solemnly, her voice echoing through the auditorium. “No matter where we are or where we go, we will always carry him with us.”

The student she spoke of was Dylan Lopez Contreras, a Venezuelan immigrant who, just weeks earlier, had been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He was being held in a facility roughly 275 miles away in Pennsylvania, making him the first New York City public school student arrested during President Trump’s second term in office.

Lopez Contreras was taken into custody on May 21 when he arrived at an immigration court in Manhattan for what was supposed to be a routine hearing. His arrest sparked widespread outrage, prompting officials from both the school and city to speak out. Even New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined legal efforts to push for the young man’s release. Advocates described Lopez Contreras as one of many non-criminal immigrants who had entered the country under programs initiated during the Biden administration but were now being caught in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

According to his attorneys, Dylan had used a government-sanctioned mobile app to apply for lawful entry and seek asylum. However, officials from the Department of Homeland Security claimed that he entered the country illegally and swiftly placed him in an expedited deportation process that bypasses the usual hearing protocols.

The news of his arrest reverberated through Ellis Prep, a school known for its close-knit community and supportive atmosphere. With only 16 teachers, the students at Ellis often feel more like family than classmates. For them, Dylan’s detention stirred deep anxiety. Though he was a freshman and not part of the graduating class, the impact of his absence was undeniable, casting a temporary but profound shadow over the joyful event.

Luis Rodriguez, a 21-year-old graduate originally from the Dominican Republic, addressed the crowd with moving words that captured the complex emotions of the day. “Some people might view Ellis students as ones who are inevitably behind,” he said. “But what many don’t understand is that we have had to find our voices in a new language, in a new world. Starting over is never easy—new country, new environment, new tongue.”

Rodriguez, who came to the U.S. with his family in 2022 under a visa and managed to graduate a year ahead of schedule, will be attending Le Moyne College in Syracuse this summer to begin pre-veterinary studies. His story is one of many that reflect the resilience and aspirations of Ellis students.

Most of the graduating class had secured significant financial aid to pursue higher education, whether at private colleges or through city and state university systems. Others planned to enter vocational training programs in fields like carpentry, plumbing, and renewable energy installation—contributing to the future workforce in meaningful ways.

“Many of our students come to us not thinking of themselves as college-bound,” said Jackie Peña, the school’s college and career advisor. “By the time they leave, they’ve not only become fluent in English, but they’ve also completed internships and developed the confidence to envision a future in higher education.”

Ellis, named both in homage to Ellis Island and as an acronym for “English Language Learners and International Support,” accepts students who have arrived in the U.S. within six months of enrolling. It serves students up to age 21, many of whom were too old to begin at a traditional high school and whose education had been interrupted—or in some cases never fully begun—in their home countries.

Established in 2008, Ellis was created in response to growing immigrant populations in New York City. Over the past few years, particularly since 2022, the school has taken on an even more significant role as thousands of new migrants—especially from Venezuela, Central America, and West Africa—have arrived in the city. Enrollment grew rapidly, reflecting the shifting demographics and the school system’s role in accommodating the city’s newest residents.

Ellis’s mission now stands in tension with federal policies under the Trump administration, which have scaled back protections for undocumented students and granted ICE broader authority to conduct arrests—even on school grounds, though such occurrences remain rare.

The 2024 graduating class began their journey in 2021, when schools were just beginning to reopen after the pandemic. Their ceremony was held at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. For some, the event was bittersweet—while many had parents and siblings cheering them on, others had arrived in the country as unaccompanied minors and had no relatives to celebrate with.

Dressed in white and blue robes, their feet clad in both heels and sneakers, the students listened closely as Principal Vega addressed them personally. She called many by name and referred to them lovingly as “my children,” praising their courage and perseverance.

“From this point forward, everything you do will be watched closely,” she said. “People will be asking, ‘What becomes of this student?’ And what they’ll see is greatness. Because that’s what I see when I look at each of you.”

One student, Aboubacar Souare, offered his own story. Born in Ivory Coast and raised in Guinea, he arrived in the U.S. in 2021 at age 16 and enrolled at Ellis a year later. When he started, he barely knew any English—just enough to say “good morning.” Now 20, he’s preparing to attend Clarkson University in upstate New York, where he will study business and data analytics and join a military training program. His father had passed away just two weeks before the ceremony, and his mother remained in Africa.

“This moment is a symbol of all I’ve accomplished,” he said, surrounded by extended family. “It proves that I am capable of so much more than just earning a diploma.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Vega remains determined to continue advocating for Dylan Lopez Contreras. The school has rallied around his family, helping his mother access legal support and organizing a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $40,000.

“Dylan is still in detention, but he hasn’t been deported,” she said. “And throughout the summer, and beyond, we will not forget him. Because he must not be forgotten.”