Friendship market owner detained by ICE has returned home
The owner of a community market in Friendship has been released from immigration custody.
Dhavalkumar Patel was released from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office on Monday night. His attorney, Audrey Richardson, said Patel is feeling “very relieved” and happy to be home with his family and community.
Patel, who is also known as Dale, owns and operates Wallace’s Market on Harbor Road. Staff at the market did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
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Owner of Friendship market detained by ICE
The Friendship man, who is originally from India, was taken into custody on June 27 after several ICE agents came into the store without warning, Richardson said.
ICE authorities had accused Patel of illegally entering the country in 2010. An immigration judge ordered him to be removed from the country in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
But Patel challenged his detention in federal court, filing a petition in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts alleging he was being unlawfully detained.
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Richardson said Tuesday that federal authorities had agreed to release him in response to that petition.
While Richardson declined to speak specifically about Patel’s immigration status, she said ICE’s apprehension was unlawful and “egregiously problematic.”
Richardson said she and Patel are grateful for the outpouring of support that followed his detention, including a fundraiser and petition. She said Patel’s apprehension was “eye-opening” for many, and indicative of the positive impact immigrants bring to their communities.
Patel’s apprehension came as immigration advocates say they’re seeing a rise in reported ICE activity in Maine. A hotline to report such activity has been receiving more and more calls about sightings of immigration agents, according to data from the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition.
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Tagged: Department of Homeland Security, ICE, immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Morgan covers breaking news and public safety for the Portland Press Herald. Before moving to Maine in 2024, she reported for Michigan State University's student-run publication, as well as the Indianapolis. More by Morgan Womack
