A 21-year-old Provincetown Police Department community service officer has been released after being held by federal authorities at Logan Airport, Town Manager Alex Morse said Thursday.
Carlos Maldonado Valle was returning from Puerto Rico when another passenger had a medical emergency and the flight diverted to Bermuda, according to Morse and his attorney, Rachel Self. The diversion made the trip an international arrival. Passengers cleared customs at Terminal E, and Maldonado Valle was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Maldonado Valle was released Thursday afternoon after nearly two days. Morse said he is returning home and that the detention was not an Immigration and Customs Enforcement action in Provincetown.
On Wednesday, as a result of advocacy on Tuesday, a federal judge issued an emergency order temporarily preventing Maldonado Valle from being transferred out of Massachusetts or removed from the country while his case was reviewed. Morse said he and Police Chief Greg Hennick submitted letters supporting release, and that the town contacted the offices of Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating.
Maldonado Valle was born in Honduras and came to the United States as a young child, according to Morse. Self said a Special Immigrant Juvenile visa for him was approved October 1st. Those visas are for certain young people who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by a parent. He is a Cape Cod Regional Technical High School graduate and a criminal justice student at Cape Cod Community College. Morse described him as a hardworking member of the community who hopes to become a police officer, and said he had “done nothing wrong.” Self said he has no criminal record.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised $32,000 as of this writing for legal help.
Maldonado Valle issued the following on social media this afternoon.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
“Honestly I don’t even know where to begin. These past few days have been overwhelming, but knowing that so many people stood behind me and my family has meant more than I could ever put into words.
“Thank you to everyone who called, texted, shared posts, donated, prayed for me, supported my family, and helped in any way you could. Seeing the Provincetown community come together for me was something I will never forget.
“A very special thank you to my attorney Rachel Self, Town Manager Alex Morse, and Provincetown Police Chief Gregory Hennick, and everyone else who worked tirelessly to help bring me home, everyone who stood by me during this difficult time.
“Provincetown has always been home to me, and these past few days showed me just how much this community truly feels like family. The love, generosity, and support you all showed me is something I will carry with me forever.
“I’m finally home, reunited with the people I love, and incredibly grateful.
“Thank you, Provincetown. I love you all.”
