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Argentine nanny arrested in U.S. during World Cup released after nearly a month in detention
🇦🇷 Argentina /Crime & Justice

Argentine nanny arrested in U.S. during World Cup released after nearly a month in detention

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Iliana Lick, an Argentine nanny arrested in Philadelphia on July 11, has been released from U.S. immigration detention.
  • She spent nearly a month in various detention centers before being granted bond and subsequently released.
  • Lick is expected to travel to Philadelphia, where she lives with her American boyfriend, Steven Melchiorre, who led a crowdfunding campaign for her legal defense.

After nearly a month in U.S. immigration detention, Argentine nanny Iliana Lick has been released. She spent time in multiple detention centers before being granted bond and subsequently freed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Today I feel incredibly grateful to share that Iliana has been officially released from ICE detention. After almost a month in custody, countless phone calls, legal procedures, and several transfers between states, this is the moment we had been waiting and praying for so much.

— Steven MelchiorreIliana Lick's boyfriend announced her release from immigration detention.

Lick's boyfriend, American Steven Melchiorre, announced her release on social media, expressing immense gratitude. "Today I feel incredibly grateful to share that Iliana has been officially released from ICE detention," he wrote. "After almost a month in custody, countless phone calls, legal procedures, and several transfers between states, this is the moment we had been waiting and praying for so much."

Lick, 30, spent Tuesday night in El Paso, Texas, near the Otero County Processing Center where she was held. She is scheduled to travel to Philadelphia on Wednesday, where she has lived with Melchiorre since 2024. Melchiorre, a healthcare worker, stated that while there is still another step before Lick is fully home, her release marks a significant victory.

Although there is still one more step before she is finally home, today represents a huge victory. For the first time in weeks, Iliana is no longer behind the walls of a detention center.

— Steven MelchiorreMelchiorre described the significance of Lick's release from detention.

She was detained on July 11 at Philadelphia airport by ICE agents who identified an irregular migratory situation as she was preparing to fly to Kansas City to watch Argentina play Switzerland in the World Cup. Melchiorre had launched a GoFundMe campaign, which raised approximately $18,820, to cover legal fees, potential immigration bond, and other related expenses for Lick's immigration process.

This is not the end of her migratory case, but tonight we celebrate an important milestone.

— Steven MelchiorreMelchiorre acknowledged that Lick's immigration case is ongoing despite her release.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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