US releases Argentine fan detained by ICE during World Cup after bond payment

Iliana Lick, a 30-year-old Argentine woman, has regained her freedom after nearly a month in U.S. immigration detention. Her release came after a $10,000 bond was posted, following her arrest on July 11 at Philadelphia airport.

Lick, who worked as a nanny in Philadelphia, was attempting to board a flight to Kansas City to support the Argentine national soccer team when agents discovered her irregular immigration status. Although she had legally entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in March 2023, she had overstayed her permitted duration while seeking a work permit.

During her detention, managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lick was transferred through various facilities in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and New Mexico before arriving in El Paso, Texas. Her release was confirmed by her boyfriend, Steven Melchiorre, who spearheaded a GoFundMe campaign that successfully raised $18,820 to fund her legal defense.

"Iliana is no longer behind the walls of a detention center; we celebrate an important milestone," Melchiorre announced on social media. Lick spent her first night of freedom in a Texas hotel and is expected to travel back to Philadelphia soon to reunite with her support network while awaiting the final resolution of her immigration case.

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Iliana is no longer behind the walls of a detention center; we celebrate an important milestone.