As soon as Luis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria stepped out of the car Wednesday evening, his 2-year-old nephew broke into tears and sprinted toward him across the parking lot of their apartment complex.
“Vente,” said Chavarria, the Austin ISD student who had been detained by ICE for weeks, beckoning the toddler in Spanish to draw near. The Northeast Early College High School senior bent down to catch the boy in a tight embrace before bringing in his sister into the fold. It was the family’s first reunion since Chavarria’s detention earlier this month following a May 1 traffic stop on his way home from work.
Family friends captured the scene on video, which Chavarria’s sister, Holi, later shared with Austin Current. Holi, who asked Austin Current to withhold her last name because of deportation fears, said in Spanish earlier Wednesday she was “very happy” to have him home but declined to talk further as the family asked for privacy in their first night together. Just hours earlier, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Chavarria be released from custody.
Attorney Jim Harrington, who has known Chavarria since he arrived in the U.S. about seven years ago., described the homecoming as “quite emotional.” The two didn’t talk at first, Harrington said, he just hugged the teen for a long time and later took a picture together to capture the moment.
His release followed weeks of mounting pressure from classmates, elected officials, church members and immigration advocates who demanded Chavarria be released in time to graduate with his classmates June 2. His detention quickly became a flashpoint in Austin as supporters pointed to the teen’s strong academic record, his job helping support his family and his deep ties to his school and church communities.
After his arrest, Chavarria was first taken to San Antonio before being transferred to the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center. Holi previously told Austin Current she watched his phone location move farther away through the night as she tried to understand where her brother was being taken.
Friends and advocates said the detention upended the final weeks of Chavarria’s senior year. The student, known to his nephew and friends as “Nano,” had balanced school, soccer practice and late-night shifts at a local Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen while helping care for his nephew. His daily routine often revolved around the toddler, including taking him to a babysitter before school while his sister rested after late night work shifts.
At his high school, classmates spent days grappling with the possibility Chavarria could miss graduation entirely. Students and community members gathered outside the campus earlier this month calling for his release, while members of St. James Episcopal Church, where the family worships, organized support efforts and spread word about his case.
“It hit hard because he means a lot to the whole community,” Chris Milk, a family friend and Chavarria’s godfather, previously told Austin Current. “He was our child.”
Last week, Austin ISD and ICE agreed to allow Chavarria to complete coursework while in detention, reviving hopes he would still earn his diploma alongside classmates.
In a statement Wednesday night, the district said, “Luis has worked hard to earn the unforgettable moment of walking across the stage to receive his diploma with his loved ones, teachers and peers by his side. We look forward to seeing him in his cap and gown, celebrating his success, and cheering him on as he takes his next steps toward a promising future.”
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar said that after visiting Chavarria at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center that morning, all the 18-year-old said he yearned for was to hug his nephew. Casar said Chavarria remained focused on graduation and hoped to attend Austin Community College to study accounting. He also relayed a message from Chavarria thanking supporters who had rallied behind him during his detention.
“Luis Fernando is an excellent brother, an excellent student, an excellent friend and in talking with the school district, Luis Fernando has such good grades, even though he has not made it to his classes the last few days, he is ready to graduate,” Casar said on Monday.
The judge’s order was in response to a petition filed by Chavarria’s legal team. He now awaits a decision on his application for asylum.
Harrington said the teen and his family entered the United States in 2019 and sought asylum after arriving from Mexico. He said the family later learned Chavarria’s asylum paperwork had not been properly filed. His legal team has since refiled the application.
His detention unfolded amid intensified immigration enforcement across the country and growing concern among educators and immigration advocates about the effect on students and schools. Austin ISD leaders have cited immigration crackdowns as one factor contributing to enrollment declines, a trend seen across the U.S.
For weeks, Chavarria’s supporters framed the case around whether the Austin ISD student would make it on time for graduation. Now, the focus has shifted to Chavarria’s dreams of being an accountant and the life they hope he builds as he awaits a final decision on asylum.
