For Immediate Release
November 7, 2025
Leaders of CSEA, United University Professions, NYSUT, the Greater Syracuse Labor Council, local community groups and Upstate Medical University employees will speak at the Nov. 10 rally.
They will call for the release of UUP member Alex Gonzalez and CSEA member Yan Vasquez, a married couple who were detained by ICE agents Oct. 29.
SYRACUSE, NY – A coalition of unions, elected officials, community groups and Upstate Medical University employees will rally on Monday, November 10 to call for the release of two Upstate workers—Alcibiades “Alex” Lazaro Ramirez Gonzalez and Yannier “Yan” Vazquez Hildago — who were apprehended by ICE agents while waiting to attend a scheduled immigration hearing in Mattydale.
The rally will be held outdoors at 5 p.m. at the Syracuse Federal Building, 100 S. Clinton St. UUP, CSEA and the Greater Syracuse Labor Council organized the event.
Speakers will call for the release of the men, who were married in September 2024 and own a home in North Syracuse. They fled Cuba in 2021 and 2022, respectively, to seek asylum in the United States and recently passed an immigration test that proved their lives would be in danger if they are deported to Cuba.
Speakers will also speak out against the federal government’s immigration crackdown.
Gonzalez and Vasquez had almost completed the process to legally emigrate to the U.S. when they were detained by ICE agents Oct. 29. They were sent to a detention center in Batavia—where they await court dates on Nov. 12 (Gonzalez) and Nov. 17 (Vasquez).
“What happened to Alex and Yan deserves condemnation and should never happen in a democracy,” said UUP President Frederick E. Kowal. “These hard-working union members and good neighbors were attempting to live legally in America when they were picked up as they waited to attend their immigration hearing. We will fight to ensure they receive due process and to secure their release.”
“They are part of our Upstate family, they are our co-workers, our neighbors, and valued contributors to the hospital and community,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “No one should be punished for following the law. Our union members and all hospital employees deserve dignity, respect and the chance to live and work without fear.”
It is unclear why the men were detained.
WHAT: BRING THEM HOME! rally
WHEN: 5 p.m. Monday, November 10
WHERE: Syracuse Federal Building, 100 S. Clinton St., Syracuse
WHY: A strong coalition of labor unions, elected officials, community groups and Upstate Medical University workers will call for the release of two Upstate employees, UUP member Alex Gonzalez and CSEA member Yan Vasquez, who were detained by ICE Oct. 29. Gonzalez and Vasquez, who are married, were detained by ICE agents as they waited to attend a scheduled immigration hearing.
SPEAKERS:
UUP President Frederick E. Kowal
CSEA Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf
State Sen. Rachel May
Syracuse Mayor-elect Sharon Owens (tentative)
NYSUT President Melinda Person
Mindy Heath, UUP Upstate Medical University Chapter president
CSEA Local 615 President Ali Cottrell
Family members of Gonzalez and Vasquez
Syracuse City Auditor Alex Marion
Pride at Work Executive Director Brittany Anderson
Kayla Kelechian, New York Immigration Coalition
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