Nonverbal 5-Year-Old Gael Released From Dilley ICE Detention After 'Ms. Rachel' Zoom Call

Gael, a nonverbal five-year-old with significant developmental delays, has been released from U.S. immigration custody and reunited with his parents after roughly three weeks at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas, the family’s attorney said Tuesday.

Gael’s parents, asylum-seekers from Colombia who asked to be identified by their first names, Leonardo and Nelsy, told lawyers that their son’s physical and emotional health declined while at Dilley. They said he frequently gagged when eating, went more than a week without a bowel movement—leaving his stomach visibly swollen and causing him pain—and at times became so distressed that he hit himself, according to attorney Elora Mukherjee.

Gael during a video call with Ms. Rachel. (Rachel Accurso)(Rachel Accurso)

The family’s release followed a medical parole request filed by Mukherjee and media coverage that drew national attention after children's educator Rachel Accurso (known as Ms. Rachel) spoke with Gael over a Zoom call arranged by an N+ Univision journalist. During the call, Accurso tried to engage Gael with songs and toys; his mother described his worsening condition and the boy appeared overwhelmed.

"This family should never have been arrested and detained," Mukherjee said. "Law-abiding people who are living their lives and complying with all their immigration requirements must not be abruptly seized out of their communities and taken to detention centers."

Mukherjee, a Columbia Law School professor and director of its Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, said the parents had no criminal history in the United States and were arrested March 3 in El Paso during an immigration check-in. Details about any conditions of release were not immediately available, but Mukherjee said the family plans to return to El Paso and will most likely be required to attend routine ICE check-ins while their asylum case proceeds.

Gael with his parents. (Courtesy Elora Mukherjee)(Courtesy Elora Mukherjee)

After the Zoom call, Accurso posted about the encounter on Instagram and told NBC News, "Imagine if your child hadn’t pooped in nine days. This is not normal. This is an important medical situation." The conversation helped bring wider attention to the family’s situation and prompted Mukherjee to take their case.

The Dilley facility has faced growing scrutiny from advocates and immigration lawyers, who say families detained there have suffered emotionally and physically amid round‑the‑clock lighting, frequent patrols and claims of inadequate medical care, education and food. The Department of Homeland Security has disputed those descriptions and said families receive appropriate care.

For Gael and his parents, the immediate priority is recovery: Mukherjee said they intend to resume the pediatric care and therapy Gael was receiving before detention while continuing to pursue asylum. "Nelsy and Leonardo are so eager to take Gael to their pediatrician so that he can get the medical care that he urgently needs," Mukherjee said.

Originally published on NBCNews.com.