A same-sex couple in New York is finally back together after nearly five months of separation caused by immigration detention.
Allan Marrero, originally from the Cayman Islands, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during what was supposed to be a routine green card interview.
He had attended the appointment with his husband, Matthew Marrero, as part of the legal process to obtain permanent residency.
Instead of moving forward with the application, Allan was taken into custody on the spot.
The detention came as a shock to both of them.
According to reports, Allan had missed a previous immigration hearing while he was in a rehabilitation program, something that later became central to his case.
Over the following months, he was transferred through multiple detention facilities across the United States.
During this time, Matthew remained in New York, trying to navigate the legal system while also coping with the sudden separation, Advocate reports.
The experience has been described by those close to the couple as deeply distressing.
Matthew compared the situation to having someone taken away without warning, leaving him with little control over what would happen next.
Despite the challenges, legal efforts continued.
Eventually, a judge reopened Allan’s case after evidence showed that his absence from the earlier hearing was connected to his time in rehabilitation.
After nearly 150 days in detention, Allan was finally released.
He has now returned home to New York, where he has been reunited with his husband.
The case has drawn attention to the broader impact of immigration enforcement on families, particularly those navigating the system through marriage-based applications.
It also highlights how legal processes can intersect with personal lives in ways that are both immediate and profound.
For Allan and Matthew, the focus now is on moving forward together.
After months apart, their reunion marks the end of a difficult chapter and the beginning of a new one.
📷 IG: @collinmarrero