Two teens fled Turkish Kurdistan on their own, in search of a country where they could practice religion and speech without fear.

They settled in the Syracuse suburbs and leaned on each other for support.

The two kept U.S. Customs and Immigrations officers up to date on their home addresses, their jobs and their classes at Onondaga Community College.

On Oct. 6, Ardil Zilan drove Delil Alptekin to ICE headquarters in Mattydale and waited in the car while his friend made his usual three-month check-in. Alptekin’s texts suddenly stopped. He never came out.

Instead, an ICE officer walked out to the car and said they were sending Alptekin to a detention center near Buffalo.

Delil Alptekin, a student at Onondaga Community College, was detained by ICE in October 2025. He is from Turkey.

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