The hashtag that began circulating widely yesterday was simple, yet urgent: #FreeAlexMaganda.
A Morehouse College alum, who played football for the storied HBCU, had been detained by ICE agents outside Dallas.
A source told Capital B Atlanta Friday that Maganda is currently being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, 200 miles from Dallas. When we reached out to the facility, they confirmed his detainment.
Bluebonnet is listed as a prison under contract for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is operated by the Management and Training Corporation.
Spelman College grad and social media influencer Lynae Vanee posted an impassioned plea on Instagram June 10 to her over 800,000 followers. She encouraged the Spelhouse community, the moniker used for those who attended Spelman and Morehouse colleges, to help their former classmate.
“I am reaching out with an urgent plea for assistance regarding our brother, friend, and classmate, Alex Maganda, a member of the Class of 2018, who has recently been detained by ICE. This situation has arisen amidst the ongoing protests surrounding immigration policies and the current administration’s stance on deportation.”
READ MORE: Former Coach says Detained Morehouse Alum is Kind of Man America Needs
The news of Maganda’s detainment and requests for legal aid and support for him and his family quickly spread to other HBCU social platforms.
According to a LinkedIn profile for “Alexis Maganda,” the Morehouse alum worked as a teaching assistant at the Atlanta HBCU, giving Spanish lessons to high school students after graduation. His current employment is listed as a sales executive with AT&T.
Prior to playing for Morehouse, where he was listed on the 2017 roster as Alexis Daniel Maganda Gonzalez, he was a kicker for his high school football team in Concord, North Carolina.
As Capital B reported in March, for the estimated 5.29 million Black migrants living in the United States, the risk of detention and deportation is particularly high because many Black American communities already face intense scrutiny by law enforcement.
On Instagram, Vanee called Maganda “a kind-hearted individual, a dedicated worker, and someone who has always been there for his friends and family,” while amplifying the urgency of the situation. “His life and well-being are in jeopardy, and his absence is deeply felt. We must rally together to support him during this difficult time.”
Nana Gyamfi, executive director for The Black Alliance for Just Immigration, spoke with Capital B Atlanta last month about the increased risk Black immigrants face.
“What we know from the data, as well as anecdotal experiences, is that most law enforcement interactions with Black immigrants begin as racial profiling that then goes down another road when the officer hears an accent or realizes there is a language barrier,” Gyamfi cautioned. “As a result, Black migrants are detained, deported, and held in solitary confinement at a disproportionately higher rate.”
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a series of executive orders back in January ordering agencies to cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts, and directed the state’s criminal justice agency to identify facilities for their ongoing detainment and deportation efforts.
Friday morning, the Instagram account Spelhouse2018 shared that Maganda had retained legal counsel and shared an update on his condition.
“Over the past few days, Alex has been able to speak with close friends and family. He’s heard about the incredible outpouring of support and is in good spirits. He is deeply grateful for your prayers, your kindness, and the ways you’ve rallied around him. For those who know him, this strength and positivity come as no surprise.”
Staff writers Madeline Thigpen and Christina Carrega contributed to this report.
Correction: A previous draft of this story featured an incorrect photo of Alex Maganda. It has since been removed.
Follow Capital B Atlanta for updates on this developing story.
