Advocates and family members in Atlanta announced the release of a beloved Gwinnett County barber and double amputee from immigration detention. ATLANTA — Advocates and family members in Atlanta announced the release of a beloved Gwinnett County barber and double amputee from immigration detention, ending what they described as a year-long fight over his health and confinement after he was detained last year. Rodney Taylor, a Georgia resident and double amputee who has lived in the United States since arriving on a medical visa as a toddler at age 2 from Liberia, had been held at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin. Supporters said his condition worsened significantly during that time, raising concerns about medical care inside the facility. “I am proof that when people organize and refuse to look away, we can win,” Taylor said after his release. “I am home. I am free.” His release follows months of advocacy led by a coalition of community organizations, legal representatives and elected officials who argued that continued detention posed serious risks to his health. Supporters described his situation as urgent, pointing to what they called medical neglect during his time in custody. Supporters said Taylor’s health declined significantly during his time in detention, pointing to what they described as prolonged medical neglect. His release followed sustained advocacy efforts that included outreach from members of Congress and Georgia lawmakers who pressed immigration authorities to act. Attorney Sarah Owings, who represented Taylor, said his release allows him to finally receive proper care. “I am so glad that ICE has finally done the right thing,” Owings said. “I am deeply grateful to the coalition and every single person who worked to make sure Rodney can now receive the care, support, and safety he needs at home with his family.” Family members described the past year as deeply difficult. Taylor’s wife, Mildred Taylor, said the experience brought prolonged fear and uncertainty as they watched his condition decline while detained. “For over a year, our family has been living in a constant state of fear and heartbreak,” she said. “Today, I can finally breathe again.” His wife previously described him as "not just a number," talking about how he is a husband and father and fearing he would die in detention. Groups including El Refugio, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, We Are CASA and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta were among those involved in organizing efforts across Georgia and beyond. The campaign gained traction with support from lawmakers at both the state and federal levels. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, along with Reps. Lucy McBath and Pramila Jayapal, joined other officials in urging immigration authorities to reconsider Taylor’s detention. A broader group of more than 20 members of Congress and several Georgia legislators also pushed for action, citing humanitarian concerns. Advocates said Taylor’s case highlights broader concerns about conditions inside immigration detention facilities, particularly for people with significant medical needs. Amilcar Valencia, executive director of El Refugio, said the outcome demonstrates both the impact of sustained advocacy and the challenges detainees face. “Rodney’s release is a powerful reminder of what collective action can make possible,” Valencia said. “But it is also a painful reflection of how much suffering people are forced to endure before action is taken.” Advocates are now calling on the public to remain engaged, both in supporting Taylor’s recovery and in pushing for broader changes within the immigration detention system. For Taylor and his family, however, the focus is now on healing after a year defined by uncertainty, advocacy and a fight that ultimately brought him home.