On July 11, what started out as a fun soccer trip for a South Philadelphia babysitter ended with her being arrested and ultimately moved across the country to an ICE detention center in New Mexico.⁠
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Steven Melchiorre, 35, a health worker, said that at 7 a.m. that day he dropped off his girlfriend, Iliana Lick, 30, to fly to Kansas City. Originally from Buenos Aires, she planned to see the Argentina national team play in the World Cup.⁠
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She texted Melchiorre from inside the airport to say the line was short, then did not answer his reply.⁠
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After a while, he said, Lick phoned, crying, to say she had been arrested by ICE. She was moved from Philadelphia to the Cambria County prison, which holds prisoners for the agency in south-central Pennsylvania, and in following days was transferred to ICE facilities in Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico.⁠
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Lick is scheduled for a hearing on Friday, at which friends and family hope a judge will set bond, potentially enabling her to be freed from custody.⁠
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Immigration advocates say at least 10 people have been arrested by ICE at Philadelphia International Airport since July 12 including Lick.⁠
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Find more at the link in our bio.⁠
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📝 by Jeff Gammage / Staff⁠
📸 by Erin Blewett / For The Inquirer