Hugo Freitas de Sousa, a 39-year-old Azorean from Terceira island, returned to Portugal on September 5 after spending six weeks detained by the United States immigration service (ICE). The man was trying to enter the country to visit his 12-year-old son, but was intercepted by US authorities while traveling through Canada, going from Vancouver to Seattle. Hugo lived 35 years in the United States with permanent residence authorization, but the document had expired approximately one year before the attempted return.
During the period he remained detained in Washington, Hugo reported the degrading conditions he was subjected to. In statements to RTP upon landing in Lisbon, he described that he could only shower every four days, slept on a yoga mat without a pillow and with the lights always on. He also reported that the food was of poor quality and that he had to go on a hunger strike for nearly four days to draw the authorities' attention to his situation.
While Hugo remained detained, his partner Joyce Hernandez sought help in Portugal, contacting embassies, lawyers, and resorting to the media. Hugo acknowledged that his partner's call to the media made all the difference, with the Portuguese consulate in San Francisco subsequently providing information about the ongoing proceedings. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in late August that it was monitoring the case and maintaining communication with the US authorities.
At Lisbon Airport, Hugo was reunited with Joyce, whom he had not seen for over a month. He said he was tired and hungry, but expressed relief at the end of his detention. Upon his return, he thanked everyone who was involved in resolving the situation.
