FORKS — The fate of a 16-year-old Forks resident who was detained by Border Patrol agents late last month has been decided, while reports of new detentions surface.
Carlos Bernabe, 16, will willingly return to Mexico to be with his family, Forks Mayor Nedra Reed said.
“We have been working on Carlos’ issues all week,” Reed said late last week.
“All of his remaining family have returned to Mexico.
“I spoke to Immigration, and he is being held in a facility in Seattle, and we are trying to get in touch with his father and uncle so they know where to meet him.
“He will be flown back to Mexico on a voluntary return.”
Reed became aware that the boy was in federal detention in the Seattle area about two weeks ago.
He could have been released to a relative, Reed said, but his stepmother would not pick him up because she was an illegal immigrant.
She returned to Mexico, where the teen’s father is, “out of fear,” Reed said.
Reed said she knew several people who would have taken care of the boy, but that it was decided that he should be with his family.
“Although there are wonderful people in Forks who would take care and raise him, it was determined that he would be best off with his family, and he should be home with his parents by the weekend,” Reed said.
