Churchill High School student Alejandro, right, and his father, center, have been in ICE detention since May 17. Credit: X / @JoaquinCastrotx

After being detained by federal immigration agents last month while on their way to a soccer game, a San Antonio high schooler and his dad are set to be released Friday from a controversial prison camp southwest of the city, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said.

Alejandro, a student at Churchill High School, and his father, Jairo, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and sent to the South Texas Family Residential Center on May 17 as they traveled by car to a soccer game.

Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, has declined to provide the pair’s last name and country of origin. However, he said both are in the country legally while their asylum claims are pending in court.

“Alejandro missed his last days of 10th grade at Churchill High School and should have never been locked up,” Castro said in a statement. “Thanks to all who pushed for their release. Keep speaking up, your voice is making a difference.”

Castro learned of the father and son’s struggle last month during one of his trips to what he refers to as the “Dilley trailer prison.”

Alejandro is among several San Antonio-area students be detained in Dilley over recent weeks.

“They do not belong at Dilley — no child does,” Castro said.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...