HOUSTON — For the first time, a teenager held in federal custody for more than a month spoke out publicly.

Emmanuel Garcia and his family held a press conference at Rep. Al Green's office.

Emmanuel stood with his mother, Maria, and sister, Angela, as he spoke to all who followed his story.

"Thank you very much for your support and for helping me," Raed Gonzalez, with Gonzalez Olivieri LLC, said.

The teenager’s case has been getting news coverage since early October, when he went missing while Maria was working. She reported him missing.

Emmanuel was picked up by police, and city officials said the name in the report didn’t match the name given.

So, Emmanuel was turned over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for unaccompanied minors.

They said, “As a matter of policy, to protect

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