HOUSTON (KHOU) – A teenager with autism who was missing for days was found in federal custody.

The Texas Center for the Missing reported that Emanuel Gonzalez Garcia went missing on Oct. 4.

Later that day, Houston police said firefighters found the teenager, who claimed he was homeless and from another country.

Officers were with Emanuel for four hours before they were advised by CPS to contact the Department of Health and Human Services.

For days, Emanuel had been in custody at the Office of Refugee Resettlement while his family was passing out flyers and looking for him. They had no idea that he had been found.

On Friday, Emanuel’s mom Maria spoke with her son for 30 minutes over FaceTime.

Emanuel’s mom is working with FIEL, an immigrant-led civil rights organization, who initially said Emanuel was in ICE custody, though the agency said that is not true.

An ICE spokesperson said, “When no family could be identified, ICE helped HPD place the minor with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. At no point was the minor in ICE custody.”

Immigration attorney Charles C. Foster believes both Emanuel and his family are in a difficult position.

“The normal thing that the parents would want to do is recover the child, and that they know where the child is, but they’re going to run the risk when they do seek to recover the child they could actually be arrested by ICE,” he said.

The Houston Police Department said all checks were made to see if Emanuel was missing prior to him being placed in ORR.

FIEL is reviewing its options.

“We want to report that Emanuel is in good health, he seems to physically be OK. He is a little bit scared,” Cesar Espinosa said.

KHOU’s immigration attorney said juvenile migrants only have certain legal protections if they were abused or neglected. It is unclear when or if the family could be reunited.