Free the Enriquez-Olvera Family
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I would like to thank you all again for your effort in various ways to get the Enriquez Olvera family released from ICE custody.
There are two last asks I have for y’all:
1) If you have time, please call your representatives to thank them for their work, effort and time on the Enriquez Olvera family case. The Offices of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene and Senator Maria Cantwell were both instrumental, as they spearheaded the effort at the congressional level.
2)If you haven’t done so and feel inclined, please send a letter of support for Candelaria, Roberto and/or Irvin. The letters will be needed as they move forward with the Immigration Court hearing process.
Thank you for all your support.
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While on vacation in Arizona, the Enriquez Olvera family were detained by Customs and Border Protection. On Thursday, March 28, 2019, at approximately 2 pm, 2 Border Patrol Officers pulled the Enriquez Olvera family over as they entered the highway. Irvin Enriquez Olvera was in the driver seat, Roberto Enriquez Valencia was in the passenger seat, and Candelaria Olvera Garrido and Raquel Enriquez were backseat passengers.
Durante sus vacaciones en Arizona, la familia Enríquez Olvera fue detenida por Customs y Border Protection. El jueves 28 de marzo de 2019, aproximadamente a las 2 p.m., 2 oficiales de la patrulla fronteriza sacaron a la familia de Enríquez Olvera cuando ingresaron a la autopista. Irvin Enríquez Olvera estaba en el asiento del conductor, Roberto Enríquez Valencia estaba en el asiento del pasajero, y Candelaria Olvera Garrido y Raquel Enríquez iban de pasajeras en el asiento trasero.
Officer A. Zarate walked up to the passenger window and asked Irvin to turn off the vehicle. He then asked the family where they were coming from and where they were going. Zarate mentioned that the reason they were stopped was that it was strange for the family to have taken that particular road to the highway because the car rental was fancy and not the type meant to be off-road. Zarate also mentioned that had the family come from the highway, they should have gone through a checkpoint.
El oficial A. Zarate se acercó a la ventana del pasajero y le pidió a Irvin que apagara el vehículo. Luego le preguntó a la familia de dónde venían y hacia dónde iban. Zarate mencionó que la razón por la que los detuvieron fue que era extraño que la familia hubiese tomado ese camino en particular hacia la autopista porque el auto rentado era lujoso y no el tipo destinado a estar fuera de la carretera. Zarate también mencionó que si la familia venía de la autopista, debería haber pasado por un punto de control.
Officer Zarate asked to see the family’s ID’s and asked if they had any other travel documents on them. The family answered no. Irvin tried to explain to both Officers that they were on vacation from Washington State and were headed to their 4pm tour at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Raquel then showed the Officers the tour tickets from the park. Irvin also explained that they had originally arrived at the park before noon and that they were driving around to sight see in order to pass time. Officer Zarate then asked where the family was originally from and continued to ask questions regarding their immigration status. The Officer stated he could not let the family leave until he obtained a report informing him if it was okay for them to leave. Irvin at that moment contacted folks in Washington state via message to inform them they had been stopped by CBP and was connected with Jessica Rodriguez, a community organizer in Tucson.
El oficial Zarate pidió ver los IDs de la familia y preguntó si tenían otros documentos de viaje. La familia contestó que no. Irvin trató de explicarle a ambos oficiales que estaban de vacaciones desde el estado de Washington y que se dirigían al tour de las 4 pm en el parque estatal Kartchner Caverns. Raquel luego le mostró a los oficiales los boletos del tour en el parque. Irvin también explicó que habían llegado originalmente al parque antes del mediodía y que estaban conduciendo alrededor para pasar el tiempo. El oficial Zarate luego preguntó de dónde era la familia y continuó haciendo preguntas con respecto a su estatus migratorio. El oficial dijo que no podía dejar que la familia se fuera hasta que obtuviese un reporte informándole si estaba bien que se marcharan. Irvin en ese momento contactó a la gente en el estado de Washington por mensaje para informarles que habían sido detenidos por la CBP y estaba en contacto con Jessica Rodríguez, una organizadora de la comunidad en Tucson.
Zarate approached the rental car about an hour and a half later. Zarate explained to that their report showed Irvin’s, Roberto’s, and Candelaria’s expired visas from 2008 and told them they were going to have to leave with them because they had no other documents on them to prove they are lawfully present in the U.S. Raquel was clear to leave because she is a U.S. citizen. Irvin, Roberto, and Candelaria were then taken to the Willcox CBP station.
Zarate se acercó al coche rentado alrededor de una hora y media más tarde. Zarate explicó que su informe mostraba las visas caducadas de Irvin, Roberto y Candelaria del 2008 y les dijo que iban a tener que irse con ellos porque no tenían otros documentos que demostraran que están legalmente presentes en Estados Unidos. A Raquel la dejaron libre para irse porque es ciudadana estadounidense. Irvin, Roberto y Candelaria fueron llevados a la estación CBP de Willcox.
Roberto and Candelaría are warm, loving, supportive parent and grandparents. They instilled in their children (their daughter Andrea is a teacher) a need to serve those who are undervalued. They raised their children to lead with their hearts. They taught them the importance of hard work and sacrifice. They encouraged their children to pursue higher education while building a business and cultivating strong ties in their local and church communities. They were the rock their children could not only lean on but reach heights from. And when their children soared, there was no one prouder.
Roberto y Candelaria son padres y abuelos cálidos, amorosos y solidarios. Inculcaron en sus hijos (su hija Andrea es maestra) la necesidad de servir a los subvalorados. Criaron a sus hijos para que lideren con sus corazones. Les enseñaron la importancia del trabajo duro y el sacrificio. Alentaron a sus hijos a dedicarse a la educación superior mientras construían un negocio y cultivaban fuertes lazos en sus comunidades locales y eclesiástica. Eran la roca en la que sus hijos no sólo podían apoyarse, sino alcanzar metas altas. Y cuando sus hijos volaron, no había nadie más orgulloso.
Irvin has donated *thousands* of volunteer hours to programs where everyone else gets paid for their time. He is a pillar we can lean on. Irvin and Raquel are the kinds of people who jump in the car to see a war-veteran friend three hours away after the friend indicated she was struggling. They had started the process of obtaining citizenship for Irvin when Irvin was detained. He and his parents now face immediate deportation.
Irvín ha donado miles de horas como voluntario en programas donde todos los demás son pagados por su tiempo. El es un pilar en en cual podemos recargarnos y apoyarnos. Irvín y Raquel son de la calidad de persona que manejaron tres horas en el carro para visitar una amiga veterana cuando indico que pasaba por un tiempo difícil. Ellos ya habían iniciado el proceso para obtener ciudadanía para Irvín, y estaban en el proceso cuando Irvín fue detenido. Y ahora Irvín y sus padres enfrentan el peligro de ser inmediatamente deportados.
That would be a great injustice and a tremendous loss for their community and family. We are raising funds to retain lawyers so that we can bring them home to Washington, where they can get back on the path to citizenship. A path that would be infinitely harder if they were deported.
Eso sería una gran injusticia y una pérdida tremenda por su comunidad y familia. Estamos recaudando fondos para retener abogados, y intentar traerlos de regreso hasta Washington, en donde pueden seguir los pasos a la ciudadanía. Un paseo que sería infinitamente más difícil si fueran deportados.
Since this concerns three people, legal costs will stack up quickly. We are trying to prevent their financial ruin as a family by covering some of those costs. Any amount helps.
Esta situación pertiene a tres personas, y los costos legales aumentarán rápidamente. Estamos tratando evitar su ruina financiera como familia, ayudando a cubrir estos costos. Cada donación, de cualquier cantidad ayuda.
*If you would rather not contribute here, because of the % taken out, we are raising funds in different ways/on different platforms (including old- fashioned checks). Send me a message if you'd like to know how else you can donate.
*Si prefieres no donar aquí, por el % que le quitan, estamos recaudando fondos en otras maneras y otras plataformas también (incluyendo los cheques anticuados). Mandanos un mensaje por favor, si quieres saber en donde más donar.
**There is also the option of buying tires from their business in Everett:
They provide a service of brakes, used and new tires & used and new rims. Diego will be here Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. Due to the circumstances available for appointments on Sunday. Message me for more info on that.
** También hay la opción de comprar llantas o ruedas de el negocio familiar en Everett. Ellos proveen servicios de frenos, ruedas y llantas nuevas o usadas dependiendo de lo que necesitas. Diego estara alli, Lunes a Sábado desde las 9 nueve en la mañana, hasta las 6 de la tarde. Basado en la circunstancias, solo disponible con cita previa los Domingos. Contactame por mensaje para más información sobre esto.
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Below are testimonials about Irvin and his parents (I will continue to add more as they are coming in):
Mas abajo, son testimonios sobre Irvín y sus padres. (Continuaré añadiendo más, a la medida que vayan llegando.) :
Roberto and Candelaria are parents, grandparents, community members, and business owners. They are great role models, and their home and hearts are always open to anyone who needs them. They have always modeled standing for the right thing, working hard, and resilience against adversity.
When we came to the U.S., they left our hometown because of the unsafe conditions and to try to provide a better future for us—leaving behind their families, community, and profession. We have been here for over 10 years and this is the place we all call home. My parents have always shown us what it is like to be part of a church, a community, to always help without expecting something in return, and to work hard for what we want in life. They haven’t just preached but actually modeled working their way up to acquire success, which for them is the tire business they own.
The same one that they started with effort and hard work to support me, their oldest child, to receive my teaching degree from Western Washington University. In the same way, they are now supporting my brother through his education to become a surgeon. They are essential to our family and our support system—financially, emotionally, and physically. Without my parents, we don’t have a complete family.
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Irvin is a friend, husband, and community member who continuously advocates for the rights of underrepresented communities. He is a student at the University of Washington pursuing a degree in Biology and interns at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Irvin plans to graduate this summer and he hopes to one day become a trauma surgeon after completing medical school.
Irvin has been in the United States permanently since he was 13 years old. Washington State is the only place that he knows as home. He has been an active member in the community volunteering and giving to those in need for the last 10 years. He discovered his passion of mentoring youth and other community members while attending Everett Community College. He has always gone out of his way to help others and never hesitates to do so. The love that his community gives him speaks volumes on the hearts that he has touched.
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I have known Irvin for over seven years. He is a dedicated servant leader. Irvin’s commitment to serving troubled youth and his community is exemplified by his involvement with La Cima Bilingual Leadership Camp every summer and being an exemplary mentor. When I was 12 years old, I met Irvin for the first time. I was a troubled youth, and he positively impacted and transformed my life. Before Irvin walked into my life, I was failing most or all my classes, and I was constantly getting into trouble. I didn’t care about school, grades, and my future. However, when he walked into my life, I started receiving the unconditional support my teachers and even family members had failed to give me. Not only did Irvin instill in me the desire to better my grades and future, but he also instilled in me the desire to be a better person, serve others, and pursue my dream to become an educator. Throughout the years, I have come to know Irvin as a hardworking, empathetic, caring, and compassionate person. I can honestly say that if it wasn't Irvin and his loving family, I would have been a lost soul, and I would not be at a private,four-year university pursuing my dream as a future educator. He inspired me to teach the next generations and become a leader, like him. Not only did Irvin touch and transform my life, but I have seen him transform the lives of hundreds of troubled youth who, like me, might have ended up being a lost cause. This country NEEDS people like Irvin.
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Like many families, Roberto and Candelaria came to the theUnited States due to unsafe conditions and to try and provide a better future for their children—leaving behind their families, community, and professions. They’ve been in this country for over10 years, and this is the place they call home. Roberto and Candelaria are amazing parents, grandparents, community members, and business owners. They are great role models, and their home and hearts are always open to anyone who needs them. They are hardworking, honest, and caring people who remain resilient against adversity. Roberto and Candelaria raised an amazing son together, Irvin, who is currently attending the University of Washington pursuing his degree in Biology, and he interns at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Irvin would not have been able to further his education and try to pursue his dream as a medical doctor if it weren’t for his supportive and loving parents. Once again, we need strong and resilient community members like them in this country. They are the closest thing I have to family, and the state of Washington needs reliable members like them.
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I have known Irvin for four years. He is a dedicated servant leader. Irvin’s commitment to serving youth and his community is exemplified by his involvement with La Cima, as well as the Edmonds school district. I am a teacher with the Edmonds School District and have relied on Irvin’s ability to connect with youth; specifically, Latinx youth to support my Latinx students. Irvin is a young man who can create relationships with young people; specifically students who feel isolated or excluded from the school community. By sharing his own experience and story; he shows them that they have a bright future and that they are capable of reaching whatever goals they set for themselves. Irvin has influenced my life by being part of a support system that helps my students believe in themselves and their future. I appreciate all of the work he has done with the Edmonds School District as well as La Cima; a leadership camp for Latinx youth.
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Irvin is an upstanding character and contributes positively to his community in Everett, Washington. I met Irvin at my sister's wedding reception last summer; we spoke for an hour about his interest in pursuing a medical doctorate. I shared my experience of being a medical student. He told me about his passion for mentoring, particularly with regard to troubled youth. He explained that he is enrolled in a volunteer program to mentor adolescents who have turned to gang violence. It was clear that he has redirected many young lives onto better paths. It was inspiring to hear his commitment to making the world a better place. And it was unique, as many of us are not as dedicated to such endeavors. Irvin is a hard-working, moral man with big dreams and a kind heart. He deserves to be returned to Washington where his case and character may be further investigated.
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