Stop deportation of US army spouse
Donation protected
Hello,
My name is Nick and I am a part of the team at GOAL INC. I am creating this go fund me for Tim Brown and GOAL INC founded by Tim in 2017(get out and live, a 501(C)(3) organization aimed at addressing issues involved with coming out and related humanity services including counseling and corporate training programs) For more information about what we do at GOAL and additional ways to get involved visit https://www.goallgbtq.org/ All donations are tax deductible and any amount over our fundraising-goal will go to the GOAL general fund to help with initiatives and programs. Further if legal expenses are less than the goal we have set, those additional funds will also go to the GOAL general fund.
On May 10th 2018 ICE agents detained Sergio Avila during an immigration appointment. ICE agents now routinely show up at immigration offices, which differes from past practices.
In 2001 Sergio was brought by his uncle to Texas from Honduras when he was 8 years old. He was issued a deportation order that he clearly could not comprehend as an 8-year old child and has been a resident of the U.S. since. Sergio was previously protected under DACA. (Deferred action for childhood arrivals, DACA is an American immigration policy that allows some individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S. A DACA renewal costs $495)
Over one year ago, Tim and Sergio started the process for a marriage waiver. A deportation waiver issued to spouses of American citizens. Last month Tim had a meeting with immigration services as marriage waivers are no longer issued without appointments. Sergio did not attend. During the appointment ICE agents approached Tim and his attorney and asked where Sergio was. Sergio had stayed behind at the direction of the attorney. ICE agents promised they just wanted to talk and were quoted by Tim as saying "Do you really think we would arrest and detain the spouse of an active duty military member?" to which the attorney replied "Yes, I do." And to which unfortunately one month later the attorney would be right.
Later in the appointment a marriage waiver was issued. Additionally a second waiver or "period of probation" for the deportation order issued when Sergio was 8 was also given. A follow-up appointment was set for May 10th one month later in Charlotte NC. Sergio was now temporarily protected from deportation by both waivers.
During the follow-up appointment Tim was not allowed to accompany Sergio. 4 hours later Tim received a call that Sergio had been detained. ICE revoked both of the waivers once they had Sergio which were granting Sergio temporary legal residency status and immediately started his deportation proceedings.
We have been in communication with the office of Senator Doug Jones and a few senators and offices of congress in North Carolina and Alabama, Tim’s home of record. As well as the HRC. Tim's attorney is filing a motion for a stay of removal. Additionally the attorney is petitioning to have the deportation order re-opened.
Tim will be leaving the army and will possibly have to temporarily relocate to Honduras as a result of Sergio’s pending deportation where he will continuing working as the head of GOAL INC. We need your help in bringing as much attention to this as possible, and with any donation you can provide to help with the legal expenses.
Thank you for your time in reading Tim and Sergio’s story and for any and all help you can provide.
-Nick
My name is Nick and I am a part of the team at GOAL INC. I am creating this go fund me for Tim Brown and GOAL INC founded by Tim in 2017(get out and live, a 501(C)(3) organization aimed at addressing issues involved with coming out and related humanity services including counseling and corporate training programs) For more information about what we do at GOAL and additional ways to get involved visit https://www.goallgbtq.org/ All donations are tax deductible and any amount over our fundraising-goal will go to the GOAL general fund to help with initiatives and programs. Further if legal expenses are less than the goal we have set, those additional funds will also go to the GOAL general fund.
On May 10th 2018 ICE agents detained Sergio Avila during an immigration appointment. ICE agents now routinely show up at immigration offices, which differes from past practices.
In 2001 Sergio was brought by his uncle to Texas from Honduras when he was 8 years old. He was issued a deportation order that he clearly could not comprehend as an 8-year old child and has been a resident of the U.S. since. Sergio was previously protected under DACA. (Deferred action for childhood arrivals, DACA is an American immigration policy that allows some individuals who were brought to the United States illegally as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S. A DACA renewal costs $495)
Over one year ago, Tim and Sergio started the process for a marriage waiver. A deportation waiver issued to spouses of American citizens. Last month Tim had a meeting with immigration services as marriage waivers are no longer issued without appointments. Sergio did not attend. During the appointment ICE agents approached Tim and his attorney and asked where Sergio was. Sergio had stayed behind at the direction of the attorney. ICE agents promised they just wanted to talk and were quoted by Tim as saying "Do you really think we would arrest and detain the spouse of an active duty military member?" to which the attorney replied "Yes, I do." And to which unfortunately one month later the attorney would be right.
Later in the appointment a marriage waiver was issued. Additionally a second waiver or "period of probation" for the deportation order issued when Sergio was 8 was also given. A follow-up appointment was set for May 10th one month later in Charlotte NC. Sergio was now temporarily protected from deportation by both waivers.
During the follow-up appointment Tim was not allowed to accompany Sergio. 4 hours later Tim received a call that Sergio had been detained. ICE revoked both of the waivers once they had Sergio which were granting Sergio temporary legal residency status and immediately started his deportation proceedings.
We have been in communication with the office of Senator Doug Jones and a few senators and offices of congress in North Carolina and Alabama, Tim’s home of record. As well as the HRC. Tim's attorney is filing a motion for a stay of removal. Additionally the attorney is petitioning to have the deportation order re-opened.
Tim will be leaving the army and will possibly have to temporarily relocate to Honduras as a result of Sergio’s pending deportation where he will continuing working as the head of GOAL INC. We need your help in bringing as much attention to this as possible, and with any donation you can provide to help with the legal expenses.
Thank you for your time in reading Tim and Sergio’s story and for any and all help you can provide.
-Nick
Organizer and beneficiary
Nicholas Newell
Organizer
Fayetteville, NC
Nicholas Chatman
Beneficiary