Help Leo, father of 5
Donation protected
On October 26, 2018 Leo was taking his children to the dentist, when he was forcibly detained in the dentist’s parking lot by ICE agents.
Leo supports a wife and five children. The children were present to see their father’s rough treatment as he was taken from them, which was even more difficult because he was recovering from recent surgery to remove his appendix.
This sort of trauma is repeated throughout this country. Even so, Leo’s detention was unexpected and hit family, friends and his children's school communities in Tacoma, WA very hard. As his children's English language teachers, we have always known Leo as a concerned and attentive parent who works hard to provide for his family. He is a gentle person and loving parent, who has been actively involved in his children's education. Leo has a high regard for the value of education and holds his children to high standards in their behavior and schoolwork.
Each immigrant has an important story to tell, and this is Leo’s story...
Leo is from Guatemala and left his country because of the gang violence he suffered there. Leo grew up in poverty in Guatemala, where he saw alcoholism and violence as a norm, both in the home and in the streets. He and his brother were run out of their home as teenagers, expected to fend for themselves with no training, few skills, and no job opportunities. Seeking safety and a better life with hopes for the future, Leo arrived in Miami in 2006 and moved to Washington in 2008.
In the detention center, he worries constantly about how his family is managing with rent, food, gasoline, and other household expenses. Also, he constantly worries about the health of their children. Soon after he was taken from his family, their three-year old daughter came down with a high fever of 106. His wife, in the middle of working extra hours, collecting forms for the lawyers, contacting resources, friends and agencies, and taking care of and transporting their children to and from school, took their daughter to the ER, to her doctor, and to urgent care. Each time she was told to give the child Tylenol. It wasn’t until a week later during a visit to the hospital, the child was diagnosed with a kidney infection and, with a different medication, the fever subsided. However, the fever returned within a day, and she is currently undergoing more tests to determine the next steps. The children are suffering – the stress of not having their father home is taking it’s toll.
Leo has instructed his wife not to pay any more lawyers’ fees. However, his wife and his children are determined to get him the legal help he needs. His wife has borrowed $2750 for his lawyer’s fees for his bond hearing and needs $5000 more for the lawyer’s fees to proceed with his immigration case. In addition, his family is in desperate need of help with living expenses and rent since they are living on only one very modest income while he is detained, which can likely be several more months.
Leo’s best chance to avoid deportation is to have legal representation. His lawyers believe that he has a strong case to remain legally in this country as a father of two special needs children. He has been torn from his family and his children desperately need him to be back home.
Thank you for reading Leo’s story and for considering making a donation to his legal fund. These funds would be very much appreciated before December 20th.
Leo and his family extend their most humble and heartfelt gratitude.
Leo supports a wife and five children. The children were present to see their father’s rough treatment as he was taken from them, which was even more difficult because he was recovering from recent surgery to remove his appendix.
This sort of trauma is repeated throughout this country. Even so, Leo’s detention was unexpected and hit family, friends and his children's school communities in Tacoma, WA very hard. As his children's English language teachers, we have always known Leo as a concerned and attentive parent who works hard to provide for his family. He is a gentle person and loving parent, who has been actively involved in his children's education. Leo has a high regard for the value of education and holds his children to high standards in their behavior and schoolwork.
Each immigrant has an important story to tell, and this is Leo’s story...
Leo is from Guatemala and left his country because of the gang violence he suffered there. Leo grew up in poverty in Guatemala, where he saw alcoholism and violence as a norm, both in the home and in the streets. He and his brother were run out of their home as teenagers, expected to fend for themselves with no training, few skills, and no job opportunities. Seeking safety and a better life with hopes for the future, Leo arrived in Miami in 2006 and moved to Washington in 2008.
In the detention center, he worries constantly about how his family is managing with rent, food, gasoline, and other household expenses. Also, he constantly worries about the health of their children. Soon after he was taken from his family, their three-year old daughter came down with a high fever of 106. His wife, in the middle of working extra hours, collecting forms for the lawyers, contacting resources, friends and agencies, and taking care of and transporting their children to and from school, took their daughter to the ER, to her doctor, and to urgent care. Each time she was told to give the child Tylenol. It wasn’t until a week later during a visit to the hospital, the child was diagnosed with a kidney infection and, with a different medication, the fever subsided. However, the fever returned within a day, and she is currently undergoing more tests to determine the next steps. The children are suffering – the stress of not having their father home is taking it’s toll.
Leo has instructed his wife not to pay any more lawyers’ fees. However, his wife and his children are determined to get him the legal help he needs. His wife has borrowed $2750 for his lawyer’s fees for his bond hearing and needs $5000 more for the lawyer’s fees to proceed with his immigration case. In addition, his family is in desperate need of help with living expenses and rent since they are living on only one very modest income while he is detained, which can likely be several more months.
Leo’s best chance to avoid deportation is to have legal representation. His lawyers believe that he has a strong case to remain legally in this country as a father of two special needs children. He has been torn from his family and his children desperately need him to be back home.
Thank you for reading Leo’s story and for considering making a donation to his legal fund. These funds would be very much appreciated before December 20th.
Leo and his family extend their most humble and heartfelt gratitude.
Fundraising team (2)
Ilene Wider
Organizer
Tacoma, WA
Maria Saavedra
Beneficiary
Norma Ramirez
Team member