26 years living in America: Eric was taken by I.C.E.

TODAY ERIC WAS TAKEN BY I.C.E.

One of our best friends Desiree and Eric are in an emergency: What happened today to her husband, Eric, is not justice—it’s a devastating failure of a broken immigration system. Eric is 38 years old and has lived in the United States since he was just 11 years old. He’s spent over two decades here, working, building a life, paying taxes, contributing to his community, and showing up—every single time—for his scheduled immigration check-ins. And yet, during his most recent routine check-in with ICE, Eric was suddenly taken into custody. Now, he faces deportation to a country that doesn’t even recognize him as a citizen. This isn’t just wrong—it’s cruel, and it’s urgent.

Eric and his family fled Venezuela when he was a child, escaping a brutal and dangerous regime. They came to the U.S. legally as Asylum Seekers looking for safety and a future. But because Eric was only 11 years old, he did not have citizenship documents —leaving him without recognized citizenship anywhere in the world. This lack of documentation has been the main reason he’s been denied U.S. citizenship again and again, despite doing everything he could to earn it. He’s lived here for over 25 years, but because of a paperwork issue he couldn’t control, he now faces being deported to a nation where he has no family, no home, and no legal identity.

We are in a race against time. Eric’s immigration attorney is working tirelessly to file an emergency request for a "Board of Immigration Appeals Hearing" within the next 48–72 hours. This costs 10k. But even if we succeed in securing that hearing and get the process paused, we will need to pay an additional $20,000 in bail to bring Eric home while his case is processed. If we don’t act quickly, Eric could be sent to Venezuela, Sudan—or even a prison in El Salvador—within days and he may never get out.

Eric is not a flight risk or a criminal. He is a husband, a professional wedding photographer of 15 years, a beloved fitness coach, and a very dear friend to so many. He is surrounded by people who love and need him. Please help us bring him home. PLEASE SHARE THIS STORY. If you know Eric, please tell people and help us spread the word as fast as we can. Donate if you’re able. If you believe in justice, in family, please stand with us before it's too late. The clock is ticking. Eric belongs here. Let’s fight for him.

Please sign this form letter (copy 

and paste link below in browser) that will be sent to your state representatives to make them aware of Eric’s injustice!

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/demand-for-fair-immigration-hearing-for-eric-sanchez-goitia

We will keep you all updated on the current situation ASAP as we move along this heartbreaking difficult path.