My name is Jewell Ceballos Falletti, and I grew up in Coldwater, Kansas – the same place my father, Joe Ceballos, has lived since he came here as a teenager in 1986.

Coldwater has always embraced our family with the blessings of home, friendship and respect. In return, Dad made it his life’s mission to serve the City and Comanche County in any way he could, including 8 years of service on the City Council and the past 4 years as Mayor.

Today Dad finds himself in the fight of his life, facing attacks from the State of Kansas and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. As the town is aware, the Kansas AG charged Dad with election fraud on Nov. 4, claiming he was ineligible to hold elective office and also had voted illegally. Now Dad is faced with the tremendous expense of defending himself against the State’s charges – and the even more ominous threat of deportation to Mexico, a country he hasn’t visited since he came to the U.S. at age 4.

Dad desperately needs your help to mount his defense, with the singular goal of remaining in Coldwater to live out his American Dream amidst the community he loves most. Your donation will go directly toward the enormous cost of opposing any deportation order and defending Dad against the State’s charges.

Please know this: Dad never intended to violate the law. While on a high school field trip to the Comanche County Courthouse, the County Clerk encouraged Dad and his fellow students to register to vote. Dad truly believed his status as a legal U.S. resident gave

him the right to vote. It was an honest mistake, and we pray it doesn’t cost him the life in America he has worked so hard to build.

For his entire life, Dad has always stepped up to help others in our community. It’s incredibly difficult for him to request help for himself – so that’s why I’m asking for him.

We appreciate any amount you can afford to give. All donations will go into a legal defense fund account that will go directly towards my father's legal fees.

With gratitude,

Jewell Ceballos Falletti and the Family of Joe Ceballos