I'm raising money for a dear friend & her family. A beautiful, talented & giving woman who has been going through the unimaginable the past few weeks. Her father was abducted by ICE agents while looking for work. He and my friend's husband are the sole providers for their family. If you have the ability to help out this wonderful family I know they would be forever grateful. Here's her story, in her words:

Hello everyone,

These past weeks have been emotionally heavy and unpredictable. My father, Guillermo Garcia, age 58, was detained by ICE on October 14, 2025. He was approached by several agents without a warrant in a Home Depot parking lot in Chicago. My father has been in the United States for over 30 years, working hard to provide food and a home for his family. He is a caring and loving human being & has built countless friendships in our community due to his outgoing & friendly personality.

He is a grandfather to four children who are anxiously waiting for him to come back home. His youngest granddaughter just turned 8 months. His “gestuda” (grumpy face), as he calls her, has her first bottom tooth, did her first sign language (“more”), and loves her “bravos” (clapping hands), but grandpa was not able to see it, as he did with his other three grandchildren.

Despite the stress, my dad has been staying strong, telling my children, “Tu abuelo es fuerte, soy fuerte, voy a salir pronto, estaré en casa pronto, no lloren” (“Your grandfather is strong, I’m strong, I will be home soon, don’t cry.”). Yet behind his words, he’s battling fear and pain, trying his best to stay hopeful, even as he admits, “No sé si pueda con todo esto por mucho tiempo, está feo, pero lo voy a intentar” (“I’m not sure if I can manage all this for much longer, it’s ugly over here, but I will keep trying”).

My dad is the heart of our family. He hides his fears with a smile, often saying “No pasa nada, la vida es una a seguirle para adelante” (“Everything is okay, life is short, let’s keep moving forward”), but we know he's hurting deeply. The rollercoaster of hope and despair is exhausting, he’s often saying “No puedo más con esto.” The uncertainty weighs heavily on all of us, we are doing everything we can—supporting my mother, covering legal and detention expenses, and caring for our family. We will never give up. With God’s grace and your support, we are doing everything we can to help him get through this—just as he has done everything he could for the past 30+ years to help his family & community get through hard times.

Our family needs help now more than ever, we are doing our best to support my mother, who has several health conditions, but our savings are dwindling faster than expected while unexpected expenses related to his detention are stacking up daily. We’re raising money to help my dad as well as my mom. All donations will go directly toward my father’s legal case and my mother’s healthcare. No contribution is too small, and your kindness means the world to us. If you’re unable to give, please keep my father in your prayers. Your support—prayers, kindness, and generosity—gives us strength during this difficult time.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.