The Uzcategui-Laborador family has been legally living in the United States as asylum seekers and has been part of the Alamo Heights ISD community since December 2021. Their son, Victor Jr., is currently a fifth-grade student at Cambridge Elementary, where he has attended since first grade. He is also actively involved in school activities, including soccer and Mule Milers. His younger sister, Monseratt, began at Howard in pre-kindergarten and is now in second grade in Cambridge. When not at school, she enjoys gymnastics and roller skating with her friends. Both children are active members of their school community and are deeply loved by their teachers and peers.

While walking to their school bus stop on Monday, April 27, both children along with their step-mother, Betania, were taken by ICE. The family is lawfully present in the United States, has no criminal record, and is awaiting an asylum hearing scheduled for 2027. It appears that Betania may have been mistakenly identified, leading to her wrongful detention. Nevertheless, she and her children were taken to the ICE Detention Center in Dilley, Texas, where they remain as of this writing.

Victor Sr., the children’s father, is working closely with Congressman Joaquin Castro’s office to obtain information and advocate for his family’s release. Funds raised through this campaign will first go toward the $4,000 in legal fees already incurred in efforts to bring his family home. Any additional support will help cover ongoing legal expenses, and assist other members of the community affected by this ICE raid.