Note: Names have been changed to protect the family. All funds will be sent to the priest of the family's church. This was done in the event both parents are detained and cannot access the funds.

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Imagine stepping outside your home to go to work—only to be taken away from your family without warning. That’s what happened to our neighbor and friend, Emanuel.

In early August 2025, Emanuel was detained by ICE agents outside his home in Brewster, NY. He was on his way to work—just another day trying to support his wife, Maria, and their three U.S.-born children (ages 18 months, 5 years, and 11 years old, one of whom has special needs). He was not charged with any crime. His only record is a single parking ticket.

Emanuel and Maria are asylum seekers from Guatemala who have lived in the U.S. for over 22 years. They are legally residing here, with valid work permits, awaiting a court decision that could finally grant them permanent safety. They’ve built their life, business, and family in Brewster—and they’ve given back to this community every step of the way.

Now, Emanuel sits in an ICE detention center, separated from his family, waiting for a bond hearing. The cost of legal representation, transportation, and navigating this system is immense. That’s why we’re asking for your help:

We are raising $16,000 to support Emanuel’s legal defense and help reunite his family.

Why This Matters.

After violent criminals threatened his family, Emanuel applied multiple times for a U.S. visa but was denied each time. Finally, at the age of 17 he decided to finally flee his home and come to the U.S. Shortly after, his worst nightmare came true and his brother was tragically murdered in Guatemala. Emanuel’s mother told him he would never be safe if he returned home which led him to apply for asylum, a long-standing legal pathway to permanent residency in the U.S. He’s been in the U.S. ever since, raising his children, owning and operating a successful landscaping company that employs others, and volunteering through his church.

Maria is now left alone to care for their three children—juggling work, childcare, and legal battles on her own. The trauma of this separation has devastated the family. Yet, they remain strong in their hope to be reunited.

No Crime. No Charges. Just a Family Torn Apart.

Emanuel has no criminal record. He pays taxes. He’s a job creator. He is known throughout Brewster as honest, hardworking, and deeply committed to his family and faith. This is a family that has tried to get documented through the system and is now being punished for trying to do it “the right way.”

We’ve seen GoFundMe make miracles happen—families reunited, legal battles won, communities restored. You can help us make a miracle happen for Emanuel and his family.

How You Can Help.

Every dollar raised will go directly to:

Legal defense for Emanuel’s bond and asylum case

Travel and logistics to reunite him with his family

Support for Maria and their children while Emanuel is detained

Even $10 makes a difference. If you can't give, please share this campaign with your network. The more people who hear Emanuel’s story, the stronger we stand together.

Let’s bring Emanuel home.

Thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and your belief in justice.