Help a Union Electrician Come Home and Secure Legal Representation

My name is Anthony Cortes. I am a dues-paying member of the IBEW, but more than that, I am someone who has never had to live with the fear of deportation.

I’ve never had to worry that doing the right thing — going to work, paying taxes, or checking in with immigration — could result in being detained or separated from my family and livelihood. I recognize that’s a privilege. This fundraiser is my way of supporting those who live with that fear every day.

This is about one of our own.

I want to be very clear from the start:

I don’t care who you voted for.

Left leaning or right leaning. Trump supporter or Trump hater.

This is not a political issue.

This is a human issue.

A family issue.

A union issue.

This is about a sister in the IBEW, a working electrician, and a woman who came to this country the right way through legal channels because she was trying to survive and build something better with her own two hands.

She came to the United States legally from Honduras, leaving behind an awful life marked by poverty, unsafe living conditions, and constant danger. Honduras is an extremely unsafe environment, especially for women. For someone as small as she is, daily life meant living in fear fear of violence, fear of exploitation, fear of simply existing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She did not come here for shortcuts.

She did not come here for handouts.

She came here to work, to be safe, and to provide a better life for herself and her family.

Today, that same woman a licensed electrician and proud IBEW Local 60 member is being held in an ICE detention center.

She followed the rules. She showed up to her scheduled immigration check in, exactly as required. Instead of being allowed to continue working while her residency application was processed, she was unexpectedly detained due to delays in approval something completely outside of her control.

She is not a criminal.

She pays her taxes.

She works full time as an electrician.

She supports her mother.

Anyone who has worked with her knows who she is dependable, hardworking, respectful, and kind. One of the best people you could ask to have on a jobsite.

Even while detained, scared, and separated from her job and her life, she continues to show her character. Recently, she took the time to write and send a letter of support to one of our union sisters who is injured and currently unable to work. While incarcerated herself, she was still thinking about others.

An experienced immigration attorney has now reviewed her case in detail. After hearing the full story and examining the facts, he stated that she has a very strong chance of winning in court and has agreed to take her case. He would not do so if he did not believe she could win.

The problem is time.

The required legal retainer is $8,000, and without it, she cannot move forward. Every day without legal representation is another day she remains detained and at risk of being sent back to the dangerous conditions she fled simply to survive.

All funds raised will go directly toward:

Immigration attorney retainer and legal fees

Court filings and required documentation

This fundraiser is about standing up for:

A union sister

A hardworking tradeswoman

A good human being who did everything right

If you are able to donate, thank you.

If you are unable to donate, please share.

This is what solidarity looks like.

This is how we bring her home.