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Hi everyone,
We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for your support for my Uncle Chanda Roeun and the Roeun family. This fundraiser was created to help bring Chanda home, to free him from detention and stop his deportation.
Chanda’s story began in a refugee camp in Thailand, where he was born, as his family fled the horrors of the Cambodian genocide in the late 1970s. When he was just a toddler, his family came to the United States seeking safety and a better life. America has been the only home Chanda has ever known.
Over the years, Chanda has built a beautiful life here. He is a loving husband to his wife, Lilly, and a devoted father to their three amazing children, 14, 9, and 6 years old. His family, friends, and community know him as kind, hardworking, and deeply caring–a man who always puts others before himself and always willing to help others in need.
Chanda was given orders to check in with ICE in December. However, he was unjustly and suddenly detained ahead of schedule, taken into custody, and sent to a detention center in Texas— far from his home and family. His wife and children are now left struggling each day without him, holding onto the hope that he will be allowed to stay. Additionally, Chanda’s wife, Lilly, has been directly affected by the recent government shutdown and has been furloughed (as of 10/20/25). As a result, she is currently without pay and relying on savings to cover essential living expenses, adding even more financial strain to the family.
We are raising funds to help cover the cost of legal representation and fight for Chanda’s freedom. Our goal is to reunite him with his family and secure his right to stay in the United States, the only homeland he’s ever known.
Any amount you donate is so helpful and appreciated! Here are some additional ways these funds will be used:
- It currently costs about $0.10 per minute to speak with Chanda from the detention facility. The Roeun family does their best to stay connected, typically speaking for about 30 minutes, two to three times a day, to exchange updates and provide emotional support. As legal proceedings continue, these calls may become even more frequent, as consistent communication between Chanda, his family, and his legal team is crucial.
- Commissary expenses at the detention facility are another ongoing cost the family must cover. These include basic personal necessities such as clothing, socks, food, simple electronics, and over-the-counter medications—items that help Chanda maintain a sense of comfort and dignity during this difficult time.
- Travel costs are also a consideration. A roundtrip ticket to visit the detention facility in Texas typically ranges from $300–$500, and some in-person visits may be necessary to support Chanda through this process.
Please consider donating, sharing this campaign, or simply keeping Chanda and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Every act of support means more than words can express.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with the Roeun family.