EMERGENCY FUND for Kuya Ronaldo!
Donation protected
Emergency Bond Fund: Release Kuya Ronaldo!
Ronaldo is currently being detained at an ICE Facility in Elizabeth NJ. He has an ongoing visa application that is pending but ICE is trying their best to kick him out of the country before it's processed! The court has granted him a bond but if he cannot pay his bond fee in time by his next court hearing (Thurs, Nov. 29), ICE will deport him. Kuya (meaning "big brother" in Tagalog) Ronaldo is a warmhearted, caring, hard working individual who has been receiving legal and moral support from our collective Filipino rights organizations here in NJ & NY. Help us keep Kuya Ronaldo in the United States where he is safe and wanted in our communities! Protect our fellow kababayans -- Stand With Kuya Ronaldo!
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Kuya Ronaldo, a 48 year old electrician from Caloocan City, is a driver who developed the skills to work as an electrician in order to support his family in the Philippines. Kuya Ronaldo works to support a 25 year old son in the Philippines. In order to support family back home, Kuya Ronaldo went from driving in the Philippines to driving in Saudi Arabia as an overseas contracted worker. With the termination of that contract, Kuya Ronaldo had to seek other opportunities that our homeland was unable to provide for him. He sought those opportunities here in the United States. With support from another community member, Kuya Ronaldo taught himself how to be an electrician and has been doing that work in Jersey City, where he lives.
Kuya Ronaldo is currently being held in Elizabeth Detention Center. Unfortunately, most areas of New Jersey lack a sanctuary and safety policy, and so ICE was able to pick up Kuya Ronaldo from police custody. Without the protection of due process, Kuya Ronaldo was held for four days by the police and has now been held in Immigration Detention Center for a longer period of time.
Forced migration due to unemployment and underemployment affects over 6,000 Filipinos every day. The unfortunate reality is that many of our community members are forced to come here to the United States, while it is U.S. global policy that is driving unemployment and lack of resources in countries like the Philippines. Kuya Ronaldo, like many of us in the community, is working hard to contribute to community here and support family and community back home. Kuya Ronaldo needs our support to reunite him with family in New Jersey and to reconnect him with family in the Philippines. We are calling on community members to help donate anything that they can to fund for his release bond.
Kuya Ronaldo is a forced migrant and a community member. He, like many of us, struggle every day for our right to food, to land, and to dignity. He deserves better than the denial of his freedom.
Filipino Organizations for Community, Unity, and Safety (FOCUS) is organizing visits to migrant workers in detention centers in New Jersey. We want community members to learn more about their stories and find ways that our community can help. If you are interested, please contact: Laura Austria of NAFCON, or Cathy Gallagher of GABRIELA NJ.
Ronaldo is currently being detained at an ICE Facility in Elizabeth NJ. He has an ongoing visa application that is pending but ICE is trying their best to kick him out of the country before it's processed! The court has granted him a bond but if he cannot pay his bond fee in time by his next court hearing (Thurs, Nov. 29), ICE will deport him. Kuya (meaning "big brother" in Tagalog) Ronaldo is a warmhearted, caring, hard working individual who has been receiving legal and moral support from our collective Filipino rights organizations here in NJ & NY. Help us keep Kuya Ronaldo in the United States where he is safe and wanted in our communities! Protect our fellow kababayans -- Stand With Kuya Ronaldo!
___________
Kuya Ronaldo, a 48 year old electrician from Caloocan City, is a driver who developed the skills to work as an electrician in order to support his family in the Philippines. Kuya Ronaldo works to support a 25 year old son in the Philippines. In order to support family back home, Kuya Ronaldo went from driving in the Philippines to driving in Saudi Arabia as an overseas contracted worker. With the termination of that contract, Kuya Ronaldo had to seek other opportunities that our homeland was unable to provide for him. He sought those opportunities here in the United States. With support from another community member, Kuya Ronaldo taught himself how to be an electrician and has been doing that work in Jersey City, where he lives.
Kuya Ronaldo is currently being held in Elizabeth Detention Center. Unfortunately, most areas of New Jersey lack a sanctuary and safety policy, and so ICE was able to pick up Kuya Ronaldo from police custody. Without the protection of due process, Kuya Ronaldo was held for four days by the police and has now been held in Immigration Detention Center for a longer period of time.
Forced migration due to unemployment and underemployment affects over 6,000 Filipinos every day. The unfortunate reality is that many of our community members are forced to come here to the United States, while it is U.S. global policy that is driving unemployment and lack of resources in countries like the Philippines. Kuya Ronaldo, like many of us in the community, is working hard to contribute to community here and support family and community back home. Kuya Ronaldo needs our support to reunite him with family in New Jersey and to reconnect him with family in the Philippines. We are calling on community members to help donate anything that they can to fund for his release bond.
Kuya Ronaldo is a forced migrant and a community member. He, like many of us, struggle every day for our right to food, to land, and to dignity. He deserves better than the denial of his freedom.
Filipino Organizations for Community, Unity, and Safety (FOCUS) is organizing visits to migrant workers in detention centers in New Jersey. We want community members to learn more about their stories and find ways that our community can help. If you are interested, please contact: Laura Austria of NAFCON, or Cathy Gallagher of GABRIELA NJ.
Fundraising team (3)
Cathy D. Gallagher
Organizer
Elizabeth, NJ
Laura Austria
Team member
Hanalei Ramos
Team member
