My mom, Maria, is courageously battling stage 3 breast cancer. She has endured chemotherapy, a mastectomy, radiation and now she faces a heartbreak no one should ever have to endure. Her husband, my stepdad Luis, has been a devoted father and a loving partner to my mom for over 25 years. He raised me as his own, built a life here, ran a business, contributed to the community, and has two other children and grandchildren who love him dearly. He made a mistake in the 1990s, served his time, and has always followed the immigration rules like yearly check ins and applying/paying for his work permit since. Yet ICE has picked him up and is moving forward with deportation to Mexico, a country he has never lived in. Because of this, my mom will be forced to sell her home and all of their belongings that they have worked so hard for to raise money and move with him to Mexico. At their age, they should be focusing on healing, enjoying their family, and securing their future, not starting over in a foreign country. This deportation will also strip him of the Social Security benefits and 401(k) retirement he has worked decades to earn.

We urgently need help to cover:

* $15,000+ in immigration attorney fees

* My mom’s ongoing cancer treatment, medication and medical bills

* Costs associated with relocating and rebuilding their life together in Mexico

My mom and stepdad have spent their lives loving and supporting their family and community. Now, they need our help to stay together and focus on surviving this cancer and this unimaginable situation that I do not wish on anyone. Every donation, no matter how small, brings hope and helps keep our family intact. Please help us give them a fighting chance!