
WRONGLY ARRESTED FOR COLOGNE
Donation protected
On May 3rd, 2025, my husband’s life—and our family’s life—was turned upside down. What started as a routine traffic stop turned into something far more devastating.
During the stop, police officers opened his sealed mail—something that was not only unnecessary but a clear violation of his rights. Inside was nothing but religious bracelets. They also found a small roll‑on bottle of perfume (the scent was called “Opium”) in the console. The roll‑on top was visible the entire time, yet it was still used as part of the reason to take him to jail. This moment set off a chain of events that would tear our world apart.
Despite cooperating fully, my husband was arrested, jailed, and then transferred to ICE custody on May 6th, 2025. This was especially devastating because we already had an immigration attorney before his visa ever expired—we were actively working to fix his status the right way.
He spent weeks behind bars, away from his family, stripped of his dignity, and treated like a criminal when his only “crime” was overstaying a visa while we worked on his case.
This has been one of the most painful experiences of our lives. He was eventually released on bond, but now he cannot legally work for the next four years while his case moves through the court system. That means our family is struggling to stay afloat.
We are wanting to share our story openly because this isn’t just about us—it’s about shedding light on the abuse, discrimination, racial profiling and violations that so many families like ours experience in silence. We want to use our voices to fight back, but in order to keep going, we need help.
Every dollar donated will go directly toward:
• Legal fees to fight his case and defend his rights
• Covering our basic family expenses while he is unable to work.
We believe in justice and faith, We believe no family should go through what we are enduring. If you are able to give—even the smallest amount—it will make a huge difference in our fight.
If you cannot give, please consider sharing our story so more people can learn about what really happens in situations like this.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us.
Organizer

Ashley Mays
Organizer
Benton, AR