Gabby's Fight: Reunite with Sergio

Gabby and Sergio met in 2014 while working at Fujiyama in Kennewick, WA. He would flirt, but at first, she focused on the friendship. By 2015, their friendship had become more romance, and they officially started dating. Around that same time, Sergio became the primary caregiver of his oldest daughter, Sienna. Sienna is now 17, a senior in high school, has a job and is getting ready to graduate. Gabby and Sergio worked together at Fujiyama together until 2022, when they made the decision to become small business owners and built their food truck, Hibachi Explosion. “We kept thinking, we want to do something, we want something better for our family. Our family was growing.” Their son, Colter, is 5, and they welcomed their little girl Charlee, just 10 months ago.

Gabby and Sergio were married in July 2022, and went through all the appropriate steps, petitioning for Sergio’s citizenship through marriage. Gabby’s filing was accepted January 2023. Since then, all communication has been that their case was “actively under review”. Until very recently, when they received an official letter from USCIS, a Notice of Action to appear in Yakima Apr 24th at 1pm and that a failure to be able to appear would result in a denial of their application. The notice also asked for all sorts of documentation to prove the long standing relationship: children’s birth certificates, custody papers for Sienna, evidence of relationship, car insurance, deed to the house, lease agreements, marriage certificate, his previous divorce decree….they had everything. Gabby and Sergio showed up April 24th, cautious, but hopeful.

While waiting in the lobby, someone from the office, not an identifiable ICE agent, came to call Sergio back. They just wanted Sergio and his ID, they said. Gabby, as the petitioner, started to rise and was told, “No, no, no, just him.” Gabby waited for a half hour, nervously texting family that “things feel weird”, until an ICE agent appeared before her to tell her that there was a warrant for his arrest and that he was being taken into custody. Gabby asked if she could go back and see her husband. She was denied this request and told, “You can leave the building.”, while the agent positioned himself between her and the door that led to the father of her children.

There are children to care for, and a business to run. Gabby is overwhelmed with juggling the food truck, and spending time with kids and keeping them busy “so that the time goes by fast before they can see him again”. Sergio typically does all the food prep work and she’s had to take that on as well. Sergio is also the one who drives the truck to move it for events so the business will stay at its current location for now.

“I want my husband home. His kids need him, I need him. He’s my partner in life. We need him. I told him I will fight to get him home and that’s exactly what I’m doing. We’re stronger together than we are apart.”

Sergio Cerdio Gomez runs a small business with his wife, and is the attentive, loving and involved father to three children. He is not a criminal.

Donations to help with legal fees.

Hibachi Explosion is located at 7425 W Clearwater Ave, Kennewick

You can place orders for pick up online at https://hibachi-explosion509.square.site/ or call (509) [phone redacted]

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