On Saturday, November 7, Agustin and Gustavo landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor to pay their respects to a dear friend who had died in Phoenix the night before. Minutes after they arrived, two men in plain clothes stopped Agustin and handcuffed him. When Gustavo asked where they were taking Agustin, he was taken as well. Both are now in ICE detention.

Agustin and Gustavo came to the United States legally. They have lived here six years and hold valid work permits, pay their taxes, and have kept their documents in order. None of that stopped their arrest. For more than six years, they have taught, coached, and performed as acrobats, delighting children and adults alike. They have coached countless acrobats and performers in Orlando and Arizona, many of whom would not be where they are without them. Each works a full-time job and part-time work on top of it. Anyone who knows them knows how hard they work and how much joy they bring to everyone around them.

To fight for their release, we have retained an immigration attorney at $5,500 for each of them, $11,000 in total, to pursue bond hearings. Once bond is set, it will have to be posted for both of them as well. Every dollar raised goes to their legal fees, related legal costs, and bond. Your donation will be multiplied by the work of dozens of people, including legal and media professionals who are volunteering their time to help secure Agustin and Gustavo’s freedom. We will post updates as their cases move forward and account for how the funds are used. If you can give, please do. If you can’t, sharing this page helps just as much. Every donation, whatever the size, brings Agustin and Gustavo one step closer to coming home to the communities and lives they have worked so hard to build.

Just to be clear about who is running this fundraising: I am an attorney and close friend of Agustin and Gustavos who has been authorized by them to run this fundraiser. All the proceeds will be used to reimburse the $11,000 retainer that was paid to retain their immigration counsel, to pay on-going legal fees and costs, to post whatever bond will be required (which we anticipate being set at an upcoming hearing). If we are able to raise sufficient funds, we will cover their rent and monthly bills during the period of their detention to ensure their lives, home, and credit are not irretrievably damaged while they are detained without cause or purpose.