Edgar Efrain Vega Bermeo is my stepfather, and he has always been a pillar of support for my mother and me. Through every rough patch—emotionally and financially—he’s been there, making sure our family stays together and cared for. Edgar goes out of his way to help, whether it’s making sure his son gets home safely while juggling his own work schedule, or being there for me when I needed it most. He’s the kind of person who is always willing to help others, no matter what he’s facing himself.

This morning, both my mom and Edgar were detained by ICE on their way to church. A National Guard agent was kind enough to pull over and intervene, talking to ICE and convincing them to let my mom go because she had my younger siblings with her. Edgar, however, was taken and is currently being held in Saint Paul, MN, with plans to transfer him to Texas soon due to lack of space. We were able to contact a lawyer just in time—if we hadn’t, he would have been deported to Ecuador tomorrow. My family is doing everything we can to pay out of pocket, but balancing lawyer fees, bond fees, and other urgent expenses is more than we can handle alone. We want nothing more than to bring Edgar home and keep our family together.

Anything helps, and I am so grateful for those willing to lend a hand. Nobody should have to go through this, and nobody should be scared to leave their homes. Thank you for your support and kindness during these hard times. I hope each and every one of you stays safe.