My name is Valeryn, and I am the oldest daughter of Juan Carlos Deras. I have two younger brothers, ages 5 and 16, and right now, our family is facing the hardest moment of our lives. On December 26, my dad went to the DMV in White Plains to return a license plate for one of his cars. As he was leaving, ICE officers approached him and told him his work permit had expired two years ago. My dad has never committed any crimes and has always paid his taxes on time. He was simply taking care of a routine errand for our family when everything changed in an instant.

Since that day, our home has felt empty and incomplete. My mom is doing her best to care for my little brothers and me, but the costs of hiring lawyers are overwhelming. My dad is a hardworking father of three who has always put his family first. No matter how tired he was, he showed up for us. He taught us to be kind, to respect others, and to lead with love. To me, he is my protector and my safe place. To my brothers, he is their example of what a good man should be. To my mom, he is an incredible husband and her partner in everything. He is the heart of our family, and his absence has left us heartbroken.

We are asking for help to cover legal fees and support our family while we fight to bring my dad home. Any support, prayers, or shares of this fundraiser mean the world to us. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time.