My name is Jose, and I am writing to you as a friend of Kita Der’s family, member of the Columbia Heights community, and an American who is deeply affected by the things happening in our country.

A few weeks ago, our family was shaken to its core when Kita was suddenly and unlawfully taken into federal custody by roving ICE agents right here in the Twin Cities. It was a devastating turn of events for a man who has lived in this country lawfully, built his life through education and hard work at Phoever Vietnamese Cuisine, and contributed immensely to the people around him.

**Since that initial detainment, the situation has escalated. We have confirmed that Kita has been transferred out of state to a detention facility in El Paso, Texas.**

This move takes him far from his family, his community, and his immediate legal support system, making an already daunting battle even harder. The road ahead is long, and the legal fight to ensure due process and keep Kita in the States will be costly.

**The Community Response**

When this nightmare began, the outpouring of support left us speechless. Because of your giving hearts, we were able to secure immediate legal counsel to locate Kita and begin his defense. This incredible generosity provided a crucial lifeline to his family during the chaos of his abduction and transfer.

We also want to be transparent about the facts, as misinformation has spread: **Kita is a legal resident holding a valid foreign passport and US immigrant status.** He has followed the rules. He deserves due process. We are grateful that members of the Columbia Heights city leadership have recognized this injustice and are helping facilitate urgent conversations with congressional leaders on his behalf.

**Moving Forward**

We established this fund to cover mounting legal fees, transportation costs for his family and legal team to Texas, and other financial burdens resulting from these actions. We are committed to absolute transparency: every dollar raised is being used strictly for his defense and his fight for freedom.

By handling the administration of these donations, my goal is to ensure Kita's loved ones can focus entirely on the urgent work of securing his release. We will not stop until this valued member of our community is back home in Minnesota where he belongs.

Thank you for standing with Kita, his family, and our community.

**#BringKitaHome #JusticeForKita**