On the morning of Tuesday, February 10th, 2026, my Dad was detained by ICE. That afternoon, he managed to call me since he was unable to get ahold of my Mom and explained to me what was happening—he was detained by ICE in shackles and stripped of all personal belongings, about to be transferred to Alligator Alcatraz. It was planned by his PO. I dropped my knees to the concrete ground outside of my work and did not register what he said, once I stopped crying I took action and wrote down anything and everything he was telling me which the most important one was his alien number to be able to locate him on the ICE tracker. My Dad is not illegal for anyone asking, he received his permanent resident card (green card) many years ago, and we have been living in the States since 2005. For those who don’t know, this is one of the harshest detention facilities imaginable, with inhumane living conditions that break the spirit and mind. Detainees are treated terribly, denied basic comforts, and often left in the dark about even the simplest things, like the time of day, they will even lie. They sleep on cots that are bunk beds that are caged in like animals, have very limited access to showers that are monitored, and can’t even see the sky or sun. Orange jumpsuits and shackles 24/7. No visitation allowed whatsoever. There are only three phones for everyone to share, and calls are limited to 15 minutes. Meals are cold and scarce, and even water is rationed, a little orange cup. My Dad is the only white Canadian male in the facility, and he’s doing his best to make amends for a mistake he made years ago. He was making his payments, doing his monthly check ins, and being a good abiding human. He doesn’t deserve this treatment, no one does.

Since my Dad was taken, our lives have been turned upside down. My Mom has been ripped apart from her almost 38 year marriage and she has no income, since Dad would DoorDash to make amends, and is moving into our guest house, trying to hold on while everything feels like it’s falling apart. We’re doing everything we can to help her, but it’s never enough. Every day is filled with fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak. Hearing my Dad’s stories from inside is gut-wrenching, and the pain of not knowing when—or if—he’ll come home is unimaginable. We just want him home, safe and loved, whether that’s in Florida or back in Canada.

The funds raised will go toward legal fees, living expenses for my Mom, and help her pay bills, buy groceries, and get essentials. This support will ease the heavy weight on our family and help us survive this nightmare. Any support, even a small amount, will make a huge difference for my parents. We are desperate for help to bring my Dad home and keep our family together. Thank you for caring and helping us during this unimaginable hardship. We love you, Dad. Stay strong. We can’t do this life without you.