On Wednesday, September 2nd, our beloved friend & neighbor Sandy Sims was taken by ICE upon arrival at the San Jose airport. He was first taken to Stockton, then Bakersfield, and is now in custody at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility. Mesa Verde is a Geo-Group facility, which makes Sandy's friends and loved ones worried for his health, safety, and well-being.

Originally from London, Sandy has lived in Philadelphia since 2016, where he met and married his true love, Jennifer. In 2018, they moved to Las Vegas temporarily, and began the application process for his green card. Sandy initially came to the United States on a work visa and was subsequently approved for an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program. Sandy has been employed in the lighting industry since 2002, and his reputation as a diligent, conscientious, & productive worker precedes him.

In 2020, Jennie's I-30 application was approved on Sandy's behalf, after which they completed all of the necessary paperwork and paid the required fees for his green card. In 2021, Sandy began work as a project manager for a company specializing in lasers and special effects, and he and Jenny moved back to Philadelphia. Their lawyer believes that due to the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and their relocation between the West & East Coasts, Sandy's paperwork was lost in the mail.

Sandy arrived in the United States legally and through all of the necessary channels. What he and his family are being put through right now is unjust and inhumane. Jennie has just paid a lawyer a retainer fee of $3,000 and was informed that the total cost of legal fees and of resubmitting the necessary documents for Sandy to stay in this country will be $18,815.00. Additionally, Sandy needs commissary funds during his detention, as well as legal help ensuring that friends and family are able to visit and speak with him regularly and that his health is being properly monitored. Sandy will also need help with transport after his release, and he and Jennie will need support after he comes home.

We are asking for help raising 30 thousand dollars to cover these expenses and to help bring Sandy home!