On September 4th, 2026, my husband, Volkan Guzey, was detained by ICE agents at Miami International Airport just moments before we were supposed to board a plane for our honeymoon in my home state of Utah.

We had planned an amazing road trip around Utah to celebrate our recent marriage. I was so excited to show him the places I grew up, introduce him to more of my family, and simply spend time together as newlyweds.

Instead, as we stood at our boarding gate, two ICE agents approached us and took my husband away from me.

There was no time to process what was happening. One moment, I was standing next to my husband, excited about our honeymoon. The next, he was gone.

Since that day, our lives have been turned completely upside down.

I met Volkan two years ago, and from the moment we met, there was an instant connection. He made me feel safe in a way I hadn't felt in years. He showed me what it means to be an honorable, loving, and genuinely good man.

Anyone who knows Volkan knows the kind of person he is. He is generous, kind, hardworking, and deeply caring. He is the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back if someone else needed it. He came to the United States hoping to build a better life, work hard, and create a future for himself.

When I met him, I knew there was something very special about him.

And he became even more special to me when we got married on June 12th, 2026.

That day was truly one of the happiest days of my life. I was so excited to begin building our life together. Volkan makes me feel loved, respected, protected, and supported. He encourages me to be a better person, and somehow manages to make me feel like an absolute princess every single day.

We were only just beginning our life together when everything was suddenly taken away from us.

What we're facing:

Volkan has now been detained for nearly a month and has been shuffled around from Florida to Texas and finally to Colorado where he is now. His first master calendar hearing and bond hearing are scheduled for October 5th before Immigration Judge Bobbie C. Masters.

We are extremely worried about what could happen at that hearing. In July 2026, multiple federal judges in Colorado found that Judge Masters had failed to follow court instructions in several bond cases. In one case, a federal judge found that the government had not satisfied its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the detainee was a danger or flight risk. In another, a federal judge ordered a new hearing after finding that the evidence presented by the petitioner had not been adequately considered.

Because of these violations by Judge Masters, we know the odds may be stacked against us. We are trying to prepare ourselves for every possible outcome.

Right now, we are facing three possibilities:

1. Volkan is granted bond

If he is released, we will still face a long, costly, and uncertain immigration process. We are preparing for the possibility that he may be unable to work for an extended period of time.

2. Volkan is denied bond

If that happens, he could remain detained while his immigration case continues, potentially for several months or even up to a year (or more).

3. Volkan is deported to Turkey

This would mean being separated from my husband and having the life we had just started building together completely torn apart.

We have already filed a Form I-130, (Petition for Alien Relative), with USCIS as part of our effort to establish our marriage and pursue his immigration case. Unfortunately, immigration cases can take a significant amount of time to process. USCIS's published historical data shows that processing times for immediate-relative I-130 petitions have been measured in months, not weeks.

Why we need help

Since Volkan was detained, we have been struggling financially.

Volkan was the main breadwinner in our household. Without his income, I am now trying to figure out how to keep our home, pay our bills, cover our legal expenses, and somehow make it through this nightmare while also trying to bring my husband home.

At this point, we have enough money to cover our rent for approximately one more month. Whatever savings we have left needs to be kept available in case Volkan is granted bond.

We have been told to prepare for the possibility of a bond anywhere from around $5,000 to potentially $30,000 or more. We absolutely do not have $30,000 sitting in the bank, and the thought of being faced with a bond that high is terrifying.

On top of that, our legal fees have already exceeded $15,000.

I am also desperately trying to find full-time work. I've already applied to numerous positions, but so far I haven't received an offer. If I can't find work soon enough to keep up with our rent and basic expenses, I may have no choice but to leave our apartment in Miami and move back to Utah with my mom.

And even if Volkan is released on bond, he likely will not be able to work for some time. That means we could quickly find ourselves maxing out our credit cards just to survive.

I never imagined that just a few months after getting married, I would be writing something like this.

We were supposed to be on our honeymoon.

We were supposed to be taking a road trip through Utah, laughing in the car, taking pictures, eating good food, and making forever memories as newlyweds.

Instead, I am sitting here trying to figure out how to keep our home while my husband sits in immigration detention, under inhumane conditions. I honestly don't know what the next few months are going to look like.

This has been a nightmare, to say the least.

And that's why I am asking for help.

I am asking our friends, our family, and anyone who knows Volkan or has ever experienced his kindness to please help us through this incredibly difficult time.

Volkan has spent so much of his life giving to other people. He is the person who always helps when someone needs it. He gives without expecting anything in return. He works hard, loves deeply, and has always tried to build a good life.

Now, he is the one who needs help.

Any amount, no matter how small, will make a difference. Donations will help us with legal fees, rent, living expenses, and potentially Volkan's bond if he is granted one. And if you aren't able to donate, simply sharing this fundraiser means more to us than I can put into words.

I don't know what the outcome of this situation will be, but I know that I love my husband. I know that I want him home.

And I know that we will keep fighting for the life we had only just begun building together.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has checked on us, prayed for us, supported us, donated, shared our story, or simply reminded us that we aren't alone.

We are so incredibly grateful.

With love, Volkan & Eliana ❤️