On October 4th, 2025, Hector Matute Guardado was eating breakfast in his work van at a gas station in Park City, Illinois, when two SUVs blocked him in. Masked agents jumped out—no identification, no warrant, no explanation. Hector ran, but at 5'6" and 130 pounds, he was quickly tackled to the ground. The agents drove their knees into his back and pressed his head into the pavement, leaving him with bruised ribs and ongoing pain.

Hector is a 27-year-old father to 5-year-old Elisa, a U.S. citizen who cries for him every night, and stepfather to 1-year-old Gabriel. His girlfriend is pregnant and due in March—a child Hector may never meet if he remains detained. Hector has lived in the U.S. for 11 years since fleeing Honduras at age 16. He has a pending asylum case, has never missed a check-in or court hearing, and has zero criminal history—not even a traffic ticket. He works construction, goes to church, and lives with his family in Waukegan.

On November 12th, Judge Jeffrey Cummings ordered Hector's release along with 614 others arrested without warrants. He is currently detained 250 miles away in Michigan. Hector can come home—but we need to raise his bond. His bond hearing is on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2025—just one day after Elisa turns 6 on December 23rd. Similar cases have required high bonds, and we are raising funds to cover the bond and legal fees. Every dollar brings Hector closer to his children. Donations will go directly toward the immigration bond payment, legal fees, and family support during this crisis. Elisa will turn 6 without her father. She shouldn't have to spend her birthday and Christmas without him too. Gabriel needs his dad home for the holidays. And Hector's unborn child deserves to meet their father. Please help us bring Hector home for Elisa's birthday and Christmas.