Dear friends and compassionate people,

My name is Ivelina Ferreira and I never imagined I’d be writing something like this.

I’m a mother of two young children , 6 and 12 years old, and today I find myself facing the most terrifying and heartbreaking time of our lives. My husband — the father of my younger son, and a devoted stepfather to my oldest, our provider and protector — has been detained by ICE. Overnight, our world turned upside down.

He was not just our financial support, but the heart of our home. He worked tirelessly to give our children a safe, stable life, full of love and hope. Now, his absence is devastating for us. My kids cry themselves to sleep, asking when he is coming home.

For nearly five years, we have been patiently going through the legal immigration process. We’ve had an approved marriage petition since 2021 and we’ve done everything required — filing papers, paying fees, fingerprints, background checks and paying taxes every year. We were filled with hope and were just waiting for the final decision from USCIS. And yet, that didn’t protect us. They still took him away.

We are devastated — emotionally, mentally, and financially. I am working, but I am suddenly left alone to carry everything: the bills, the home, the broken hearts of my children, and the unbearable fear of losing my husband forever.

I am humbly asking for your help to raise $10,000 to cover the legal fees needed to fight for my husband’s release and give him a fair chance to stay with his family. These funds will go directly toward paying for an immigration attorney and court costs. They are essential tools in the system of ICE , that I found out myself these days, is unreachable without proper legal representation.

Please, if you’ve ever known love, or loss, or the desperate fear of being torn from someone you need — I’m asking you to stand with us. Even the smallest donation can bring us closer to bringing him home. And if you cannot give, please consider sharing this page. Every prayer, every share, every kind thought means the world to us.

From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of our children who miss their father dearly — thank you. Thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and for believing that families belong together!

With gratitude and hope,

Ivelina