My name is Daniel, and I’m reaching out for help during one of the most difficult times my family has ever faced, Lydia and I got married in Hawaii earlier this year, hoping to finally build a life together in the US. We started the process of applying for Lydia’s green card, but a small mistake on the paperwork led to her application being rejected, setting off a chain of events that has turned our lives upside down.

This summer, Lydia was at a spa in Taos, New Mexico, when her friend was sexually harassed in the sauna. Lydia tried to help by asking the staff to call the police, but when they refused, she acted out of anger and poured a small bottle of water mixed with essential oils on the man who had harassed her friend. While it caused a temporary burn, it didn’t do any lasting harm. Unfortunately, the man called the police and ambulance, and Lydia, panicked by her unclear immigration status, ran away. We didn’t hear anything about the situation until recently, when Lydia was suddenly arrested and put in jail. Now, ICE is involved, and we need both a criminal defense and immigration lawyer to fight for Lydia’s freedom and keep our family together.

At the moment, Lydia is in Florida. We are trying to get her out on bond so she can return to Taos for court, but to avoid being detained right away by ICE, she urgently needs a good immigration lawyer. The financial pressure of legal fees is immense, and I’m struggling to keep up. Even though it feels like there’s no way out, we believe that with good legal representation, we can make it through this as a family. We would be eternally grateful for any support you can offer—every donation brings us hope and helps us fight for Lydia’s future.