For over a decade, Olga Perez has been an advocate for her community.

She was one of only a handful of interpreters of Mam (a rare Mayan language) in Palm Beach County, volunteering her time to help attorneys, doctors, nurses, detectives, and victims' services. When Virgilio Aguilar was being wrongfully charged for manslaughter and sentenced to life, it was Olga who brought his case to justice. She volunteered weekly to distribute food to families in need and also ran a support group for women who were victims of domestic violence. All while raising 4 wonderful children who have proudly taken after their mom.

In September, her husband was detained while mowing a lawn at a landscaping job. Then, two months later, Olga was detained on her way to work. She was in the vehicle while her U.S. citizen daughter was driving, who has a valid license. Florida Highway Patrol profiled their car, pulled them over, and threatened the family by banging on the windows until Olga, the passenger, gave her identification. They detained Olga in front of her two children that day.

Olga is not just vital to the underserved in our community, but she is also an integral part of our family.

Her eldest daughter, Eliza, has abandoned her hopes of attending college and the scholarship she had received so she can run the family landscaping business. She knows that right now it is her only option since she is responsible for raising her 3 younger siblings while both of their parents are in detention. While we fight for Olga to get released, the family needs our help. The children need to pay rent on their own, put food on the table, and pay for any extraneous costs. Please donate what you can to help them out in this critical time.