On the morning of October 9, 2026, our family's life took an unexpected and heartbreaking turn when our beloved father, Nguinamau Celestino, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). At approximately 3:00 AM, our mother dropped our dad off at the Portland International Jetport in Maine for his 5:00 AM flight to Washington, D.C. Everything seemed normal. Our dad has always been someone who communicates with his family and keeps us updated on his whereabouts. However, after our mother returned home, she never heard from him. By 6:00 AM, growing increasingly worried, she checked his phone's location. To her shock, it showed that he was at an ICE facility in Scarborough, Maine, despite having been dropped off at the airport in Portland just hours earlier.

Our dad was simply trying to visit his 15-year-old son. Our younger brother recently started his freshman year at Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD) in Washington, D.C., this fall. This weekend, his school was scheduled to be closed, and our dad had planned to travel to Washington to spend those days with him until school reopened. This would have been our dad's first visit to see his son since he began high school. He was looking forward to spending quality time with him, taking him around Washington, D.C., and making memories together. Instead, our 15-year-old brother discovered that his father wasn't coming when he checked his dad's location and saw that his last known location was an ICE facility. No child should have to experience the fear and uncertainty of discovering something like this about a parent, especially while away from home.

Our father is a hardworking man, a dedicated parent, and someone who has continuously worked to better himself and provide for his family. He currently works for Pine State Services and pursued his education at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), completing studies in plumbing, HVAC, and heating in 2023 and 2024. His determination to further his education while maintaining a strong work ethic speaks to the kind of person he is. He has worked hard to build a life centered around responsibility, opportunity, and caring for his family. Today, instead of being reunited with his youngest son for a weekend they had been looking forward to, he is in ICE custody, and our family is left searching for answers. We are heartbroken, overwhelmed, and doing everything we can to navigate this difficult situation.

We are asking our family, friends, and community for help. We are raising funds to help cover immigration attorney fees, legal representation, and other necessary expenses associated with our father's detention and the process of seeking his release. This is an unexpected financial and emotional burden for our family, and we cannot do it alone.

Every donation, regardless of the amount, will make a difference. If you are unable to contribute financially, we ask that you please share this fundraiser with your friends, family, and community. We are holding on to hope and doing everything possible to reunite our family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.

With love and gratitude,

The Celestino Family