Hi, my name is Henrique, and I am reaching out to you in a moment of absolute desperation. My wife, Joyce Borges Viegas, a loving mother and a hard-working woman, is currently trapped in a legal nightmare that started with a medical emergency and is ending in an unjust deportation process.
On March 1st, Joyce suffered a severe psychiatric breakdown. Instead of receiving the medical compassion she desperately needed, she was caught in a "medical-to-prison pipeline." After a week in a mental health facility, she was transferred directly to Ocean County Jail, where her rights were stripped away. While Joyce was in crisis, authorities coordinated with ICE to place a "detainer" on her before she even saw a judge. They ignored our legal domestic partnership, calling me just a "boyfriend" to prevent me from advocating for her. Even after a judge ordered her release, the jail stalled for hours—just long enough for ICE agents to wait at the door and take her away.
Our 6-year-old daughter, Yasmin, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), has not seen her mother in 17 days. Today, her school called me because Yasmin is having severe emotional crises, crying that she will never see her mom again. This separation is destroying our daughter’s mental health and development. Joyce has lost her job. I am unable to work because I must provide 24/7 care for our daughter while fighting this legal battle on three different fronts (Criminal, Civil, and Immigration).
We are raising funds primarily to hire a specialized immigration lawyer who can fight Joyce’s deportation at the Elizabeth Detention Center. Additional funds will help with psychiatric and medical advocacy to ensure Joyce gets the medication and treatment she was denied in jail. Joyce is not a criminal; she is a patient who was failed by the system. We are fighting to bring a mother back to her child. Any amount, no matter how small, will help us keep our family together. Please share our story and help us bring Joyce home. Thank you for your kindness and prayers.
On March 1st, Joyce suffered a severe psychiatric breakdown. Instead of receiving the medical compassion she desperately needed, she was caught in a "medical-to-prison pipeline." After a week in a mental health facility, she was transferred directly to Ocean County Jail, where her rights were stripped away. While Joyce was in crisis, authorities coordinated with ICE to place a "detainer" on her before she even saw a judge. They ignored our legal domestic partnership, calling me just a "boyfriend" to prevent me from advocating for her. Even after a judge ordered her release, the jail stalled for hours—just long enough for ICE agents to wait at the door and take her away.
Our 6-year-old daughter, Yasmin, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), has not seen her mother in 17 days. Today, her school called me because Yasmin is having severe emotional crises, crying that she will never see her mom again. This separation is destroying our daughter’s mental health and development. Joyce has lost her job. I am unable to work because I must provide 24/7 care for our daughter while fighting this legal battle on three different fronts (Criminal, Civil, and Immigration).
We are raising funds primarily to hire a specialized immigration lawyer who can fight Joyce’s deportation at the Elizabeth Detention Center. Additional funds will help with psychiatric and medical advocacy to ensure Joyce gets the medication and treatment she was denied in jail. Joyce is not a criminal; she is a patient who was failed by the system. We are fighting to bring a mother back to her child. Any amount, no matter how small, will help us keep our family together. Please share our story and help us bring Joyce home. Thank you for your kindness and prayers.
Organizer
