My name is Dalton. I have been asked by the family of my son’s mother, Sonia Corona (she is booked under her former married name Sonia Parris), to help establish a fund for her.

We believe Sonia is currently being held at the Birmingham ICE detention facility, but all attempts to contact anyone have gone unanswered. The phone number for the facility automatically hangs up. Sonia is a mother to two American citizen children: a 13-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. Sonia was born in Mexico but was brought to the United States at just two months old. She has lived her entire life here. She does not know the country she is being told she will be deported to. She is a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend. Most of all, she is a human being.

What Happened:

Sonia was arrested for failure to appear in court after a traffic stop for a lapsed license and registration. These documents lapsed because her DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status had lapsed.

Maintaining DACA is extremely difficult. It must be renewed every 18 months (not two years as many believe) because processing takes so long. Each renewal requires a thick stack of documentation with no room for error, trips to designated federal and state facilities, and fees that now run $555 to $605. Missing any deadline means everything expires: your license, work permit, and ability to stay. Sonia fell behind in this exhausting process.

Her failure to appear was driven by fear. She had heard stories of ICE agents waiting at courthouses to detain people after their hearings.

The Real Impact:

Maybe you have seen and read stories of similar incidents and thought, “That’s awful. I wonder what happens to the kids.” The reality is that her son cried himself to sleep the night I told him. Her daughter is only 2 years old. Right now, neither of them knows when they will see their mother again. They will likely have to travel to Mexico to do so. Imagine the pain and despair they feel and how this will traumatize and change their entire future. These children need their mother. Sonia is their entire world, and the thought of growing up without her is devastating for them both. She herself is terrified. I was able to speak to her for a few minutes before she was taken by ICE in Saint Clair County Jail, and she was inconsolable and scared.

What Her Family Needs:

They are raising funds for:

• Immigration attorney fees to fight her deportation

• Legal costs and documentation

• If deportation cannot be prevented, funds to help Sonia establish a place to live and prepare to figure out how to reunite with her children

Why This Matters:

Sonia is not a criminal. She is a mother who got caught in an unforgiving system. She has been here since she was an infant. This is the only home she has ever known, and these children deserve to grow up with their mother.

Any amount helps. If you cannot donate, please share this campaign. Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

UPDATE:

I was told that her court day is Dec. 16th. She is being transferred to Louisiana tomorrow. Right now she’s somewhere near Tuscaloosa at another facility.