Dear Philadelphia friends, José Carlos Gonzalez Clemente has been a tireless activist and community leader in Philadelphia for over a decade. On the morning of August 9th, Carlos left home for work and never returned. Carlos’ family was informed that he was taken into custody by ICE agents and is being detained by INS. The looming threat of deportation to Mexico could see him separated from his friends and family, including his pregnant wife and seven children. We need to raise funds for his legal bills and to support his family throughout this unjust situation.

More about the situation with José Carlos Gonzalez:

José Carlos Gonzalez has been living in the U.S. for 24 years. Philadelphia is the place he knows and calls home. During this time, Carlos has extended and grown a beautiful family with his now pregnant wife Fortuna, including his older daughter Penelope, his stepson Asaru, and 4 more children called Bulmaro, Xitlali, Tezcatlipoca & Quetzalcoatl (that are between the ages of 2-5). If he is to be deported, he will leave behind his beautiful family and friends with minimal possibility of seeing his family grow or being able to support them during such crucial years.

Carlos is currently being held in a small cell in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Phillipsburg, PA. Moshannon is presently the largest detention center in the entire Northeast. He and his family are scared and extremely overwhelmed with all this, as all he wants is to come home to his family and friends. He is terrified of being sent to a place he has not known since 1998 and separated from everyone he's known for more than half of his life.

Carlos has been a crucial part of many cultural events in the city, including Girard Festival and Fleisher Art Memorial’s Day of the Dead Celebration which brings hundreds of people to the city each year. Jose Carlos, has been part of the planning committee for Fleisher’s Day of the Dead Celebration for over 10 years. Moreover, he is one of the founding members of Fleisher's Day of the Dead Celebration and for which he has volunteered to assist in the planning, crafting and implementation of the festival. In addition, for many years Carlos has donated the food for all volunteers, artists and staff that participate in this celebration; this is just one of many examples of how Carlos cares for his people and community. Carlos is estimated and loved by many in his community.

Jose Carlos is an amazing person with such a kind heart, and we cannot bear to be away from him. Our community needs him more than ever, and he needs us now more than ever. Our hearts are breaking every day that he is not next to his family and us. Please help us get the funds we need to cover all expenses related to his bond, legal representation, and this unfair situation. Philadelphia is his home. Help us bring him back.