Friends,

Several months ago, a friend of mine (a school social worker here in Massachusetts) shared a horrifying story with me that I now want to share with you. One of my friend’s students, a teenager and a high school junior, was kidnapped by ICE agents in the early morning while riding a city bus on his way to school.

I’ll call him “Mateo” to protect his privacy.

My friend was shocked when she was learned that Mateo was abducted without a trace. She shared with me that Mateo is a kind, soft spoken, hardworking teenager who came from Guatemala. He arrived to America with his two younger siblings with the dream of escaping extreme poverty, gaining an education, finding work. A better life.

Since arriving to the U.S., Mateo has been attending high school, working long hours for a moving company, and supporting his two younger siblings - all on his own.

Life was incredibly hard for these three kids.

Then one morning, masked men with ICE uniforms stopped a city bus and climbed aboard. They cuffed and abducted Mateo; who was petrified. He was just riding to school. They drove him to an ICE detention center here in Massachusetts.

Mateo was detained, alone, for one month in a Massachusetts ICE facility. The conditions were cruel: overcrowded, fluorescent lights that never turned off. Food was scarce. He had no bed and no pillow. While Mateo was detained, his younger siblings were left alone to fend for themselves.

My friend located a volunteer immigration attorney who took on Mateo’s case. It took a painstakingly long time - an entire month - but finally Mateo was legally processed and released to go home.

The courts decided that Mateo was an innocent teenager who should never have been abducted by the U.S. government.

Mateo was traumatized from the abduction and the month-long detention. The hardship for the family continued.

Despite everything he’s been through, Mateo is determined to finish high school. He’s had to miss a lot of classes to keep working at a moving company so he can cover living expenses for their family of three.

Mateo desperately wants the chance to earn his high school diploma, and to keep his siblings together and safe.

I started this fundraiser to give Mateo and his family a chance. If we can raise enough to ease their financial pressure, Mateo will be able to focus on school instead of having to constantly work to survive.

Even $5 makes a difference - it buys a bag of rice, some school supplies, or a few basic necessities for the week.

When I first asked if Mateo would be open to a GoFundMe, he responded "No, thank you." He was scared - understandably - and uncomfortable accepting help from strangers. But finally, he gave me his blessing.

As the mother of a teenaged boy myself, Mateo’s story has haunted me. I have wondered everyday how he is. How his siblings are.

I know his story is one of many. But if it moves you too, please consider donating or sharing this GoFundMe. Even $1 makes a huge impact for these three kids. As my friend says, “They’re such good kids.”

With love and gratitude,

Becca