#Keep Juan Carlos Home

Juan Carlos Puentes-Martinez came to the U.S. at age 14 to work to support his aunt, who raised him after being abandoned by his mother. He left the country to look for work when his aunt was diagnosed with diabetes and had a hard time paying for her medical expenses in Mexico. He and his wife have been married for 16 years. He is a dedicated husband and father of four, ages 9-15. All of his children and his wife are United States citizens. Juan Carlos is a stay-at-home dad. He preps the children for school and helps with their homework while his wife works to support the household. He also supports the children in their extra-curricular activities. They need him home with them.  Living in the small rural town of Imlay City, Michigan, Juan Carlos is active in his community - he helps his neighbors with home repairs and keeping the neighborhood clean. He is also involved in multiple friendly co-ed adult soccer leagues .


He was deported after a traffic stop while he was going to the grocery store shortly after his wedding. He came back to the United States to help raise his children and be with his wife.


Amidst the increased immigration enforcement activities and cruel policies by the current administration - Juan Carlos was detained by ICE agents on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 after shopping at the local Tractor Supply store in Imlay City, Michigan.  Unmarked ICE vehicles followed him and his wife after they’d dropped off 3 of their 4 children at school, all between the ages of 9 and 15 years. Their second-youngest daughter, 10 years old, remained with them. His wife dropped him off at the door and as Juan Carlos returned to their car, the unmarked vehicles circled them and without identifying themselves as ICE agents, said, “you’re Juan Carlos, right” The family knew immediately that ICE agents had approached them.  As Juan Carlos’ daughter pleaded to the ICE agents not to take her father away, and his wife told them that they had 4 children to support, the ICE agents responded, “Yes. You’re the wife. You have four kids. We’ve been watching you guys”.


Because of his prior deportation, Juan Carlos can be denied the opportunity for a judge to consider his case, and his fate is in the hands of the local ICE field director, Rebecca Adducci. Juan Carlos has attempted to become a citizen twice, but due to his prior immigration history he has been denied.


He is now being held in Calhoun County Jail and we need your help. There are significant costs associated with running a campaign for his freedom, as well as costs associated with the responsibilities that he can no longer perform in his family.  Please give anything that you can. Thank you and please sign the petition to demand Juan's freedom.