On the morning of December 10, 2025, my Father, Jose Adonay Urbina, a beloved pastor in his Minnesota community, was detained by ICE. Officers posed as local police, pulled him from his vehicle, and left his car abandoned on a side street. He was taken without a warrant, held in a local jail, and then transferred overnight to an immigration detention facility in Texas. Since that day, his family has been living in fear, shock, and uncertainty.

Adonay has lived in Minnesota for over 12 years and has held Withholding of Removal protection, which allows him to live and work legally in the U.S. Before coming to the United States. Because of attacks and death threats in his home country, he was forced to flee his home and seek safety here. Since then, he has lived openly and responsibly under immigration supervision, has never missed a check-in, and has no criminal record. Despite this long history of compliance, he was suddenly detained without warning or a warrant.

To his community, Adonay is not just another face in the crowd. He is a co-pastor, mentor, and servant. At a local church in St. Paul he has devoted his life to caring for others, strengthening families, and serving God with humility and compassion. To us, he is a loving husband, father, and the foundation of our family.

Our family has been working with an experienced immigration law firm who are actively fighting to protect my father's rights. His sudden transfer to Texas has made legal access and family support incredibly difficult. We are also grateful to be supported by the offices of Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith as we navigate this process.

There is deep fear that ICE may attempt to deport my father to a third country, since he cannot legally be returned to El Salvador. Under his current protection, the U.S. is barred from sending him back, but the government can still attempt to deport him elsewhere. This would strip him of his legal protections, place his life in danger once again, and permanently separate him from our family.

We are asking for help during this unimaginable time. Funds raised will go toward:

My father is not a threat. He is a pastor, a provider, a husband, and a pillar of his community. Our family cannot survive without him, and we are doing everything in our power to bring him home.

If you are able to give, share, or pray for us, we are deeply grateful. Your support means more than words can express, and we promise to keep you updated as we continue this fight.

Thank you for standing with our family.

Update: Adonay was deported to Mexico, a 3rd country (not his place of birth), at 4am March 13th. We haven't been able to have contact with him or given information about where he is currently being held. Please pray for us.