Hi, my name is Vanessa, and I created this for a member of our family, Ismael, who was detained by ICE last week.

I genuinely cannot express how disconnected from reality I feel typing this out because it does not feel real.

On Friday, July 17, Ismael's life and our family's changed in an instant.

After arriving at a construction job in Brookhaven, Georgia, Ismael stepped out of his work van expecting another ordinary workday. Only seconds later, he was detained by ICE.

Ismael is more than just another person detained by ICE. He is a good partner, father, business owner, son, and provider. For years, he has worked tirelessly to support not only his family here in Georgia, but also his two children and parents in Mexico.

Since then, our family has not been the same. My mom has been losing sleep and going back and forth with lawyers. I've had to contact organizations and find other lawyers. My brother has the stress of balancing school and this emotional toll. And there are so many things we can't share that we have to deal with.

And at any moment, if someone needed help, Ismael was always the first person to show up. That is who he was. He was always there for everyone, so when I say we all FEEL his absence, we do.

Now, he needs us to show up for him.

His detention has placed an enormous emotional and financial burden on our family. While we focus on navigating the legal process, our household has lost its primary source of income, and legal representation comes with significant expenses.

Your donation will help cover:

If you're unable to donate, you can still make a tremendous difference by sharing Ismael's story with your friends, family, and community.

Every share helps more people learn about his story. Every donation helps our family continue fighting for him.

To keep up with his story, follow soothingstarz on TikTok for updates.

Thank you for standing with Ismael and reminding our family that we are not facing this alone.

He has always shown up for everyone. Now it's our turn to show up for him.