Hi everyone,

We are devastated to share that our brother Raul was detained by ICE on Monday, November 10. Raul is an asylum seeker, seeking protection in the U.S. through the proper legal pathways. He showed up at a scheduled, routine check-in with ICE and was detained without warning. He was given no chance to say goodbye to his wife Lilian, or their three children, who waited for him outside. This action reflects a troubling increase in detentions and a growing misuse of discretion within our immigration system.

For those who don’t know Raul: he is a devoted father, a faithful husband, and a humble, influential leader in our church and community. He has no criminal record—he is a man of deep integrity whose kindness and leadership are unmistakable to anyone who has met him. Raul is a trained seminarian who preaches regularly in our church as a lay leader; his most recent sermon—on abiding in Christ in every circumstance —is a powerful testament to his faith and character, and it is a timely, important listen. You can listen to it here.

We’ve created this GoFundMe to support the family during this painful and uncertain time. While we are praying and advocating for a quick release, the process is unpredictable. Many people in detention wait months or even years due to backlogs and systemic failures. These funds will go directly toward legal expenses and essential family needs such as rent, in a time when Raul is unable to provide for his family.

When Raul was taken, he remained calm and anchored. His lawyer noted how rare it is to see someone respond with such dignity. That very morning, Raul said that if this were to happen, he trusted God would use him to bring the gospel to others in detention. And now, even as he waits, he is sharing hope with those who are afraid and alone. In the midst of this injustice, God is still at work.

What happened on Monday should not happen to anyone. Detention for asylum seekers is not a neutral bureaucratic step—it is bodily confinement that mirrors prison conditions: dozens of people crowded in a room with one toilet, no privacy, with no showers, no changes of clothes, covered windows and no sense of time, and no cots to sleep in. This unjust act harms Raul’s body, separates a father from his children, and creates waves of potential trauma in their family, our congregation and neighborhood. Tragically, Raul’s story is not unique—it is happening to families all over the country every day.

Whether or not you’re able to give, we ask you to recognize that this is not an isolated event. It is part of a growing pattern of unchecked power and the dehumanization of people seeking safety and dignity. Please join us in advocating for greater accountability for ICE and protection of the due process rights of our immigrant neighbors, and be especially kind, attentive, and generous to the immigrants in your own community today.

Thank you for standing with Raul’s family in prayer, advocacy, and tangible care.