My wonderful father is one of the nearly 14 million undocumented people living in the United States. Like so many others, he came here seeking a better life and, despite never being given a path to citizenship, he has built an honest and meaningful life over the past 24 years. He has always followed the law, worked hard to provide for his family, and even paid his taxes faithfully year after year. He is more than just a statistic—he is a devoted father, a husband, and a man who has given everything to this country without ever asking for anything in return. He has never been arrested, never caused any trouble, and has spent every day focused on providing for his family and giving us the best future possible.

One day, while doing what he’s always done — working hard — he stepped out to Lowe’s to pick up materials for a job. That’s when ICE agents suddenly took him away. In a single moment, the man who has been the foundation of our home, our role model, and our biggest support system was gone.

He did not deserve this. He is not a threat to anyone. He is the type of man who wakes up early, puts on his work clothes, and dedicates his entire day to his craft and to us, his children. He’s the type of father who sacrifices his own comfort so that his family can have stability and opportunity.

For more than two decades, he has been part of this community — contributing his skills, his labor, and his heart. He has given so much, and now, as a family, we are doing everything we can to come together and raise funds to cover his legal fees and fight for his return home. It is painful and heartbreaking to see someone who has done everything right, who has lived with dignity and integrity, be treated this way.

We just want people to know who he truly is — not just another name in a system, but a real person, a father, a husband, and a man who deserves compassion and justice.