One Traffic Mistake Should Not Separate a Father From His Daughter
I am a mother writing these words because I don’t know any other way to ask for help.
My son, Alfonso Villalobos, came to the United States in May 2022 with the hope of building a better future. From the moment he arrived, he dedicated himself to his studies and graduated with honors. He was considered for multiple scholarships and dreamed of pursuing a career in science or medicine, but because his immigration status was not yet fully resolved at that time, he was unable to continue his education.
Still, he did not give up. He began working and within less than a year was promoted twice. He has always been responsible, respectful, and hardworking. His friends care deeply about him, and at work he is known as an exemplary employee.
But before all of that, Alfonso is a husband and a father. His daughter is only one year old. She cannot yet speak or ask where her father is… but we do not want her to grow up without him by her side. We do not want her earliest memories to be without her father’s presence.
His siblings miss him deeply. Our home feels different without him. He is the provider for his wife and baby, and he also helped me with my medications and was always attentive to me as a loving son.
On Sunday, February 22, he was stopped for speeding. We acknowledge that it was a mistake. The bond for that traffic offense was paid, and we believed he would return home to his family.
But he was not released. ICE decided to detain him, and he is currently being held at Butler County Jail.
My son entered the country under parole in 2022. He is an asylum applicant. He has a valid work permit, Social Security number, TPS, files taxes, holds a driver’s license, and carries vehicle insurance. He has always tried to follow the law and do things the right way.
We are not denying that he made a traffic mistake. We are simply asking that his whole story be seen — a young father, a hardworking man, someone who has tried to build a stable life for his family.
We are raising funds to cover his immigration bond, attorney fees, and the legal expenses necessary to fight for his release. As a mother, I cannot promise outcomes. But I can say this with all my heart: my son is not perfect, but he is a good man who deserves the chance to return home and continue raising his daughter.
If you are able to help — even with a small donation or by sharing this story — you are helping keep a family together.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping bring my son back home.
Organizer
