Support Esmerlyn's (aka Yordan) Legal Battle for Freedom

Meet Esmerlyn, also know as Yordan by his friends and co-workers. He’s a 29-year-old native of the Dominican Republic. He came to the United States almost 3 years ago seeking asylum. He has been working hard at completing all requirements of the US Immigration System. In 2024, he received his work permit and social security number. He has a good job with benefits, a dog, an apartment, and a huge community in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area that loves him. Despite the trauma he has endured prior to coming to the USA, he lives life with a positive outlook and a beautiful smile on his face every day.

He has attended every immigration meeting and hearing required of him. His final hearing for permanent residency was scheduled for 3/25/2025, and he has been counting the days!

After the new administration took office in the White House, Esmerlyn lost access to the immigration app that he used frequently. He went in person on or about January 22, 2025. He was told he had to re-register for the app and had his photo taken again.

However, around February 5, 2025, he received a phone call from his case manager at immigration. The case manager scheduled him for an in-person meeting for 2/13/2025. The case manager explained that he was being reassigned to a new case manager, and Esmerlyn was to report in person with all of his relevant documents for this transition. When Esmerlyn arrived at what he thought was a standard meeting, he was immediately detained by ICE agents. The agents threw him to the ground, beat him, and used a stun gun on him. They told him that the beatings would only stop if he signed his deportation paperwork. He refused. They stated they would continuously tase him until he signed the paperwork. He again refused. The agents then shackled his wrists and ankles and loaded him on a bus. He was transported 2 hours away from his home, his job, friends, family, and his dog. They never told him why he was detained or where he was transported to. It wasn’t until he was able to phone a friend that he was provided these details.

Why did they detain him? What did he do, you might ask. Nothing. They processed him as if he turned himself in! He has done nothing wrong, and definitely would not have knowingly turned himself in to ICE. He was set up!

The immigration website shows that he had a missed appointment with immigration on January 22, 2025. It was this alleged missed appointment that caused his case to be closed and an order for removal from the USA. This appointment was never prior in his app! He was even in person on that day with his case manager helping re-register the immigration app on his phone.

He is now being held in the Desert View Annex in Adelanto, CA. He is able to file an appeal to his decision by 2/21/2025, so the clock is ticking. His friends, family, and local community are working together to hire an immigration attorney to help get Esmerlyn the justice and release from ICE custody that he deserves. We are raising funds to help pay the cost of the attorney. The initial estimate for the attorney to file the expedited appeal is $5,000.00.

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Help us bring Esmerlyn home.