I am Samantha White, owner and primary teacher at Barnyard Academy in Greenbrier, TN, and I am reaching out to raise funds for a beloved family facing an unimaginable crisis. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of teaching their child, who has become exceptionally dear to me. And my relationship with this student’s parents has grown quite close. So, when the mother needed help, she turned to me, overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. And with no family or friends and the father’s family living overseas in India, this mother has been left to navigate an unimaginable crisis alone.

Two weeks ago, the father was arrested and is now detained in an ICE facility in TN. Because he originally came to the US legally on a student visa, had started the process of filing for legal status and has been married for 6 years to an American citizen, he was given the option to fight deportation. This would require him to sit in a Louisiana state prison for the better part of 6 months with no guarantee he will be granted legal status. Or self-deport. He chose to self-deport which we were initially told woukd find him home in India within 2-3 weeks. Now it appears it could take a month, possibly much much longer.

The family’s application for legal status had stalled due to financial hardship. As such, the mother is unable to continue to work and provide for her family. They were barely making ends meet as a dual income couple and now she is the sole breadwinner with no ability to provide childcare. Childcare will literally cost her more than she makes. On top of it all, the mother suffers from a debilitating medical condition and the child has special needs.

I have helped this family by watching the child these past few weeks so the mom could continue to work. Assisted with helping her sell her life to raise funds for expedited passports. Provided cash and food when she had no access to funds because her husband's wallet was in custody. Paid for car repairs, passport photos and more. Attending court with her to support her as she saw her husband in shackles and sobbed. I have sadly reached the end of what I am able to give from a monetary standpoint with five children of my own and a business to attend to.

We have concluded that the only solution is for the mother and child to move to India to be reunited with the father. The father's family in India wants them all home. They have prepared a space for them to stay. And they are awaiting their arrival with worry and great anticipation. They are not a wealthy family but they have sent her some funds to help her stay afloat while their expedited passports are in process. And continue to reach out to extended family for financial assistance.

I started this GoFundMe to raise funds to purchase plane tickets, some travel gear/supplies and maybe a little extra to start over in a new country - having left an entire life behind them. The mother and child have never even been on an airplane, and they are looking at traveling halfway around the world and moving to a country where they do not even know the language. On top of it all, the father will likely arrive home before them but will not be able to travel back to assist with this move.

If you feel it in your heart to donate to this cause, I would be forever grateful. I am intimately involved in the financials. In assisting them make this move. And I am personally vouching for the proper allocation of funds. As soon as their passports arrive, the mother intends to have me book their tickets so they can leave to be reunited with her husband who she very much wants to embrace. She is hoping to be in India in the next 2-3 weeks if we can help make it happen. We are still in the process of selling off their belongings as well to fundraise.

Your generosity will help them navigate an incredibly difficult situation and ensure their child continues to thrive. Please consider supporting this family in their time of need—every contribution makes a difference. Funds are being raised anonymously due to the details of his arrest. Going public with their name could put them at risk. The creation and publication of this fundraiser alone puts my own family at some risk as well both personally and professionally. That is how strongly I believe in this cause. Thank you for taking the time to read this story.