My uncle Javier Maya Garcia was kidnapped by ICE on October 19 at 7:30 a.m. in La Puente, CA. He was on his way to work when ICE surrounded his car and took him.

We have been contact with my tio and he has informed us that he signed documents for deportation.

He is currently being detained in Adelanto and we are waiting for the processing of his deportation.

These donated funds will aid my tio's transition back to Mexico. Unfortunately, he has no savings, and our family is doing our best to assist him, but we need the help of our community. This is an unsafe situation, and we want him to feel at least financially secure and supported as he navigates and processes this life-changing experience.

MY UNCLE'S STORY:

My uncle was the sun when I was growing up. His laughter and personality filled the room as soon as he entered. Growing up, we looked forward to every Friday because it meant spending time with him, eating pizza, watching movies, and telling stories.

As he grew older, he faced hardships with his mental health and became more distant. He found company with the bottle and struggled with alcoholism for quite some time.

However, even during this dark storm, he was there. He wouldn’t come out so often, but he never stopped being an uncle. My family has loved our uncle through it all, whether he is shining bright or feeling dark like the night sky.

He fought for his sobriety and his life, but it was hard for him to exist in it. In the last few years leading up to my dad’s death, he isolated himself. He was present, but hard to reach. With time, my dad's passing reopened his heart to us, and his sorrow reunited him with our family.

He was quiet and to himself, but he was never alone. He’s a shy, tender, compassionate protector. My mom shares stories that growing up, my uncle advocated for what was right. If he saw something, he’d say something and do his best to defend it. He continued to do that in the ways he could.

He was always looking out for ICE sightings and calling my mom to tell her not to go out or to stay home. He always did his best to keep her safe and take care of her in the ways my dad would’ve appreciated.

ICE cannot detain my uncle's resilience and strength to rise and prevail against all harms that are being attempted and done.

My uncle's story deserves to be poured into and heard. Like many of our loved ones, he migrated here for a new beginning, and my intention is to remind him that his prayer remains alive.

Though his chapter here has been taken from him, we are reclaiming his spirit and empowering him with all that he needs to begin once more.

*My tio unfortunately has no pictures of himself, for he disliked taking them. La Puente Defensa provided us with footage of his detainment and encouraged us to include photos of what happened to show the reality our loved ones face.*

Thank you for all the support and love.