Support Rochester Family Affected by ICE-RPD Collusion

On Monday, March 24th, in Rochester, NY, a father and two sons were driving home from a day’s work. They were abruptly forced to a halt by ICE and Border Patrol agents, and detained through reinforcement from Rochester Police Department officers violating Rochester’s Sanctuary City Resolution. The family had done no wrong. They were compelled from their van in a state of fear and distress, fomented by RPD’s actions. They were transported to a Federal Detention Facility in an unmarked van. They were taken from their home, family, and friends.

Our appeal

This fundraiser is being organized by friends of the family. Please help us to support the family as they seek attorneys and navigate the difficult legal system, the detainment process, and work to be freed and reunited.

Your contributions will help cover attorney fees and bond for the three men. It will also help the family cover other costs of detainment, including communication, commissary, and other necessities in the midst of separation. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

The family

Living in Rochester, our friends worked daily and loved their family. The father, a spiritual and caring man, has been a supportive husband to Sarah, a native-born U.S. citizen, since 2017. His sons came to the U.S. to reunite with him, fleeing violence in Guatemala. The younger son is sensitive and generous, the elder is kind and good-natured. As close family-friends, we have enjoyed sharing the ordinary stuff of life with them: Saturday morning cooking, introducing them to the hectic culture of Bills Mafia, taking them for a Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day just the other week. The sons showed us photos of their niece in Guatemala donning bright colored shoes and detailed textiles, trusted us with their grief when reflecting on the murder of their eldest brother, and proudly shared footage from their day’s work as roofers that showcased remarkable speed and precision. The family came to the United States hoping to find safety and prospects of a better future, and worked to materialize those dreams. They cared for one another, and served the homes of many families in our community through their work. Please help us serve them in this time of need.

What happened?

On Monday March 24th, the three were on their way home from work when they were forced to the side of the road by unmarked vehicles blocking their van at both ends. Four federal immigration agents approached their van.

The agents demanded their identification and began banging on the windows and doors of the van. They used a blunt object to cleave the front windshield.

The father called Sarah and told her what was happening. Sarah arrived on the scene, and, standing between the agents and the van, she bravely advocated for her family. She implored her husband and her stepsons not to exit the vehicle. Facing the agents, she defiantly stated their rights.

A horde of Rochester Police Department vehicles then arrived at the scene, responding to an “emergency response” request from Border Patrol. (A witness video shows that there was no threat to community or officers’ safety). Eight RPD officers swarmed the men’s van, and pushed Sarah out of the way. They threatened to break the windows and continued banging on the passenger-side of the van. RPD officers pressured the men inside into compliance. They then assisted ICE and CBP in detaining the father and sons.

A call to action

The family is now faced with a challenging period of detention and a difficult legal battle, but their release is achievable if we can collectively gather the necessary support. We have hope that with community rallying behind them they will have the best shot at reunification.

Thank you!

Additional Resources:

We know our friends are not the only ones affected by the immigration operations in upstate New York. Here are additional resources to help those in Rochester:

Just Cause. Just Cause is an organization whose mission is to provide free legal services to low-income residents of Monroe County, New York. The Immigration Rights Pro Bono Program, through a network of dedicated volunteer attorneys, offers free legal assistance and pro se clinics to immigrants seeking help with a wide range of immigration matters (excluding deportation defense) throughout Monroe County and surrounding counties. Share their information, and consider donating. If you’re a lawyer, consider volunteering with the organization! Just Cause NYC - Programs

Rochester Rapid Response Network. RRRN is a Rochester-area mutual aid group committed to supporting immigrants facing detention or deportation. They engage in community-based strategic actions and public education guided by immigrant families who are directly affected. They also provide emergency response to situations of detention or detainment. Rochester Rapid Response Network – Rapid Response