We are reaching out with heavy hearts to share the devastating news about our dear friend, Yancee Santos. A pillar of the Bell Gardens community and a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Hard Dance scene, Yancee’s life was turned upside down this past holiday season in a way no one could have prepared for.
Yancee has called California home since he was eight years old. He grew up in our local schools, played sports on our fields, and devoted his entire adult life to his family. Since he was 18, Yancee has been the primary caregiver for his elderly grandmother, providing the daily support and love she needed. Professionally, he was a tireless advocate for local artists, eventually becoming a respected Tour Manager within the electronic music community.
Despite having a work permit and doing everything "by the books," Yancee’s life was derailed while traveling to a show in Sacramento. He was detained at LAX and sent to the Adelanto Detention Center. After enduring weeks of inhumane conditions, he was wrongfully deported to Honduras without a single hearing or the chance to sign legal documents. He has been forced back to a country he has not seen in over 20 years—a place where he has no home, no resources, and no safety net.
We are raising funds to provide Yancee with a lifeline. These donations will go directly toward his immediate survival and living expenses in Honduras, including safe housing, food, and clothing. Additionally, funds will help cover the legal costs necessary to fight this injustice and explore his options for returning home.
Yancee has spent his life taking care of others—now, it is our turn to take care of him. Any amount helps, and if you cannot donate, please share his story. Let’s show Yancee that the community he built hasn't forgotten him.
Yancee has called California home since he was eight years old. He grew up in our local schools, played sports on our fields, and devoted his entire adult life to his family. Since he was 18, Yancee has been the primary caregiver for his elderly grandmother, providing the daily support and love she needed. Professionally, he was a tireless advocate for local artists, eventually becoming a respected Tour Manager within the electronic music community.
Despite having a work permit and doing everything "by the books," Yancee’s life was derailed while traveling to a show in Sacramento. He was detained at LAX and sent to the Adelanto Detention Center. After enduring weeks of inhumane conditions, he was wrongfully deported to Honduras without a single hearing or the chance to sign legal documents. He has been forced back to a country he has not seen in over 20 years—a place where he has no home, no resources, and no safety net.
We are raising funds to provide Yancee with a lifeline. These donations will go directly toward his immediate survival and living expenses in Honduras, including safe housing, food, and clothing. Additionally, funds will help cover the legal costs necessary to fight this injustice and explore his options for returning home.
Yancee has spent his life taking care of others—now, it is our turn to take care of him. Any amount helps, and if you cannot donate, please share his story. Let’s show Yancee that the community he built hasn't forgotten him.
Organizer and beneficiary
JENNIFER GARCIA
Beneficiary