Urgent: Help Julio Return to His Loved Ones

Hi, my name is Liz Vail, and my family and I are asking for your help.

My father, Julio Matias, was recently detained by ICE on his way to work, and we are now facing a financial emergency. We’ve created this GoFundMe to raise funds for an immigration attorney and to recover his truck and trailer, which are essential to our family’s survival.

Julio is not a criminal. He came to the U.S. undocumented — but he did so out of necessity, not wrongdoing. He grew up in EXTREME poverty in Guatemala. His mother died during childbirth, and his father was absent most of the time. Julio began working at age five just to survive.

Despite the hardships, he built a life of love and service. He took in a child as his own, had three more, and came to America hoping for a better life. Here, he met my mom, Imelda, a single mother of four. He took all of us in as his own and had two more children with her. He raised 10 kids with love and sacrifice.

Julio has always given what little he has — helping others with food, donations, or rides. He’s the backbone of our family.

He and my mom were planning to get married now that she has her residency. They were also preparing DNA tests and legal name changes for the two youngest children, who are U.S. citizens, so they could request his residency. But all of that was put on hold when he was detained.

We’re doing everything we can, but we can’t do this alone. Please help us fight for Julio, bring him home, and keep our family together.

Thank you so much for your support.

—Liz Vail & Family