On Sunday morning, Efren Cortez Velez, a longtime resident of Passaic, NJ, was kidnapped by ICE and torn away from his children. His sudden detention has devastated his family and placed them in immediate danger of permanent separation.

Efren is the primary source of love, stability, and support for his children. The family is now racing against time to secure legal representation and fight to keep him with his children.

In the words of his son:

This fundraiser is for my father, who was taken away from our family a few days ago. When it came down to his daughters, he was ready to do anything for them. It’s heartbreaking to see our family separated. Right now he is in ICE custody, and I hope anyone reading this can help us prevent him from being taken away — if not for me, then for his son, and especially for my three sisters who still need him to grow.