Free Jake & Keep him home in the US
Donation protected
Help Jake receive support emotionally and financially while facing possible deportation
Timeline: On May 12th, 2015, Jake was heading through customs at the airport in Houston, Texas, after returning from a vacation with his friends in Nicaragua.
Months before, Jake had reapplied for a green card (legal permanent resident, or LPR) and a new UK passport before he left the country. Both were approved and he thought he had all the identification needed to leave the US temporarily. However, unknown to him, his family and friends, a prior record almost 10 years old allows the Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to red flag his status upon return into the US.
Due to unknown factors at the time, Jake was stopped, questioned and detained at the airport. He was in limbo for three days and allowed only a 20-second phone call to let his family know he was alive. Jake was brought to a detention facility in Houston with other individuals facing the same deportation charges. Later, he received notice that he was up for possible deportation because of prior minor convictions.
Jake had been living, working and thriving in the U.S. since he first arrived in 1987.
This was the first time he had left the country since 2005. He was not given verbal or written warning that this could happen when he left the country (for vacation or any other reason) with this renewal of his LPR. He was blindsided with the detention and is working now on applying for a cancellation of removal, which would allow his return to the U.S.
The facility Jake a medium security detention center. He is housed with hundreds of other people who are also being detained in dorm-like rooms. He does have access to things like a commissary, exercise equipment, video games, hot meals and reading materials. He does not have the internet and only limited contact with the outside world.
Unfortunately, the process of cancelling his deportation will be a long one, no matter the final verdict. The average process of deportation takes about 38 days, and that does not count the process of potential cancellation of removal. We hope at this point to keep Jake feeling positive while he is being held indefinitely.
How you can help: If you would like to write Jake a personal letter, please get in touch with his sister-in-law Eileen ([email redacted]) and she’d be happy to give you his address at the facility. Jake may also need some support in regards to letters of good character and personal testaments, so if you’d like to get involved, please email Eileen as well. We already have official legal advice and representation but are always happy to receive additional guidance, words of encouragement, etc. We can pass messages onto Jake too via phone if you’d like him to know your thoughts are with him.
Some of Jake’s close friends began this fund to help alleviate some of the legal fees, expensive phone calls, written correspondence and possible flights to address this situation. We appreciate your generosity in this tough situation.
Jake and his entire family are extremely grateful for all the help and support everyone has provided so far. We all remain optimistic and hope for a safe return home.
Timeline: On May 12th, 2015, Jake was heading through customs at the airport in Houston, Texas, after returning from a vacation with his friends in Nicaragua.
Months before, Jake had reapplied for a green card (legal permanent resident, or LPR) and a new UK passport before he left the country. Both were approved and he thought he had all the identification needed to leave the US temporarily. However, unknown to him, his family and friends, a prior record almost 10 years old allows the Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to red flag his status upon return into the US.
Due to unknown factors at the time, Jake was stopped, questioned and detained at the airport. He was in limbo for three days and allowed only a 20-second phone call to let his family know he was alive. Jake was brought to a detention facility in Houston with other individuals facing the same deportation charges. Later, he received notice that he was up for possible deportation because of prior minor convictions.
Jake had been living, working and thriving in the U.S. since he first arrived in 1987.
This was the first time he had left the country since 2005. He was not given verbal or written warning that this could happen when he left the country (for vacation or any other reason) with this renewal of his LPR. He was blindsided with the detention and is working now on applying for a cancellation of removal, which would allow his return to the U.S.
The facility Jake a medium security detention center. He is housed with hundreds of other people who are also being detained in dorm-like rooms. He does have access to things like a commissary, exercise equipment, video games, hot meals and reading materials. He does not have the internet and only limited contact with the outside world.
Unfortunately, the process of cancelling his deportation will be a long one, no matter the final verdict. The average process of deportation takes about 38 days, and that does not count the process of potential cancellation of removal. We hope at this point to keep Jake feeling positive while he is being held indefinitely.
How you can help: If you would like to write Jake a personal letter, please get in touch with his sister-in-law Eileen ([email redacted]) and she’d be happy to give you his address at the facility. Jake may also need some support in regards to letters of good character and personal testaments, so if you’d like to get involved, please email Eileen as well. We already have official legal advice and representation but are always happy to receive additional guidance, words of encouragement, etc. We can pass messages onto Jake too via phone if you’d like him to know your thoughts are with him.
Some of Jake’s close friends began this fund to help alleviate some of the legal fees, expensive phone calls, written correspondence and possible flights to address this situation. We appreciate your generosity in this tough situation.
Jake and his entire family are extremely grateful for all the help and support everyone has provided so far. We all remain optimistic and hope for a safe return home.
Organizer and beneficiary
Beth Moody
Organizer
Marshfield, MA
Eileen Cotter Wright
Beneficiary