In December, my dad Jean was detained by ICE after being arrested by one of our local police departments, despite the fact that he did nothing wrong and having no criminal history. The police department later dropped all charges, acknowledging there was no basis for the arrest. But by then, the damage had already been done: ICE had been brought into Jean’s life, and his detention set off a chain of events that has deeply impacted our family.

My dad, Jean, is a father of 6, Maria, Shnayline, Johnsley, Fedmarley, Stesie and Stevenscky. He is a law-abiding taxpayer and a devoted member of the Haitian Baptist Church of Rhode Island. Our family legally entered the US from Haiti to seek asylum and have been waiting for our court date in 2027. Jean has a steady job and has been able to pay rent and living expenses for our family.

Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support through our initial GoFundMe - and the generosity of so many people who donated money, time, expertise, translation support, and connections - something very rare happened: my dad was released from ICE custody on December 23rd due to a medical condition. That support also allowed our family to secure strong legal representation during a frightening and uncertain time.

Unfortunately, even after the charges were dismissed, ICE still considers Jean “in their system.” This meant that this past Wednesday he was required to appear at an immigration hearing. Through an extraordinary network of people who stepped in to help, Jean was able to secure one of the top immigration attorneys in Rhode Island. We are relieved and grateful to share that he was granted bond at that hearing, and his asylum case has been pushed back to April 2027, allowing him to remain home with our family while our case proceeds.

Because of the generosity shown during the first campaign, our family has been able to:

•Cover significant legal fees

•Pay Jean’s immigration bond

•Begin addressing basic living expenses that piled up during his detention

We are deeply thankful - and we do not ask for continued help lightly.

However, the reality is that the financial burden continues. Legal fees in immigration cases are ongoing, the system is incredibly broken, and our family is still recovering from months of instability, lost income, and unexpected expenses tied directly to my dad’s detention. While Wednesday’s outcome gives our family room to breathe, we remain at risk for deportation, and the road ahead is long.

We know many people already gave generously, and we understand if you’re unable to give again. Even sharing this page means more than you know. If you are able to contribute, please know that your support directly helps keep our family safe, housed and fed as we continue to fight our asylum case.

Thank you,

Johnsley