Help Keep My Family Together
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Today we are raising funds to help my dad fight against deportation and keep our family together. One of our worst fears materialized last Friday morning when my family received a phone call informing us that my dad had been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and arrested outside of our home. Although ICE officials had no right to do this since there was no warrant for my dad’s arrest, they used intimidation tactics to make him believe that he had no choice. We have lived in crippling fear of this moment for as long as I can remember. Now that it’s really happening, we are trying to come to grips with this reality, remain strong and move forward with the support of our community. Being undocumented has forced my dad to endure various injustices and live in the shadows for far too long.
His name is Arturo Esquivel. He is an exceptional dad, a man of strong faith and an integral part of our family. You may have seen him at any one of Laura’s color guard events where he is her loudest, number one fan. You may have met him during Family Weekend at Brown University where his charisma and generosity left a lasting impression. You may recognize him from our string of silly Snapchats he constantly stars in. He is a hard-working, memorable man with many talents and the ability to leave a lasting impact on anyone he meets. He has a heart bigger than anyone I've ever met and is the kind of person that would give the shirt off his back. He has taught us the importance of putting others before yourself.
My father came to this country 20+ years ago with the purpose of providing a better life for his family. Growing up in a rougher part of Mexico City, he bought into the American Dream, convinced that this country would open the doors to opportunities not available to us in Mexico. Initially, he entered the country legally but overstayed a visitor’s visa. However, in 2005, he returned to Mexico because of a family emergency and when he tried to reenter the country, he was denied and forced to return to Mexico. At this point, he was faced with a life-changing decision, knowing he had built a life for us in the United States and had to come back. This prompted his illegal re-entry into the country. Even in the face of danger, my father always prioritized his family and took the only route available to come home. He now faces the threat of deportation, taking him away from our family unless we can put a stop to it. Right now, it kills us to think of him sleeping in a detention cell, contemplating the uncertainty of our future, instead of his warm bed at home next to my mom where he belongs.
Our immediate goal is to secure the best legal representation possible in order to get my dad out on bail ASAP. It’s been a grueling few days meeting with multiple lawyers. We discovered that due to the complexities of his case and the White House administration’s pressure on judges to deport immigrants, the legal costs will be substantial. Lawyer’s fees and court costs will range from $7,000-$10,000. Additionally, bail could be posted at up to $15,000. We have already paid hundreds of dollars in consultation fees, travel and miscellaneous costs such as refilling his ICS services account for phone calls and basic needs while he remains detained. Further, my dad was the primary provider of my parent’s household. On my end, I will be returning home after my academic semester to work full-time and help contribute financially. Until then, however, even though my mom works a full-time and a part-time job, her income won’t be enough to support the entire financial burden that is about to fall completely on her shoulders.
The money we are able to raise with your help will supplement our efforts to cover the various costs that will result from this journey which will likely take several months. Please help keep our family together by donating and sharing our story. Thank you for your support.
Christian Arturo Esquivel, son
Laura Esquivel, daughter
Laura Madrigal, wife
Today we are raising funds to help my dad fight against deportation and keep our family together. One of our worst fears materialized last Friday morning when my family received a phone call informing us that my dad had been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and arrested outside of our home. Although ICE officials had no right to do this since there was no warrant for my dad’s arrest, they used intimidation tactics to make him believe that he had no choice. We have lived in crippling fear of this moment for as long as I can remember. Now that it’s really happening, we are trying to come to grips with this reality, remain strong and move forward with the support of our community. Being undocumented has forced my dad to endure various injustices and live in the shadows for far too long.
His name is Arturo Esquivel. He is an exceptional dad, a man of strong faith and an integral part of our family. You may have seen him at any one of Laura’s color guard events where he is her loudest, number one fan. You may have met him during Family Weekend at Brown University where his charisma and generosity left a lasting impression. You may recognize him from our string of silly Snapchats he constantly stars in. He is a hard-working, memorable man with many talents and the ability to leave a lasting impact on anyone he meets. He has a heart bigger than anyone I've ever met and is the kind of person that would give the shirt off his back. He has taught us the importance of putting others before yourself.
My father came to this country 20+ years ago with the purpose of providing a better life for his family. Growing up in a rougher part of Mexico City, he bought into the American Dream, convinced that this country would open the doors to opportunities not available to us in Mexico. Initially, he entered the country legally but overstayed a visitor’s visa. However, in 2005, he returned to Mexico because of a family emergency and when he tried to reenter the country, he was denied and forced to return to Mexico. At this point, he was faced with a life-changing decision, knowing he had built a life for us in the United States and had to come back. This prompted his illegal re-entry into the country. Even in the face of danger, my father always prioritized his family and took the only route available to come home. He now faces the threat of deportation, taking him away from our family unless we can put a stop to it. Right now, it kills us to think of him sleeping in a detention cell, contemplating the uncertainty of our future, instead of his warm bed at home next to my mom where he belongs.
Our immediate goal is to secure the best legal representation possible in order to get my dad out on bail ASAP. It’s been a grueling few days meeting with multiple lawyers. We discovered that due to the complexities of his case and the White House administration’s pressure on judges to deport immigrants, the legal costs will be substantial. Lawyer’s fees and court costs will range from $7,000-$10,000. Additionally, bail could be posted at up to $15,000. We have already paid hundreds of dollars in consultation fees, travel and miscellaneous costs such as refilling his ICS services account for phone calls and basic needs while he remains detained. Further, my dad was the primary provider of my parent’s household. On my end, I will be returning home after my academic semester to work full-time and help contribute financially. Until then, however, even though my mom works a full-time and a part-time job, her income won’t be enough to support the entire financial burden that is about to fall completely on her shoulders.
The money we are able to raise with your help will supplement our efforts to cover the various costs that will result from this journey which will likely take several months. Please help keep our family together by donating and sharing our story. Thank you for your support.
Christian Arturo Esquivel, son
Laura Esquivel, daughter
Laura Madrigal, wife
Organizer and beneficiary
Christian Arturo Esquivel
Organizer
Grand Rapids, MI
Laura Madrigal
Beneficiary
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