Skarlent Rodriguez

My name is Skarlent Rodriguez, and I am writing these words with a broken heart, asking for help for my father, Jorge Rodriguez, who was unjustly detained by ICE. In 2019, my family was forced to flee Venezuela. Our lives were in danger simply for thinking differently. We were persecuted under the regime of Nicolás Maduro, and staying meant risking our freedom, our safety, and even our lives. With fear, hope, and faith, we left everything behind and came to the United States seeking refuge. On January 15, 2026, around 8-9am in Orlando, my father was detained by ICE as he was coming back from work. My father is 47 years old, Venezuelan, and entered the United States legally. He currently has a pending asylum case, filed and in process according to the law. He is not a criminal, not even close. He has never broken the law, has no criminal record, pays his taxes, and has dedicated his life to working hard to support his family. He works with Amazon Flex and Uber, doing whatever it takes to put food on the table. Jorge is the sole provider for our family. He is the father of two minor children and also has a U.S. citizen child who depends on him. His detention has left us devastated, emotionally shattered, and financially vulnerable. My father also suffers from kidney problems and requires medical care. Even in the moment of his detention, he did not resist or argue. He trusted the system. He trusted that having all his documents in order and an active asylum process would protect him. That trust was broken. We are raising funds to cover legal fees, bond, transportation, and all necessary expenses to bring my father home. Home is where his children wait for him. Home is where he belongs. Any donation, no matter how small, helps us hold on to hope. And if you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign means more than you can imagine. Thank you for reading our story, for your compassion, and for standing with our family during one of the hardest moments of our lives.