We Stand with Juan's Family

Update from Vanessa:

I first want to thank everyone for the help and support my family has received via this GoFundMe page and other individuals and community organization. I hate to think of where we might be without your assistance. Unfortunately, the attorney we were working with has continuously let us down and we are now in the process of finding new representation. The result is that my dads next court is now postponed until October 6th, nearly six months after his detention and without our main income. A bond hearing could be scheduled ethier late 2017 or even 2018.

On a more positive note, my dad is able to call everyday. So we are all able to stay in some contact. Unfortunately, we have only visited once because he only gets an hour once a week for visitors before they start charging money. My siblings and I do go to his monthly court hearings and that is the only time we see him without a window between us. It's hard for him, but he is holding up well and remaining positive and hopeful. My dad was devastated about missing my graduation. For now, he only has pictures. My siblings and I write him letters to help keep him busy, and he spends time writing back at the library within the facility. My dad does not open up about being in the facility and has never described to us what a day in his shoes is like. I can tell, however, that my dad is scared and depressed, but he does well to hide it in order to protect my younger siblings. We  tell each other regularly to remember and focus on funny memories to cheer us up whenever we are feeling down.

I also want to let you know how we were able to use the GoFundMe campaign money. It mostly went  to cover some bills early on and a month’s rent before school let out for the summer. After graduation, I was able to pick up better employment and I have successfully covered all expenses since. Unfortunately, as the case drags on, I am now needing to postpone my education goals. Luckily, my work through the Center for Advanced Learning in high school gave me some credits I can use toward a degree in Surgical Technology and not give up on my education completely. This also means, however, I must cut back some on my hours at work, making it impossible to cover all the bills.

While we are all getting along, the stress has definitely taken a toll on my family and me. All of us are now dealing with depression and anxiety, which is causing insomnia in some of us. Thank you again for everything and please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

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What is needed:

A senior high school student, Vanessa, and her family are in urgent need of financial assistance because ICE agents recently arrested her father, Juan, without a warrant. Juan is the sole breadwinner of the household, so Vanessa’s family is now using their savings to pay the bills. As a community, we are raising donations to defray the cost of acquiring adequate legal representation for Juan, and to post bond if Juan is allowed to prepare his defense from outside detention. Juan’s attorney, court, and (if applicable) bond fees may exceed $30,000. Juan’s family is unlikely to raise the money needed to fight his case without our support.

 What happened:

On Thursday, April 27, 2017, Juan showed up to work at a restaurant in Gresham and was arrested by ICE agents without a warrant. Juan was most likely arrested by ICE in connection to a DUI incident in November 2016 to which he pleaded guilty. Juan’s family doesn’t understand why ICE agents decided to arrest him, given that he had complied with all of the court’s requests, including regularly attending diversion classes, paying his fines, appearing at court, and not driving a vehicle.

 About the family:

Juan is a loving father to four children, ages 1, 5, 12, and 17. Since Juan’s arrest in late April, his wife says she’s noticed their younger children fighting and crying more often because they miss their father. In his absence, Juan’s eldest daughter, Vanessa, has acted as the head-of-the-household to manage the family’s bills and solicit help from an immigration attorney.

 Vanessa has worked diligently to become the first person in her family poised to attend college, and she plans to become a registered nurse. Her greatest desire at this moment is for her father to attend her high school graduation next month. She fears that if her father is deported and her family torn apart, she will have to abandon her dreams of higher education in order to immediately enter the workforce and support her family.

 The photo above features Vanessa dancing with her father at her quinceañera (15th birthday) party. Vanessa recalls that her father took on a third job in order to save up enough money to throw her the party.

 Where your donations will go:

All donations will go directly towards helping the family pay their bills and covering Juan’s attorney, court, and (if applicable) bond fees. If this campaign succeeds those needs, all additional funds will be donated to an immigrants’ rights non-profit organization of Juan’s family’s choosing.

Other ways to help Juan and his family:

·       Call the NW Detention Center at [phone redacted] ext. 14 and demand that Juan Torres Lopez be immediately released back to the family that needs him

·       Call your local and state representatives and ask them to intervene on Juan’s behalf

·       Attend Juan’s bond hearing in Tacoma, WA on June 7, 2017 to show community support for his release