We MUST Bring Uriel Home

Five years ago, after my husband Uriel was placed on an I.C.E hold after being arrested for no driver's license, I was told by many immigration attorneys that there was literally NO HOPE of bringing my husband home to our children on the U.S side of the border.

They all told me that the best option would be to have Uriel sign a voluntary departure and fight for his residency thru the consulate in Mexico.

Perhaps this IS the only option...if the immigrant in question had no established ties to the community he was being ripped from and not been in the country for any substantial length of time or didn't have UNITED STATES CITIZEN CHILDREN AND A SPOUSE. However, in Uriel's case, it was the opposite.

My husband was brought as a child into this country. Suffices to say that for the past 20 years of his life, he has lived in the United States, making our small little town known as Denton, TX his home for his entire life in the U.S. When you break it down into simple math, you can essentially say, Uriel has lived MOST of his life here...not in Mexico.

I grew up with my husband...friends and family can attest to the fact that we've always been joined at the hip. Naturally, our love for each other comes as no surprise, nor would the decision to get married and create a family together.

I hold my family near and dear to my heart and any threat posed to my family is a threat I don't take lightly. Fortunately, due to my reluctance to simply believe and accept what was being shoveled my way, I discovered that we could get Uriel released on an immigration bond...at the hefty price of $5,000, while he awaited his removal proceedings. In part, the I.C.E officer granted the bond after I, without the help of an immigration attorney, advised them Uriel could be relieved from removal proceedings via cancellation of removal.

Our family, now, is being threatened for the SECOND time by Immigration and Customs enforcement. Uriel has his hearing in April, but due to an unfortunate event, he surrendered himself on an arrest warrant due to a bond issue over a pending charge of failure to stop and render aid.

Despite Uriel professing innocence and his plan to invoke his right to trial by jury, I.C.E has taken it upon themselves to issue an I.C.E hold due to the PENDING charge, which is in turn serving as punishment for a crime Uriel has NOT even received due process for, let alone been convicted of.

I.C.E is also refusing to use prosecutorial discretion despite all the factors in Uriel's favor and the negative impact his absence will have on our children and myself...all U.S citizens whom just happen to have various health issues that will be worsened by Uriel's absence.

The price of sending Uriel to Mexico will cost more than just money...it will cost my children and me our entire livelihoods.