A 22-year-old National Guardsman from Staten Island has publicly expressed his sense of betrayal after his stepfather was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on his way to work earlier this week. The soldier, only referred to as Jesus, has served his country and now is advocating for the release of his parental figure, who he claims has been a law-abiding member of their community. According to ABC7 New York, ICE agents arrested the 41-year-old Mexican father of five early Tuesday morning.
"My sister called me crying to tell me what had happened. And that moment I felt shock, anger and disbelief. How could this happen to my father? In the same country I proudly serve?" Jesus said in a statement obtained by ABC7 New York.
The unexpected detainment occurred around 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Castleton and Heberton avenues. According to an attorney for the family speaking to NY1, the arrest took place in Port Richmond, as Jesus' stepfather was en route to his job.
At the center of this issue lies the fact that Jesus' stepfather is undocumented, though with legal proceedings pending, and does not hold a criminal record. This case has raised questions and concerns within the Staten Island community and beyond, regarding the priorities and targets of ICE operations. "What's happening at this moment is that ICE is not targeting so-called criminals, ICE is targeting the hard-working mother, the hard-working father," La Colmena Executive Director Yesenia Mata told ABC7 New York. The community organization provides resources for immigrants and seeks to offer support to the family.
Reverend Karen Pershing, echoing the community's sentiments, expressed concerns about the chilling effect such actions might have on community members' daily lives. "They can’t leave their home and go to mass," Rev. Pershing told NY1, highlighting the fear that restrains many from engaging in basic necessities like attending church, accessing health services, or picking up medicine. Jesus, a U.S. citizen whose stepfather came to the U.S. from Mexico in the early 2000s, has seen his family life upheaved by the arrest. He had joined the military out of a desire to give back to a nation his family believed had supported them. "We felt a lot of emotions: anger, disbelief," he told NY1. Despite reaching out to ICE for a response, NY1 reports that they are still waiting to hear back.
The upcoming court dates tied to the stepfather's immigration status remain on the horizon, and Jesus knows the location of the detention facility where his stepfather is currently being held.
