Tell ICE to Bring Michigan Father Home Detained After Dropping His Kids at School

Juan Carlos Puentes-Martinez came to the U.S. at age 14 to work to support his aunt, who raised him after being abandoned by his mother. He is a dedicated husband and father of four, ages 9-15. All of his children and his wife are United States citizens. He is a stay at home dad and preps the children for school and helps with their homework while his wife works to support the household. He also supports the children in their extra-curricular activities.

Amidst the increased immigration enforcement activities and cruel policies by the current administration - Juan Carlos was detained by ICE agents on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, after shopping at the local Tractor Supply store in Imlay City, Michigan. Unmarked ICE vehicles followed him and his wife after they’d dropped off 3 of their 3 of their 4 children at school.

As Juan Carlos’ daughter pleaded to the ICE agents not to take her father away, and his wife told them that they had 4 children to support, the ICE agents responded, “Yes. You’re the wife. You have four kids. We’ve been watching you guys”.

Juan Carlos has remained detained because ICE is using a prior deportation against him. Several years ago he was deported after a traffic stop while he was going to the grocery store, shortly after his wedding. He came back to the United States to help raise his children and be with his wife. Because of his prior deportation, Juan Carlos can be denied the opportunity for a judge to consider his case, and his fate is in the hands of the local ICE field director, Rebecca Adducci.

He is now being held in Calhoun County Jail and we need your help. Whether it is at the border where they are tearing young children away from their parents, or here in our backyard where they are rounding up our community folks every day - FAMILY SEPARATION IS CRUEL.