A DACA recipient is forced to leave behind his family, now they take up his fight

A #FreeBrandon update from Nelly Gudino, Brandon Reyes’s cousin.

Two years ago, Brandon was preparing to speak out after the Trump administration announced they would rescind DACA. He took the mic, shared his story, and inspired other. Two months ago, he was pulled over by ICE and detained.

Now, today I watched in court as my cousin, Brandon Reyes, declared he would take voluntary departure. He will leave our family and the community he has known his entire life in Grand Rapids next week.

Brandon inspired hundreds as he shared his story as a DACA recipient after the Trump administration announced plans to rescind the program in 2017. Now, his family much watch as they are separated from Brandon by ICE.

As our family faces this heartbreaking separation, I am overcome with the injustice of the immigration system that rips families apart everyday.

Nobody in that court saw Brandon, me or my family as human beings deserving of dignity and respect.

Brandon was forced to stay in detention for nearly 2 months. My family had to watch him choose between further detention and likely deportation through a computer screen in a courtroom 2 and half hours away from where we live. He isn’t even allowed to see us or hug us goodbye before ICE puts him on a plane to Mexico, a country he has not seen since he was six year old.

Brandon was detained alongside his mother nearly two months ago. While in detention, his younger citizen sisters wrote birthday notes to their brother and detained mother on her birthday. Now, his mother is released back to her family and must watch as her son is forced into voluntary departure to Mexico.

Ask anyone in Grand Rapids, and they will speak of how Brandon contributed to our community and made it a better place. From his work in healthcare to immigrant rights, Brandon sought to make Michigan a more equitable, fair, and loving state. ICE has stolen another amazing, heart-filled member from our city.

His family will stay here, but now they say his political activism is their political activism.

Next week, on May 1st, there will be a march for immigrant rights in Grand Rapids. Brandon won’t be there. But his family says they will be.

“Todos son iguales,” his mom says.

We’re all equal.

“No somos diferentes.”

We’re not different.

“We should have equal rights,” she says.

When Brandon was detained, we started raising money for his and his mother’s bond, as she was unjustly detained alongside Brandon back in February. We are so grateful for the community’s support for our family, and now we need more help.

Brandon must start a whole new life in Mexico. He will need to pay for his plane ticket (because ICE will not pay even as they force our family apart), an apartment, food and basic possessions to get him on his feet.

I and a few other family members are hoping to fly to Mexico to finally see him in person — and help him get started on his new life.

You can support Brandon and his family as they create a new life by donating here: http://tinyurl.com/freebrandonsfamily

Can you help us raise $10,000 for Brandon’s next chapter? We hope it begins with healing, rest and loved ones. Donate now: http://tinyurl.com/freebrandonsfamily