Meet Valerie Ortiz.
On January 8th, her dad William left their LA apartment for what he thought was a normal day: working one of his 3 jobs, returning home to be with his wife & daughter, and caring for his disabled mother.
But he never made it home.
ICE was waiting for him.
On January 8th, her dad William left their LA apartment for what he thought was a normal day: working one of his 3 jobs, returning home to be with his wife & daughter, and caring for his disabled mother.
But he never made it home.
ICE was waiting for him.
William came to Los Angeles in 1977 as a fifteen year old boy.
He was fleeing El Salvador, which was descending into civil war. He was reuniting with his mother, a U.S. citizen.
He's lived in LA for 44 years; it's his home, it's his family, it's his life.
ICE wanted him gone.
He was fleeing El Salvador, which was descending into civil war. He was reuniting with his mother, a U.S. citizen.
He's lived in LA for 44 years; it's his home, it's his family, it's his life.
ICE wanted him gone.
With her dad in ICE detention, Valerie was completely distraught. She couldn't imagine life without him, for herself or her family. It would be the end of the world as she knew it.
So Valerie tried everything. She raised money for a lawyer, created a petition, told her family's story. She made the heartbreaking video up above.
And she wasn't alone. She got help from local community groups like the Koreatown Popular Assembly, DSA, and Never Again Action LA.
And she wasn't alone. She got help from local community groups like the Koreatown Popular Assembly, DSA, and Never Again Action LA.
Above all, Valerie hoped her father would still be in the country on January 20th, when Biden replaced Trump as president. So Biden's administration, not Trump's, would decide William's fate.
She got her wish.
But it wasn't enough. Because, tragically, #BidenAlsoDeports.
She got her wish.
But it wasn't enough. Because, tragically, #BidenAlsoDeports.
Valerie's heart was broken when, less than 2 weeks into Biden's term, her dad was put on an ICE Air flight and deported to El Salvador.
But she hasn't given up. She's fighting not just for her dad and her family, but for the families of the 25,000+ already deported under Biden.
But she hasn't given up. She's fighting not just for her dad and her family, but for the families of the 25,000+ already deported under Biden.
Right now, this afternoon, Valerie and other families who've suffered or are facing deportation are rallying in Los Angeles. They're marching, and car-caravaning, surrounded by their allies and supporters.
And they're asking for you to help.
Please visit FreeWilliam.today/media. Support Valerie in her fight to reunite her family, and help share the stories of all the others who are still being deported, right now, by the Biden administration.
Please visit FreeWilliam.today/media. Support Valerie in her fight to reunite her family, and help share the stories of all the others who are still being deported, right now, by the Biden administration.
This is the scene at the anti-ICE protest happening in LA *right now*!
Hundreds of cars circling & honking in support of families whose loved ones have been deported.
See this thread for the story of Valerie Ortiz, 18, and her fight to bring dad home:
Hundreds of cars circling & honking in support of families whose loved ones have been deported.
See this thread for the story of Valerie Ortiz, 18, and her fight to bring dad home:
https://twitter.com/NeverAgainActn/status/1368293441050869760
Please donate here to support Valerie and her family as they fight to be reunited with William, while trying to afford to stay in their home relying solely on her income from working at Forever 21: fundrazr.com/31lC76
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