Edgewater neighbors have come together to support a Venezuelan family facing hardship after the father was detained by federal immigration officials. Alexander, the father of three, was taken into custody on December 31 while on his way to work. His wife, Thalia, has been struggling to make ends meet and care for their children on her own.

Community Support

Laura Hurwitz, a neighbor and friend of the family, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Thalia cover extra costs, including legal fees and video calls with her husband. The campaign has raised over $27,000 of its $30,000 goal. Hurwitz met the family through a literacy program and has continued to support them, helping with tasks such as enrolling their kids in school and furnishing apartments.

Alexander has been in a detention center in Kentucky since his arrest, and attempts to get him out on bond have been unsuccessful. His attorney has submitted a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention, but an immigration judge denied his release, citing him as a ‘flight risk.’ The family is now trying to get him out on parole. Thalia and Alexander have pending asylum applications and were able to obtain work permits.

Family’s Struggle

Thalia’s oldest son, 15, helps take care of his two younger sisters while she is at work. The family has moved back to Edgewater, where they had first settled when they arrived in Chicago. Thalia expressed her gratitude for the support from Hurwitz and the community, saying it has been incredibly helpful, but it’s still difficult for her and her children to be without Alexander.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.