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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/aug/17/my-father-good-citizen-americas-immigration-system-should-realise-that-romulo-avelica-gonzalez-ice
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| My father is a good citizen. America's immigration system should realise that | My father is a good citizen. America's immigration system should realise that |
| (1 day later) | |
| When Brenda Avelica’s father was arrested and threatened with immediate deportation while driving her sisters to school, the video was shared all over the world. Six months on, she describes the impact of his detention on her family | |
| The police department is here to help LA’s immigrants – not help deport them | |
| Brenda Avelica | |
| Thu 17 Aug 2017 11.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 15 Sep 2017 12.19 BST | |
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| My life has changed drastically since 28 February when my father, Rómulo Avelica-Gonzalez, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents as part of President Trump’s effort to fulfil his campaign promise to deport immigrants with criminal records. | My life has changed drastically since 28 February when my father, Rómulo Avelica-Gonzalez, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents as part of President Trump’s effort to fulfil his campaign promise to deport immigrants with criminal records. |
| While my father sits in a detention centre, I wake up every morning with an upset stomach and a nervous, worrisome feeling. I describe it as like getting knocked down by a large wave. | While my father sits in a detention centre, I wake up every morning with an upset stomach and a nervous, worrisome feeling. I describe it as like getting knocked down by a large wave. |
| My father has lived in Los Angeles for a little over 25 years (I am 24). For most of my life, I never thought of him as an immigrant – just our dad. He worked hard (at a restaurant, from 3pm to 3am), paid taxes and rent, raised kids, and had a happy life here. | My father has lived in Los Angeles for a little over 25 years (I am 24). For most of my life, I never thought of him as an immigrant – just our dad. He worked hard (at a restaurant, from 3pm to 3am), paid taxes and rent, raised kids, and had a happy life here. |
| He was devoted to his children, and helped my two younger sisters train for the LA marathon. On Saturday mornings he’d wake up at 5am, after two hours’ sleep, and take the girls out to train, running alongside them or riding on his bike as they ran 20 miles. | He was devoted to his children, and helped my two younger sisters train for the LA marathon. On Saturday mornings he’d wake up at 5am, after two hours’ sleep, and take the girls out to train, running alongside them or riding on his bike as they ran 20 miles. |
| But that life ended on 28 February, when my mom and dad were driving my younger sisters to school, around 7.20am. They dropped off 12-year-old Yuleni first; then, on their way to another school to drop off 13-year-old Fatima, my dad noticed two vehicles following him. | But that life ended on 28 February, when my mom and dad were driving my younger sisters to school, around 7.20am. They dropped off 12-year-old Yuleni first; then, on their way to another school to drop off 13-year-old Fatima, my dad noticed two vehicles following him. |
| The cars turned on their flashing lights and pulled him over; their vests said Police. He asked them: “What did I do wrong, officer? Why are you pulling me over?” The man replied: “Shut up, get out of the car – you have an order of deportation!” | The cars turned on their flashing lights and pulled him over; their vests said Police. He asked them: “What did I do wrong, officer? Why are you pulling me over?” The man replied: “Shut up, get out of the car – you have an order of deportation!” |
| My father was arrested and put in handcuffs in the back of the police car. Fatima started recording on her phone while sobbing hysterically; my mom was in shock. Dad told them: “Don’t worry – be strong, get help.” | My father was arrested and put in handcuffs in the back of the police car. Fatima started recording on her phone while sobbing hysterically; my mom was in shock. Dad told them: “Don’t worry – be strong, get help.” |
| Later, the video my sister made of the Ice officers taking my father while she sobbed went viral. When I first watched it, I cried too – it broke my heart. But when it started to get played on the news, it just made us feel down. Eventually, we turned off the news whenever they played it. | Later, the video my sister made of the Ice officers taking my father while she sobbed went viral. When I first watched it, I cried too – it broke my heart. But when it started to get played on the news, it just made us feel down. Eventually, we turned off the news whenever they played it. |
| But my feelings about the video changed when I realised people from other countries were sharing it. They could really see and feel what it was like to go through what we had gone through. | But my feelings about the video changed when I realised people from other countries were sharing it. They could really see and feel what it was like to go through what we had gone through. |
| Stop the bus | Stop the bus |
| Immediately after my dad was taken away, we decided to go down to the detention centre on Los Angeles Street and stop the bus if they tried deporting him. We blocked the exit and waited – praying, crying and hoping. | Immediately after my dad was taken away, we decided to go down to the detention centre on Los Angeles Street and stop the bus if they tried deporting him. We blocked the exit and waited – praying, crying and hoping. |
| We saw a group of guys being escorted to a big van behind the fence we were blocking; I desperately looked to see if one of those men was my father. I saw them all looking out with sad faces, but dad was not in that group. | We saw a group of guys being escorted to a big van behind the fence we were blocking; I desperately looked to see if one of those men was my father. I saw them all looking out with sad faces, but dad was not in that group. |
| Then we got a phone call from the legal team saying his deportation had been stopped temporarily. Dad called us from the detention centre and we gave him the news – it was bittersweet. I felt relief he was not being deported, but anxiety at not knowing any more than that. That night we couldn’t sleep. | Then we got a phone call from the legal team saying his deportation had been stopped temporarily. Dad called us from the detention centre and we gave him the news – it was bittersweet. I felt relief he was not being deported, but anxiety at not knowing any more than that. That night we couldn’t sleep. |
| The next day, we found out he had been transferred to a detention centre in Adelanto, about 100 miles away from Los Angeles. We also sought to learn more about the government’s reasons for picking him up. In the end, we were surprised to learn that his undocumented status alone was what had put him at risk. | The next day, we found out he had been transferred to a detention centre in Adelanto, about 100 miles away from Los Angeles. We also sought to learn more about the government’s reasons for picking him up. In the end, we were surprised to learn that his undocumented status alone was what had put him at risk. |
| For all the cases we’d seen on television of people getting detained and deported, it never seemed like something we would go through. Our family didn’t know anyone who had been through the process, so we didn’t know what to do when it happened to us. | For all the cases we’d seen on television of people getting detained and deported, it never seemed like something we would go through. Our family didn’t know anyone who had been through the process, so we didn’t know what to do when it happened to us. |
| We have come to understand just how profoundly my dad had dedicated his life to us | We have come to understand just how profoundly my dad had dedicated his life to us |
| This terrible process has brought realisations. We have come to understand just how profoundly my dad had dedicated his life to us and our wellbeing, and just how dependent we are on him. If they actually remove him, the government will be taking away our life, our happiness and our wellbeing. | This terrible process has brought realisations. We have come to understand just how profoundly my dad had dedicated his life to us and our wellbeing, and just how dependent we are on him. If they actually remove him, the government will be taking away our life, our happiness and our wellbeing. |
| I have also realised something about being American. Before this, being an American meant being like my dad: a “good citizen” of our community. Work hard, take care of your kids, pay taxes, pay rent, help your neighbours. | I have also realised something about being American. Before this, being an American meant being like my dad: a “good citizen” of our community. Work hard, take care of your kids, pay taxes, pay rent, help your neighbours. |
| But the rules around immigration don’t recognise good citizenship – and they don’t recognise how immigrants are a blessing that make this country diverse and strong. Instead, they are a series of requirements for legal entrance set so high that many people end up living like Americans – but without the legal status. | But the rules around immigration don’t recognise good citizenship – and they don’t recognise how immigrants are a blessing that make this country diverse and strong. Instead, they are a series of requirements for legal entrance set so high that many people end up living like Americans – but without the legal status. |
| Should a paper determine your worth as a person? Rather, it is your actions, personality, hard work, dedication and kindness that determine your worth – that’s what my dad taught us. The American immigration system needs to learn that lesson too. | Should a paper determine your worth as a person? Rather, it is your actions, personality, hard work, dedication and kindness that determine your worth – that’s what my dad taught us. The American immigration system needs to learn that lesson too. |
| Prisoner’s uniform | Prisoner’s uniform |
| It’s a long drive to see my dad at Adelanto Detention Center. We are always happy to visit him in person, but I feel sad seeing him in a prisoner’s uniform – skinnier and miserable. Sometimes we can tell he has been crying. | It’s a long drive to see my dad at Adelanto Detention Center. We are always happy to visit him in person, but I feel sad seeing him in a prisoner’s uniform – skinnier and miserable. Sometimes we can tell he has been crying. |
| My father has been in there for approximately five months now. Patience is the hardest thing to have in a situation like this. | My father has been in there for approximately five months now. Patience is the hardest thing to have in a situation like this. |
| These months have been emotionally draining and exhausting. A major struggle for our family has been financial stability: my dad was the backbone of this household. Now me and my sister Jocelyn are pitching in to help my mother and two younger sisters stay in their home. | These months have been emotionally draining and exhausting. A major struggle for our family has been financial stability: my dad was the backbone of this household. Now me and my sister Jocelyn are pitching in to help my mother and two younger sisters stay in their home. |
| But in other ways, my dad’s situation has expanded our horizons. My siblings and I are aiming higher; we talk more now about enhancing our education, so that our voices are heard and acknowledged. Fatima wants to become an immigration lawyer; I’m planning to increase my training and become a registered nurse. | But in other ways, my dad’s situation has expanded our horizons. My siblings and I are aiming higher; we talk more now about enhancing our education, so that our voices are heard and acknowledged. Fatima wants to become an immigration lawyer; I’m planning to increase my training and become a registered nurse. |
| On 8 June, Fatima finished middle school. It was extremely hard to prepare for that day, knowing our dad wouldn’t be there. This was the first graduation of any of his children that he has missed. | On 8 June, Fatima finished middle school. It was extremely hard to prepare for that day, knowing our dad wouldn’t be there. This was the first graduation of any of his children that he has missed. |
| He told us to “do everything I would do: clap loud, scream when she is called on stage, buy her balloons and flowers, and make sure to tell her how proud we all are in this accomplishment”. We followed his instructions. | He told us to “do everything I would do: clap loud, scream when she is called on stage, buy her balloons and flowers, and make sure to tell her how proud we all are in this accomplishment”. We followed his instructions. |
| During the ceremony, he called just as Fatima was receiving an award from the LA city council office for being a voice for children with immigrant parents. My dad heard the clapping and cheering. Even though he was 100 miles away and on the phone, we felt his presence. | During the ceremony, he called just as Fatima was receiving an award from the LA city council office for being a voice for children with immigrant parents. My dad heard the clapping and cheering. Even though he was 100 miles away and on the phone, we felt his presence. |
| My mom made pozole for dinner that day, and our aunt and cousins came over and celebrated. It was a good day. | My mom made pozole for dinner that day, and our aunt and cousins came over and celebrated. It was a good day. |
| Brenda Avelica is a medical assistant in Los Angeles. Her article first appeared on the Zócalo Public Square website, and this edited version is published with kind permission | Brenda Avelica is a medical assistant in Los Angeles. Her article first appeared on the Zócalo Public Square website, and this edited version is published with kind permission |
| This article was updated on 18 August to clarify that Rómulo Avelica-Gonzalez was detained purely for his undocumented status | This article was updated on 18 August to clarify that Rómulo Avelica-Gonzalez was detained purely for his undocumented status |
| Inequality | |
| Immigration and asylum | |
| Los Angeles | |
| US income inequality | |
| Family | |
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