The American dream has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare for a British hairdresser and father, who now finds himself trapped within the US immigration system despite over a decade of legal residence.
Marcos, a 36-year-old from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was abruptly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last month. His family is now waging a desperate campaign for his freedom, claiming his detention is a devastating error.
A Life Built in America
Marcos had built a stable life in New Jersey. He first arrived in the US on a valid visa and later applied for a Green Card through his US citizen wife, with whom he shares a young daughter. His application was pending, and he held a work permit, making his detention a shocking turn of events.
The Day Everything Changed
His ordeal began with a routine appointment at an ICE office in Newark. Believing it was a final step in his immigration process, he attended alone. Instead of approval, he was taken into custody and transferred to the Essex County Correctional Facility, a detention centre known for housing immigration detainees.
A Family's Anguish
His wife, distraught and confused, stated, "He did everything by the book. He checked in with them regularly. We never missed a deadline. To have him taken away from his daughter is heartbreaking." The family has been unable to get a clear explanation for his detention, leaving them in a state of limbo and fear.
Mounting Pressure for a Resolution
The case has drawn attention from advocates who highlight the complexities and often harsh realities of the US immigration system. His family hopes that by publicising his story, they can pressure authorities to review his case and secure his immediate release so he can return to his family and his business.
