A father from the UK has been separated from his wife and three-year-old twins in the United States after being detained by immigration officials during his Green Card interview.
Connor Read, a 29-year-old who grew up in Chatham, Kent, but has resided in Florida for over two decades, was taken into custody on June 3 due to his lack of proper immigration status and an existing removal order.
His family is now racing against time to prevent his deportation from the country where he has spent the majority of his life. Connor is one of over 51,000 undocumented individuals held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, marking the highest figure since September 2019.
Connor and his wife, Jaelin, were in the process of obtaining a Green Card when he was detained during their interview. Despite having completed the initial stage by filing an I-130 petition, granting him the opportunity to apply for permanent residency, ICE officials enforced the removal order, separating him from his family.
Jaelin described the moment when Connor was taken away, stating that she was devastated and emotional. Despite his detention, Connor’s I-130 petition was approved on the same day, allowing the family to seek reopening of his case to halt his deportation and continue with the Green Card process, which incurs a $4,000 (£2,981) fee.
Connor, who migrated to the US with his family at the age of eight, faced complications in their Green Card application due to fraudulent legal assistance. His detention has prompted urgent efforts to present his case before a judge to challenge the removal order.
Jaelin expressed concerns about the situation, mentioning a potential relocation to the UK if Connor is deported, emphasizing the family’s determination to reunite regardless of the challenges ahead.
A fundraising campaign has been initiated to support the Read family during this difficult time, with contributions surpassing half of the target goal. The British Consulate in Miami and local authorities are actively involved in providing assistance and guidance.
For the latest news updates, select Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.
To enhance your browsing experience, we and our partners may utilize cookies and other identifiers to personalize content and ads, while respecting your privacy preferences. You have the option to manage your data preferences by adjusting settings on the webpage. By using our services, you agree to our cookie usage and acknowledge our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
