San Francisco Family Faces Holiday Separation Amid Immigration Crackdown
Joel was detained by federal immigration agents outside the couple's San Francisco apartment in June and is currently held in a Texas detention center. His partner Roxana is seeking asylum in the United States, which allows her to work legally and her children to attend school. Their 10-month-old daughter Briana has nightly video calls with Joel from detention, maintaining family connection during this difficult period.
The family also includes Roxana's two teenage children and Joel's adult daughter Yeili, aged 20. A sister has moved in, resulting in three adult women sharing a $3,100 per month apartment. Their income comes from housecleaning jobs and donations. They rely on community support to manage these challenges.
Roxana attends a mass for immigrant rights at St Peter's Church in San Francisco's Mission District, where community leader Father Moisés Agudo conducts services in Spanish. Since late May, over 120 arrests by ICE have occurred at San Francisco's immigration office or city immigration court, according to Mission Local. The Bay Area has experienced detentions, check-ins, and targeted raids as part of a broader crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration.
Religious and community groups have responded by providing meals for families and legal support. Organizations such as Faith in Action advocate for affordable housing and protections for immigrants. A donor recently contributed $15,000 to a legal defense fund supporting families affected by immigration enforcement.
As Christmas approaches, the family faces an uncertain holiday without Joel. Despite their separation, they view the broader community as their family and continue to draw strength from collective support amidst ongoing debates about birthright citizenship and immigration enforcement in the Bay Area.
