A man born in the UK has been separated from his American wife and three-year-old twin sons after being detained by immigration authorities during his Green Card interview. Connor Read, 29, who grew up in Chatham, Kent but has lived in Florida for over 20 years, was taken into custody on June 3 due to insufficient authorization to stay in the US and an existing deportation order.
His family is now urgently trying to prevent his deportation from the country where he has spent the majority of his life. Connor is one of over 51,000 undocumented immigrants held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, marking the highest number since September 2019.
Connor and his wife, Jaelin, were in the process of applying for a Green Card and were attending their interview when he was detained. Despite having completed the initial application process, ICE officers enforced the removal order against him, leading to his separation from his family. He was first held at Pinellas County Jail before being moved to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Centre on June 12.
Jaelin recounted the emotional moment when her husband was taken away by ICE agents after a routine passport check. Although Connor’s detention occurred on the same day his I-130 petition was approved, granting the family a chance to appeal the deportation order, it will incur a $4,000 (£2,981) fee to reopen the case.
Expressing concerns about the situation, Jaelin revealed that they are racing against time to present Connor’s case before a judge to halt his potential deportation to the UK. She emphasized that Connor has established a life in the US over two decades, attending schools, and running a business, questioning ICE’s timing under the current administration.
Connor’s immigration ordeal traces back to his childhood when his family’s Green Card application was mishandled by a fraudulent attorney, leading to the discovery of the removal order years later. Despite the setbacks, the family is determined to fight against deportation, with Claire, Connor’s mother, highlighting the urgency to challenge ICE’s actions in court.
In a poignant statement, Jaelin expressed her readiness to relocate to the UK with their children if Connor faces deportation, emphasizing the emotional toll and uncertainties they are grappling with. Amidst the challenges, the family has received generous support through a GoFundMe campaign, garnering substantial donations toward their cause.
The British Consulate in Miami has extended support to the family, acknowledging the delicate situation. Rochester and Strood’s MP, Lauren Edwards, has also offered assistance in the case, underscoring the collaborative efforts to address Connor’s predicament and reunite the family.
