PORT RICHMOND, Staten Island (WABC) — A 22-year-old soldier on Staten Island says he feels betrayed by the country after ICE took his stepfather into custody earlier this week.<\/p>\n
The National Guardsman, who only wants to be identified as Jesus, says his stepfather has no criminal record and now he is reaching out to fellow service members and his community as he begs for his loved one’s release.<\/p>\n
“My stepfather, who has raised me for as long as I can remember and who I consider my true father was taken into ICE custody while on his way to work early that morning,” Jesus said.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday morning around 6:30 a.m., the 41-year-old father of five from Mexico was arrested by ICE near the intersection of Castleton and Heberton avenues.<\/p>\n
“My sister called me crying to tell me what had happened. And that moment I felt shock, anger and disbelief. How could this happen to my father? In the same country I proudly serve?” Jesus said.<\/p>\n
Jesus spoke out on Thursday, surrounded by support at the La Colmena office, a nonprofit community organization that provides resources for immigrants.<\/p>\n
“There’s other families that are going through this and many families that will go through this,” Jesus said. “So I just want to know that their voice is also important.”<\/p>\n
Jesus said his stepfather is undocumented with legal proceedings pending, but he has no criminal record.<\/p>\n
“What’s happening at this moment is that ICE is not targeting so-called criminals, ICE is targeting the hard-working mother, the hard-working father,” said La Colmena Executive Director Yesenia Mata.<\/p>\n
Eyewitness News has reached out to ICE for more information on this particular arrest.<\/p>\n
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