Some information about Ruben Perez and why he matters to PUUF and the Astoria Community:
(a shortened version of events as posted in an article):
PUUF’s Minister Emerita, Kit Ketcham, first heard about the plight of the
Perez family in 2019. Ruben Perez is an immigrant who had been living in
the US for more than 10 years and working as a janitor contractor in
Astoria when he was taken into custody by ICE as he was leaving the
Circuit Court in Astoria after a hearing on a matter unrelated to
immigration. He spent 61 days in detention in Tacoma. An immigration
judge found that he was eligible to have his deportation canceled because
it would cause unusual hardship for his wife, Maria, and their children, all
of whom are US citizens. Volunteers from PUUF provided transportation
for Maria to visit Ruben in Tacoma while he was detained and for her to be
there for his immigration trial. PUUF members also raised money to help
the family with their bills while he was not working. Finally, a loan from a
PUUF member provided bail for Ruben to be released. During his
detention, Ruben’s health worsened as he was not provided with the
health care he needed. Ruben developed liver and kidney failure, but has
now undergone liver and kidney transplants. The family is now living in
Gresham to be closer to Ruben’s doctors, but they are still having a rough
time financially. Maria has a GoFundMe to help with their medical
expenses.
Ruben’s detention localized the national issue of immigration-related
arrests in and around courthouses, which some judges and civil liberties
advocates say undermines the criminal justice system. Reverend Kit was
quoted in the Daily Astoria as saying “It’s definitely a part of our mission as
a congregation to be helpful to people and to fight injustice, and this was
such a clearly unjust situation.”
For full article and other articles related to Ruben: