Suicide, Separation, and Suffering: What ICE Policies Are Doing to Our Communities

Immokalee, FL- Domingo Francisco Miguel (20) and Andres Juan y Juan are two hardworking men from Immokalee, Florida. Both came to the United States determined to provide for their loved ones, working long hours in landscaping so their families could have food on the table.

Despite knowing the risks, they kept going with courage and hope, always putting their families first. Andres is a devoted husband and father of two children. His wife faces an upcoming surgery and will be unable to work during recovery. Domingo came legally on a work visa, striving to build a better future for his family.

Their families describe them as uplifting, selfless, and deeply committed. Both men embody what it means to sacrifice for others.

The Arrest and Detention

Recently, after returning home from a day’s work, Andres and Domingo were racially profiled during a traffic stop in a white van for tinted windows. Both were detained by ICE and are now being held in detention centers.

This sudden detention has left their families in crisis. Without their income, they face urgent financial hardship, especially with legal fees and basic family needs piling up.

The Ripple Effect: Sebastian’s Death

The cruelty of ICE’s actions doesn’t stop at detention or deportation — it ripples outward. Last week, Domingo’s brother Sebastian, who lived in Kentucky, died by suicide. The detainment of his nephew, the deportation of his brother, and the constant fear and stress of ICE weighed heavily on him.

Now his family in Immokalee is faced with the grief of his death and the overwhelming task of repatriating his body to Guatemala, where his wife, children, and other loved ones wait to lay him to rest. Once returned, his body must still be transported 12 more hours to reach his hometown.

A Community in Mourning

Sebastian’s death is not just a personal tragedy. It is another indictment of a system that criminalizes workers and tears families apart. Racial profiling, mass deportation, and inhumane treatment under the current administration are destroying lives and leaving scars across generations.

If you or someone you love is struggling with your mental health, please know you are not alone. You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, where caring counselors are available 24/7 to listen and support you.

How You Can Help

This family should not have to carry this burden alone. Community support means everything right now.

👉 Support Andres and Domingo’s families: https://gofund.me/dc561a53

👉 Support Sebastian’s family with repatriation costs: https://gofund.me/5874261d