Father facing deportation to Colombia before Thanksgiving
There's no question about it, Juan Villacis is a family man.
In Thanksgivings past, he would be beaming over turkey, thrilled to share it with his precious loved ones.
"He saw it as the best time to bring us all together and to bring friends together as well," Juan's daughter Maria Villacis said. "And for all of us to forget about everything that was happening with the rest of our lives and just sit down and be thankful for what we have."
But this Thanksgiving, Villacis is in a detention center, facing imminent deportation, while his wife and daughters are at home waiting for a miracle, unable to even visit him Thanksgiving because he isn't allowed visitors.
"I said, 'Is there anyway that I can visit my dad on Thanksgiving?' Maria said. "And they said no."
Sadly, there are countless other families facing a similar situation this holiday season.
The Villacis family came to the United States legally with a B2 Visa is 2001 from Colombia, hoping to get political asylum. That never happened, and now with the change of administration, their future is uncertain.
"I feel very sad," said Liany Guerrero, Juan's wife. "Very difficult time for our family."
For the past 17 years, Juan has gone to every check-in. He was doing just that Nov. 15 when he was detained and not even allowed to say goodbye to his family.
Maria says their father loves his family and his country, and hopes that ICE will review her father's case.
"We were looking at those pictures, and it's going to be really difficult not to have him tomorrow," Maria said.