Help us Stop Christian's Deportation

Photo by Alejandro Alvarez

Help us Stop Christian's Deportation

Petition Update: April 28, 2023

In the last forty-eight hours, we have been reminded of one simple truth: Community kept Christian home once, and it's community that will keep Christian home again.

Since we last wrote, Christian has been subject to a series of aggressive motions at the hands of ICE that have left us stunned. Taken by ICE agents from the front steps of his home in South Philadelphia last Wednesday, Christian has been forcibly moved across the country at a hostile speed, and can now be found at Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Our sources share that he will likely be on the next outbound deportation flight to West Africa.

We're not losing faith. Our rallying call has brought in an outpouring of public support that has reminded us that when we fight, we win. Various congressional leaders have issued inquiries into Christian's case, and offers of support have been extended from all corners of our city and beyond.

We need your help to keep pushing. Will you continue walking alongside us in this fight?

Take Action Now

• Contact DHS and ICE Leadership following the action steps below, or by visiting our action guide
• Join a Phone Zap led by our comrades VietLead next Tuesday, at 2PM EST. Sign up here.
• Continue sharing and uplifting the petition with your networks

Petition Update: April 26, 2023

Over the last few months, we have continued to see an uptick in community arrests throughout Philadelphia by Immigration and Customs Enforcement which cruelly result in the detention and/or deportation of our immigrant community members. Each encounter leaves our families shaken and broken by an unjust system. This week, it's hitting close to our hearts.

For two years, JUNTOS has supported Christian and Sarika in their fight to keep their family together. Time and time again, their fierce determination and advocacy work has ensured Christian's return from his check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement while also allowing them to set new roots in Philadelphia and raise their two daughters with love and safety. Just a few days ago, that all changed.

After dropping his children off at school last week, Christian was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as he returned home. He was immediately taken to Moshannon Valley Detention Center and in the middle of the night yesterday, was transferred to the Alexandria Staging Facility - a site commonly used to hold individuals for 72 hours or less before they are forcibly deported.

We are immensely saddened and enraged by this news. More so, we are heartbroken for Christian and Sarika - but we are not giving up. Can you help us in our fight to stop Christian's deportation?

We are currently working alongside Pennsylvania Immigrant Citizenship Coalition to get congressional leaders to halt Christian's deportation. In the meantime, we need your help to amplify our call to stop Christian's deportation. Together we can show that there has, and always will be, a community fighting to keep Christian home with his loved ones.

At Juntos, we know that the only secure community is an organized one - will you join us in taking action to #KeepChristianHome?

Join VietLead's Phone Zap

• Join a Phone Zap led by our comrades VietLead next Tuesday, at 2PM EST. Sign up here.

Show Your Support:

• Sign and Share our Petition
• Part of an organization? Sign your organization onto the sign on letter

Take Action On Your Own:

Contact the Department of Homeland Security

• Email DHS Secretary Alejando Mayorkas, at Alejandro.Mayorkas@dhs.gov
• Include DHS ICE Deputy Director, Tae D. Johnson at Tae.D.Johnson@ice.dhs.gov
• Include ICE Principal Legal Advisor, Kerry Doyle, at Kerry.Doyle@ice.dhs.gov
• Sample Email:
• ""Hello, my name is (blank). I am emailing in reference to Christian M'Bagoyi (A# 095-967-493). I am email to request that ICE release Christian who was just flown to Prairieland Detention Center for deportation. Christian has been a resident for 20 years and has 2 US citizen children, both under 5 years old. In the span of a week, he has been aggressively targeted by ICE and moved across the country despite regularly reporting for the terms of his case. I respectfully ask that you release Christian and have DHS join the motion to reopen his case so that he can return to his family in Philadelphia and continue his fight to adjust his immigration status."
• Tweet: @SecMayorkas | Sample Tweets Here

Contact Philadelphia's Field Office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

• Call the local Philadelphia Office: (215) 656-7164
• Email Philadelphia's ICE Field Director, Cammilla Wamsley, at Cammilla.Wamsley@ice.dhs.gov
• Include ICE's Philadelphia Outreach office, at philadelphia.outreach@ice.dhs.gov
• Sample Email:
  • "Hello, my name is (blank). I am emailing in reference to Christian M'Bagoyi (A# 095-967-493). I am email to request that ICE release Christian who was just flown to Prairieland Detention Center for deportation. Christian has been a resident for 20 years and has 2 US citizen children, both under 5 years old. In the span of a week, he has been aggressively targeted by ICE and moved across the country despite regularly reporting for the terms of his case. I respectfully ask that you release Christian and have DHS join the motion to reopen his case so that he can return to his family in Philadelphia and continue his fight to adjust his immigration status."
• Tweet: @ICEGov | Sample Tweets Here

Share Our Action Guide

Personal Statement from Sarika

My name is Sarika and I am a US citizen. We are creating this petition to keep my family together by preventing the deportation of my husband, Christian, to West Africa. This is the THIRD time they have separated Christian from us. I am beyond tired of this fight. We moved to Philly because we believed we would be safe as Philadelphia is a sanctuary city. We are not hiding and never will. We are here to stay.Christian has been a US resident for 20 years. is married to a US citizen,has 2 US citizen children - both under 5 years old. “Papa” is the first word out of our kids’ mouths every morning. I worry about big things like how the girls will fare without him emotionally and but also small things, like “oh god our younger baby only eats with him and only lets him put her to sleep.” My child screamed to me tonight ‘I just want papa’. What am I supposed to say? How do I fill my home with his spirit? Up to what age do I still need to have these conversations with my children every time their father is separated from them? Our world is quiet without him. Christian is the main caretaker of our children. Christian makes their breakfast, packs lunch, drives them to school and picks them up. He puts them to sleep every night. My family is already broken every time he is taken from us and will be irreparable if Christian is deported.

We need to keep Christian safe and at home with us, without the constant threat of detention and deportation. We will continue to mobilize and advocate until this is resolved - despite how tired we are. We would be so grateful for your support and our lives truly depend on it.