Kuya Nestor (also known as Kuya Luffy) is a 40-year-old caring partner, dedicated son, and a loving father to a son and three daughters. He came to the US from the Philippines with his family in 2007. For the past decade, he has been his family's provider as a loyal and hardworking employee at a University of California San Diego Medical Center and an active union member of AFSCME 3299.

Following a family vacation to the Philippines, Kuya Nestor was suddenly detained during his layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He was detained in front of his partner and children and was held at SeaTac airport for two days without a change of clothes or proper food. Prior to this, Kuya Nestor has visited the Philippines several times with no incident. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) told his family that he would be released in two days, but he was actually transferred to Northwest ICE Processing Center (AKA Northwest Detention Center) in Tacoma, WA. His family did not receive any notification nor update on his wellbeing and whereabouts. When he arrived, Kuya saw he was among at least 100 others coming into the facility, and in two weeks saw hundreds more processed in and out of the detention center.

Immediately after his detainment, Tanggol Migrante San Diego and Washington began working closely with his family, his union in San Diego, and labor partners in Seattle & Tacoma to support them and bring Kuya Nestor home safe. On July 1, the Philippine Consulate in Seattle visited Kuya Nestor where he was able to apply for Assistance to Nationals (ATN). He and his family have not heard from them since.

Similar to Aunty Lynn (detained February 2025 and released May 2025) and Kuya Max (detained May 2025 and released July 2025), Kuya Nestor is yet another Filipino green card holder unjustly detained at the ICE facility privately-contracted to GEO Group. With the Trump administration’s new quota for 2,000 detainments each day, we denounce the unjust detainment and treatment of migrant workers and their families in order to profit quotas of private detention centers. Kuya Nestor's detention has already placed an enormous financial and emotional burden on his loved ones.

In coordination with Kuya’s family, friends, and union, together we were successful in taking swift action to support the family including protecting the family's livelihood by securing two additional months of leave from Kuya Nestor's employer. We are committed to fighting alongside Kuya Nestor to ensure job security until he is freed!

Alongside Kuya Nestor’s family, friends, and union, Tanggol Migrante Movement in Washington and San Diego are collecting individual signatures and organizational endorsements to demand that:

1. The US government #FreeKuyaNestor / #FreeKuyaLuffy from his unjust detainment, and end unjust detainments to meet ICE quotas.
2. The Philippine government 1) exert diplomatic power to demand his release from the Northwest Detention Center and 2) release Assistance to Nationals funds for legal fees immediately.

Calls to Action:

• Sign & share this petition!
• Join us at our rally for Kuya Nestor on 7/20 8AM @ NWDC.
• Support Kuya Nestor's family with legal fees by donating to their GoFundMe.
• Visit Kuya Nestor at NWDC! Coordinate with TMM WA for visitations.
• Share statements and videos of support for Kuya Nestor.