Help Bring Flint Resident Jesús López Rodríguez Home
Demand Letter for Jesus Demand Letter Sign On Form
Jesus arrived in the United States with a simple dream: to live in freedom, far from the repression and fear he grew up with under the Cuban dictatorship. In 2004, his life changed when he was selected in the Cuban visa lottery. After receiving approval from the U.S. Embassy in Havana, he boarded a plane from Camagüey to Miami with hope, courage, and the belief that he was finally stepping into safety.
For more than 21 years, JLR has lived legally in the United States. He never left the country and has never even entertained the idea of returning to Cuba, because he fears the retaliation he could face from the regime. Here, he built a quiet life filled with hard work. He has spent years saving money, working long days selling Cuban pizzas, and dreaming of opening his own small business — the kind of life he never could have had in Cuba.
Everything changed on June 2
While driving to work, JLR was unexpectedly surrounded by two vehicles — one blocking the front of his car and one behind him. When he tried to show the officers his permanent resident card, he was told it was “invalid,” it was confiscated, and he was taken away without warning. He had no criminal activity occurring, no notice, and no explanation. Since that moment, he has been held in immigration detention.
What JLR is Facing in Detention
Since his arrest, JLR has endured extremely harsh and dangerous conditions:
- Overnight transfer between facilities without access to his basic personal belongings, leaving him without essential items such as vision and dental aids;
- Repeated periods of isolation as punishment and failure to provide necessary language interpretation;
- Safety concerns due to physical altercations initiated by others in custody;
- Substandard food and unsafe or unsanitary living conditions;
- Serious, unaddressed health issues, including untreated injuries and difficulty accessing needed medical care.
No person should be subjected to this level of neglect, fear, and suffering.
JLR is the pillar of his family. His elderly mother, a lawful permanent resident, depends on him for daily support. His sister, niece, and nephew rely on him emotionally and financially. His detention has left an entire family suddenly without security and without their strongest source of stability.
Why We Are Asking for Help
We are raising funds to cover the legal costs, filing fees, and emergency expenses needed to fight his deportation, secure his release, and ensure he receives medical care. Every day that passes without intervention puts his health and safety at greater risk.
JLR is not a threat. He is a hardworking immigrant, a son, a brother, an uncle, and a community member who has done everything asked of him and has only ever wanted to live in peace and dignity.
Any amount — truly, any contribution — will help bring JLR home to his family and give him a chance to heal, recover, and rebuild the life he has spent more than 20 years creating.
Thank you for standing with him, and for standing against the injustice he is facing.
Your solidarity can help save a life.
