Home ❤️ From Indi
I've rewritten this message more times than I can count because I simply don't know how to put into words how grateful I am.
First and foremost... I'm home ❤️
From July 15 to August 4, 2026, my life changed in ways I am still beginning to understand. I went from sitting at the airport waiting for a work trip to suddenly finding myself in immigration detention.
I lost my freedom overnight. I lost my routine. I lost my privacy. I even lost something as simple as being able to look at myself in a mirror (Seeing my own reflection again after 20 days was surprisingly emotional)
But through all of that, I never lost something much more important: the people who love me.
To every single person who donated, shared the fundraiser, sent a message, prayed for me, checked on my family, or simply kept me in your thoughts... Thank you.
You have no idea what your kindness meant to me.
Every donation, whether it was $10 or much more, became something tangible. It helped pay for my bond, my legal representation, phone calls home, commissary, and everything I needed while I was detained. Because of you, I never had to wonder whether I would have the resources to fight my case.
That is an incredible gift.
What humbled me the most wasn't losing everything for those twenty days.
It was realizing that even after everything was taken away, no one could take away who I am.
Inside that detention center, I spent my days doing what has always given my life meaning: helping people. I translated for women who couldn't communicate with officers, helped others fill out requests, answered questions when I could, listened to stories, cried with people, laughed with people, and reminded each other that we weren't alone.
That experience changed me.
It reminded me that our greatest value isn't found in what we own, our careers, or even our freedom. It's found in how we show up for one another.
Many of you know my story. I came to this country seeking asylum from Venezuela. Since then, I've tried to build a life the only way I know how: by working hard, caring deeply, and building community.
Seeing that same community stand beside me during one of the hardest moments of my life is something I will never forget.
I'm home now.
I'm safe.
I'm exhausted.
There are still many things to resolve, and my legal journey is not over yet. My attorney is currently working to recover the identification documents that were not returned to me upon my release, so there is still work ahead.
But today, I finally wanted to take a moment to simply say thank you.
Over the coming days and weeks, I hope to reconnect with many of you personally and, when I'm ready, share more about everything I experienced.
I learned so much during those twenty days… I learned about resilience, humanity, fear, hope, compassion, and faith.
I learned to pray in a way I never had before. I prayed for myself, for my family and friends, and for the women around me, and I witnessed how deeply faith can connect people when so much else has been stripped away. We came from different countries, different stories, and different walks of life, but talking and praying together became another way of holding each other through fear and uncertainty.
These are lessons and moments of connection that I know will stay with me forever.
From the bottom of my heart...
Thank you for believing in me.
Thank you for standing beside my family.
Thank you for helping bring me home.
With all my love,
Indi ❤️
