Sanctuary DMV raises funds to support the legal cases of community members who have been taken by ICE. Donate to Sanctuary DMV on our PayPal. You can also Venmo us @SanctuaryDMV.

We are an all-volunteer group with no staff and almost no overhead costs so nearly 100% of donations go to legal defense & support funds for detained community members. A small portion of donations go to logistical costs like printing ICE hotline cards, translators & food for public events.

We also periodically raise funds for individual community members we support. Learn about our current fundraisers below, and please give if you can. Thank you for your support!

Who We Support:

Keep Thomas* Home

Please donate to help Thomas* fight deportation to a country where his life is in serious danger. After 30 years in the DMV, Thomas was detained at a recent ICE check-in and now sits in detention far from his family. He is active in the politics of his country of origin, hoping from afar to help the country transition away from a dictatorship. He faces likely retribution if deported as others who have vocally opposed the dictatorship from abroad have faced torture and death.

Thomas hasn’t lived in this country since he was a child and has no family or home there. Here in the DMV, he is the loving father of two children, one of whom he is supporting through college, and he is an integral part of his community. He is an active member of his church, and regularly welcomes other immigrants to the United States by taking them into his home, helping them navigate complex new systems, and supporting them to build community. Please help a community member who fights for the freedom and safety of others stay home safe with his family by donating to his legal fees GoFundMe here.

*Name changed & details omitted due to fear of likely retribution. 

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Javier*: Funds raised!

Our neighbor Javier* was arrested in the July 2018 ICE raids that devastated our DC community. He has been a DC resident for over a decade and is a loving husband and father of two young children who depend on him for financial support. Javier* was detained for nearly two months as his family, community, and counsel fought for his just release. On top of seeking to deport him, the government also sought criminal prosecution against him for entering the country. Javier is currently fighting for his right to remain with his family and is fearful of his safety should he be deported, but he can’t afford the expensive attorney fees. Please donate to his legal fees GoFundMe here.

*Name changed out of concern for privacy and retaliation

Bartegan: Funds Raised!

Our friend Bartegan came to the US with his family when he was five years old. In 2018, Bartegan was convicted of a minor weed violation, and even though he served his 15-day prison sentence, ICE detained him upon release and began deportation proceedings against him. The good news: after a hard fight in which 10 of our volunteers accompanied him to his last hearing, Bartegan received a stay of deportation in December and was able to spend the holidays at home with his family, but Bartegan still needs your support.

Bartegan’s mother is saddled with thousands of dollars in debt fighting his emergency immigration case. Bartegan should never have been facing deportation because of a minor violation; Bartegan is one of the many immigrants caught up in our unjust and racist criminal legal and immigration systems. He shouldn’t face these terrible systems alone. Thanks to your generous donations, the needed funds for Bartegan’s legal fees were raised! Thank you for showing up for your community.

Jose Sanchez: Funds Raised!

Jose Sanchez was one of the people taken during ICE’s July raids in Mt. Pleasant, Columbia Heights and Petworth. He’s lived in DC for over 10 years and is about to get married to Susan (pictured above), his US citizen partner who is currently pregnant. Right now, Jose is in detention awaiting his next immigration court date. We’re working with Jose and Susan to get him returned home, but they need quite a bit of money they don’t have to cover their legal fees, especially since Susan’s bank account was frozen after Jose was detained. Thanks to your generous donations, the funds needed for Jose’s legal fees were raised! However, Jose and Susan are still navigating the detention system. We will update you if there are any more actions you can take on Jose’s behalf. 

Watch for updates on Jose’s story on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. #FreeJose #BringBackJose