Pastor Deported to Guatemala After Two Decades in the US

Deportation of Pastor Maurilio Ambrocio

• 💔 Pastor Maurilio Ambrocio, a 42-year-old from Guatemala, was deported last Wednesday after living in the U.S. for over two decades.
• ⛪ He served as the pastor of the Eiglesia Evangelica de Santida Vidaneva church in Wama.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ambrocio is a father of five children, ranging from 12 to 19 years old, and has been paying taxes for years.

Immigration Troubles and Detention

• 🚨 Ambrocio first faced deportation in 2006 after being arrested for driving without a license, an offense described as non-criminal.
• 🗓️ For 12 years, he attended annual immigration appointments to renew his stay of removal document, a temporary pause on deportation orders.
• ⚠️ On April 17th, during his annual appointment, he was detained and spent nearly three months in various detention centers.
• 😥 He described the conditions in detention as inhumane, citing lack of warmth and food, which led to him getting sick.

Family's Efforts and Future Hopes

• ✈️ His daughter, Ashley, an American citizen, traveled to Guatemala with her brother and a church member to see him for the first time since his detention.
• 😭 The reunion was emotional, with joy at his freedom but heartbreak over his inability to return home.
• ⏳ Ashley hopes to sponsor her father when she turns 21, which will be in another year.
• 🙏 The family is working to find a legal way for Ambrocio to return to the U.S. and reunite in Wama.