Dozens of people protested on Main Street in Hartford this morning to support of a New Fairfield man from Guatemala who is facing a deportation order.
Joel Colindres, a 33-year-old father of a 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, came to the U.S. from Guatemala 13 years ago and married Samantha, a Connecticut native, seven years ago.
In the years since then, the two said they have been fighting for the necessary documents for Joel to stay in the United States.
"Let's do it the right way. You've been paying into money for Social Security, you're not going to be having retirement," Samantha Colindres said.
Joel Colindres said problem is that he missed an immigration court date in 2004, when he was 20 years old and living in Texas.
"They had his address completely wrong. His first name was spelled with a K, his last name was wrong. He never even received the order to go the court," Samantha said.
Because of the order, Joel Colindres said he cannot apply for citizenship. Instead, he has been granted several stays of deportation, which is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement-approved order allowing him to remain in the country for one year.
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Last week, the most recent "stay" application was denied and Joel Colindres was told he has 30 days to leave the country.
“I broke down in tears. How can you do this!?" Samantha asked.
Dozens of people showed up for the protest Thursday morning, holding signs and chanting "Keep Joel him."
"It's overwhelming. I think now it's coming because we've been feeling the support through social media. So now, feeling it with actual people here, it's extremely overwhelming," Samantha said.
ICE said they are not going to take Colindres into custody at this time. Instead, they placed him on a GPS monitoring program.
ICE also said, "he was instructed to report back to ICE with an itinerary as proof he intends to comply with his removal order."
Until the time comes, the couple is working with attorney's to clear up the court date issue and keep her family together in the country.
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy has also been in touch with the family and is trying to help them.
“My office has been in close contact with Joel, Samantha, and their attorney, and we are actively working with ICE to pursue every option. As a father of two young kids, I can only imagine the pain Joel is going through right now at the thought of having to leave his 6-year-old son Preston and 2-year-old daughter Lila,” Murphy said in a statement. “The Trump administration once again is irresponsibly targeting families. I think we all agree that our limited law enforcement resources should instead go to deporting dangerous criminals.”
"We have to prepare for the worst, but no matter what, I am always going to love this country," said Colindres.
