Community and Elected Officials Rally to Demand TRP Family Member’s Release from ICE Detention
Yesterday, TRP, community members, and local elected officials came together in Pilsen to demand the immediate release of Sergio Serna Ramírez, a beloved husband, stepfather, and small business owner who is currently detained by ICE.
At the press conference, leaders, and neighbors stood shoulder to shoulder with Sergio’s wife, Kristina, and her mother Dalia, a TRP community navigator, to call on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Detroit ICE Field Office to grant Sergio humanitarian parole so he can return home to finish his case by his family’s side.
Community members at yesterday’s gathering made it clear: Sergio’s unjust detention is not just an immigrant issue — it is a moral, democratic, and human rights crisis. Families are being torn apart, communities are living in fear, and our democracy is under attack. We must stand united to demand Sergio’s release and an end to the cruel and inhumane policies harming immigrant families and all of us across the country.
"Sergio has been ripped away from his family and community for nearly three months despite having multiple pathways to legal status. When one person like Sergio is taken away from their community, all of us are less safe."
— Tovia Siegel, Director of Organizing, The Resurrection Project
Special thanks to Alderman Byron Sigcho López, Commissioner Alma Anaya, State Representative Theresa Mah, and ACLU of Illinois for standing with immigrant families and TRP in the fight for justice.
In May, Sergio and Kristina were traveling for work in Michigan when a wrong turn brought them to a bridge toward Canada. Both were detained at the border — Kristina, despite being a U.S. citizen, was released after several days, while Sergio remains in detention.
For the past 20 years, Sergio has built a life here; 12 of them with Kristina and her four children. Together, they own a construction business, attend church, and dedicate their time to helping others in their community. Sergio has also had a U Visa application pending for seven years and already has a work permit and Social Security number. He is eligible for both a U Visa and permanent residency through his wife.
“We have followed every law; we have jumped through every hoop and now our lives are being derailed because we took one wrong turn. My best friend, my loving husband... is now a victim of the same kind of tragedy that is impacting many families like ours across the country.”
— Kristina, Sergio’s wife
We are urging DHS and ICE to act immediately to grant Sergio humanitarian parole and reunite him with his family.
✍️ Take Action: Add your name to the petition demanding Sergio’s release and stand in solidarity with Kristina, her children, and immigrant families across Illinois who deserve to stay together.
Check out the coverage from yesterday’s press conference:
