The family of a Forsyth County woman who has lived in this country 20-plus years, albeit illegally, who was arrested in April by ICE agents in the nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants, has gone public with their fight for her release. At the time, they say Jessica Chavarria was in the process of seeking a visa.
Relatives say Chavarria came to the U.S. in 2003 from Honduras seeking “safety and a better future,” but now she’s fighting to stay in the only place she calls home. Her illegal status, they say, is the result of a change of address for the family not long after they moved her, causing her to miss a mailed court date. After that, she was placed on a deportation list.
The family has established roots in Forsyth County, telling the Forsyth County News Chavarria has her own business and the family lives in their own home in north Forsyth.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe account has been established to help raise fund for legal expenses associated with the fight to gain Chavarria’s release: Fundraiser by Guillermo Chavarria : Freedom for Jessica: Support Her Immigration Fight
As of 10:00 Thursday morning, 89% or $6,211 of the $7,000 goal had been raised. There had been 64 donations.