A UK-born father has been separated from his American wife and three-year-old twin sons after being detained by immigration authorities during his Green Card interview. Connor Read, 29, originally from Chatham, Kent, has resided in Florida for over 20 years, surpassing his time in the UK. Immigration agents apprehended him on June 3 due to insufficient authorization to stay in the US and an existing removal order.
His family is urgently working to prevent his deportation from the country where he has built his life. Connor is part of the 51,000 undocumented migrants held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, the highest figure since September 2019.
Connor and his wife, Jaelin, were in the process of obtaining a Green Card when he was detained during their interview. Despite having initiated the process by filing an I-130 petition enabling him to apply for permanent residency, ICE officials enforced the removal order, separating him from his family. Connor was initially taken to Pinellas County Jail before being transferred to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center on June 12.
Jaelin recounted the moment her husband was taken away, expressing her emotional turmoil and distress at the sudden separation. Despite Connor’s detention, his I-130 petition was unexpectedly approved on the same day, offering a chance to appeal before a judge to halt his deportation and proceed with the Green Card application, which incurs a $4,000 (£2,981) fee to reopen the case.
The family is racing against time to challenge ICE and prevent Connor’s deportation to the UK. Connor’s mother, Claire Anders, revealed that their Green Card application process was marred by a fraudulent attorney, leading to a delayed realization of errors in their submission and the subsequent removal order.
Jaelin expressed her willingness to relocate to Britain with their children if Connor is deported, emphasizing the emotional toll on their family. The community has rallied support through a GoFundMe campaign, raising a significant portion of the target goal. The British Consulate in Miami and local officials are actively engaged in supporting the family during this challenging time.