My brother, Arturo Brito, entered the United States from Venezuela and applied for asylum. He passed his “credible fear interview” and was granted parole, that allowed him to live legally in the U.S. while his asylum case moved forward.
The credible fear interview is when you explain to an immigration judge why you seek asylum, but I cannot go in depth because there’s a possibility of him being deported back to Venezuela. The deposed Venezuelan dictatorship was detaining, torturing and killing people just because of their political beliefs. And even though Maduro was removed, many of his allies remain in military and intelligence positions.
Since 2024, Arturo has complied with everything the US government has asked of him. He has no criminal record, maintains steady employment installing optic fiber for a company in New Albany, has followed all immigration rules, and has faithfully attended every required ICE check-in appointment. The above picture is with my mother and my other brother, Andres, and we all reside in Columbus. We are triplets and celebrating our 23rd birthday in March, but Arturo most likely will not be with us.
Arturo’s dream, his passion, is to become a pilot and he was just 10 flight hours away from finishing his degree in Venezuela when he had to leave. I have two jobs and I am attending nursing school.
At his most recent routine ICE check-in, he was unexpectedly detained at the ICE office in Westerville and is currently being held as an inmate at the Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio. As many are aware, conditions in this ICE-contracted detention facility are deplorable. Worse is his fear of being forced back to Venezuela.
Despite his full compliance and clean record, ICE reclassified his manner of entry in a way that removes his eligibility for bond, keeping him detained.
Recently, during his immigration court hearing, the judge reviewed his case and, although she determined that she did not have jurisdiction due to ICE’s classification, she left open the option of filing a habeas corpus petition. In doing so, she indicated that if granted, an alternative bond of no less than $25,000 could be set, making it clear that a federal judge does have the authority to correct this error and order his release.
Our attorneys have informed us that filing a federal habeas corpus petition is now our strongest and most urgent legal remedy. Habeas corpus challenges unlawful detention and gives a federal court the opportunity to intervene when ICE has exceeded its authority.
This is not just a legal fight, it is a fight for our family.
At the beginning, because this detention was so clearly unjust, our family believed this would be a quick process. We thought that once authorities reviewed his case and recognized that Arturo does not pose any risk to society, everything would move forward and be resolved fairly. Unfortunately, as time has passed, we no longer know what to think about the way immigration detentions are being handled.
As a family, we have been enduring an immense emotional toll throughout this ordeal. While detained, Arturo lives in constant fear of being transferred to another state, as has happened to many of his fellow immigrant detainees. Several have been moved by ICE from Ohio to states like Louisiana or Michigan, forcing them to restart their cases from zero due to a change in jurisdiction, resulting in many more days, and often months, of unjust detention.
Arturo has now been detained for two months. Every day, he sees people come and go, and he hears stories of others who have been held far longer than he has. This has deeply affected him psychologically, especially because he is not a criminal and had never imagined himself in such a situation.
For our mother, this has been devastating. Being able to hear her son’s voice for only a few minutes a day, knowing the fear and uncertainty he is living with, has been heartbreaking. She struggles to understand how he can be treated as “the worst of the worst” when he is a hardworking man with no criminal record.
As a family, we often feel powerless, as though there is little we can do to help him. Still, we hold on to hope. Hope that justice will prevail, and my brother will emerge from this ordeal victorious and reunited with those who love him.
In our efforts to secure his release, we have already spent a significant amount of money on legal representation, believing each step would finally lead to justice. Instead, new and overwhelming expenses continue to emerge, placing an enormous financial strain on our family. This is why we are now asking for help.
We are raising funds to cover:
• Federal legal fees to file the habeas corpus petition
• The bond company fee (a percentage of the bond)
• Immediate housing and medical support once he is released
Every day he remains detained is another day of uncertainty, fear, and separation from the people who love him. Any donation directly helps us challenge this detention and bring him home.
If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this information or keeping us in your prayers. We are deeply grateful for every act of support during this very difficult time.
