Update: This week, GoFundMe for the Souzas posted that Alex has been released to his family, and thanked “every single person who donated, shared this fundraiser, reached out with kind words, or kept this family in your prayers. Your generosity and compassion have been incredible to witness, and I know it has meant the world to Alex and his family during this difficult time.”
As previously reported, a well-regarded Acton resident was detained by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on July 7. The Souza family, including two teenage daughters, has called Acton home for 14 years. “My dream is to become a U.S. citizen,” Souza’s wife shared. When asked if they had anticipated encountering federal agents before the arrest, she replied, “We talked about it as a family. It’s scary, but we had to talk about it.”
The day of the arrest was especially frightening for the girls. They feared ICE would return and detain the rest of the family. Acton Police stepped up to provide reassurance, driving past the house multiple times that night and offering a direct line to call if needed. On the day we spoke to Souza, the Town had reached out again to check in. She said this support is making a significant difference.
The family has also received an outpouring of compassion from neighbors and the families of the girls’ classmates. Their Acton community, known for regular visits, cookouts, birthday parties, and helping one another with school rides and trips, has now rallied to deliver food, donate money for legal fees, and offer to mow the lawn. “The financial support is amazing,” Souza said, “but the gestures of kindness mean so much more. We are hugging and crying together. I’m in love with this community.”
The Souzas are connected with a large network of people through the schools, school athletics, their workplaces, and church. These “extended families” are expressing concern and working hard to support them through the challenge they face.
Neighbors say the Souzas are good people. Fellow congregants say the entire family is extremely generous with their time, volunteering regularly for events and ministry at church. Local legislators have reached out to support the family as well. State Senator Jamie Eldridge and State Representative Dan Sena both know the Souzas well and are assisting with bond release efforts.
A colleague at her husband’s construction company wrote a letter of reference, stating, “There is nobody at our company who works harder or carries more responsibility. I have watched him put in ten- and fifteen-hour days, year after year, building the field operations of all three of our companies from the ground up. I’ve seen him train employees, push them into management roles, and believe in people before they believed in themselves. His absence has devastated our team. Nobody can fully step into his role. Our operations are already taking a hit, and I am worried about how long it will take us to recover if he does not come back.”
Souza also reflected on the broader climate for immigrants across the country. “We bought this house. My husband built the second floor. He built a company with 200 employees. We thought this would be our forever home — in a safe community, in a country that I love, where my kids go to school and are getting a good education. Before Trump, you could think this way. You could think about the future. Now, we can’t make plans anymore. Every option is scary. To leave, or to stay and have a chance of this happening again. We thought we were doing everything right.”
The oldest daughter, an American citizen, graduated in May from ABRHS, and is heading to UMass Amherst this fall. She has joined the National Guard, and was supposed to attend training this summer. Her family had planned a graduation party that had to be cancelled because her dad couldn’t be there, and she has also had to postpone her training until after her first semester.
An educational forum on the current surge in federal immigration enforcement and the ways it is impacting the community has been organized by the Acton Boxborough Racial Justice Collaborative, Indivisible Acton Area, and LUCE. Find out more about the many ways you can support your neighbors on Sunday, July 19, 7:00 PM at Great Road Church, 257 Great Road, Acton.
Please see an article in this same issue of the Acton Exchange on the changing landscape of immigration enforcement.
Stella Ko is an Acton resident and long-time activist for DEI issues and immigrant rights.
Alissa Nicol chairs the Acton Select Board and writes for the Acton Exchange on Community issues.
