More than two weeks after Isaac Gallegos was arrested in Charlotte and subsequently transferred to the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, family, friends, and teachers are redoubling their efforts to bring the 19-year-old home.
Gallegos was arrested on October 7 during an appointment that, according to his family, was a routine procedure related to his asylum application.
On Saturday, October 24, his loved ones participated in a community gathering at Pleasant Green United Methodist Church in Durham, where the community expressed support during this time of grief.
César Ríos, Isaac's father, told Enlace Latino NC who maintain telephone communication with him three or four times a day and who convey to him the expressions of solidarity they receive since his arrest.
“We let him know, we told him about all the movement that has been made through his teachers, through people who love him, who know him and know his integrity and the kind of young man he is,” Ríos said.
For the father, the support of the community has been a source of comfort during his separation from his son.
“We feel honored, we feel grateful to God, to the community for the support shown to Isaac. Thank you so much, thank you all,” he said.
“A young man who unites his community”
Xavier Adams, who was Isaac's teacher in 2022, highlighted Enlace Latino NC The young man's values and his commitment to the community were highlighted. To illustrate this, he recalled how he welcomed a new classmate who was looking to make friends.
“He invited me to his birthday party, and another new student, hearing that he wanted to make friends, asked me to come. Isaac said it was okay,” Adams recounted.
The teacher recalled the hospitality with which the family received them and noted that the experience reflected Isaac's interest in bringing people closer together.
“The family welcomed us with great hospitality. And this story, like his, is about a young man who wants to unite people and create community,” he said.
He also highlighted Isaac's generosity, his faith, and his ability to recognize the humanity of others.
“The message is that we hope people can also recognize Isaac’s humanity. He is very important to our community, and we want him to come back,” he said.
Related: Durham mobilizes for the release of Isaac Gallegos, the 19-year-old detained by ICE
“I’m going to give him a big hug.”
For 16-year-old Kyli Saucedo Gallegos, Isaac is the cousin with whom she could share things she didn't dare tell anyone else. In an interview with Enlace Latino NC The teenager emotionally expressed how much it means to her and her family.
“When I went to her house and we talked, I could tell her everything I felt. Because I couldn’t tell anyone else,” she recalled.
Kyli said her mother informed her of the arrest when she returned from school.
At first he thought Isaac would return that same night, but then he realized the situation was more serious and that his cousin would remain in custody.
When asked what message she would like to send him, she expressed her affection and wished she had shared it sooner: “I would tell him that I love him.” She then added, “He means a lot to me and my family.”
While waiting for his return, Kyli knows exactly how she wants to greet him. Although she didn't usually hug her cousin, this time she wants to: "I'm going to give him a really big hug."
Solidarity with other students
Alejandro Campos, who was Isaac's teacher, expressed to Enlace Latino NC the pain caused by the arrest of his former student.
She clarified that she was sharing her testimony in a personal capacity and noted that knowing the young man closely makes receiving the news especially difficult.
“What hurts me most is that this is happening right here, so close to home. I mean, Isaac was my student,” he said. “It hurts. It hurts a lot,” he added.
Campos recalled Isaac's willingness to include other students in school activities.
He recounted that, on one occasion, he invited a classmate to play sports with him, a gesture that left the student with a smile for the rest of the day.
For the teacher, these actions reflect Isaac's human qualities and the mark he left on those who shared time with him at school.
"What he does, what he did, what he is as a person. Fantastic," he said.
The support from his friends reaches all the way to Georgia
Bryan Moreno, Isaac's friend for 4 years, mentioned that Isaac taught him to be a better person, to transmit love and to be positive.
“I remember that every time we were going to play soccer and afterwards we decided where to go to eat, the first thing he would do was call his parents to ask them if they wanted anything,” he said.
“Those gestures never went unnoticed in our group of friends, because he treated us with the same affection with which he treated his parents and his family,” he said.
Furthermore, Bryan described Isaac not only as a friend, but as a brother.
“He looked out for me and my friends during difficult times, and we wanted to do the same for him,” she said.
Bryan also mentioned that he traveled with other young people to Georgia to visit him in the detention center.
“We talked about his team, about a goal we scored and how we celebrated it for him. We were also able to tell him how his teammates and coaches have come out to support him.”
In addition, the young man mentioned that they told Isaac how the community has come together to support him and let him know that he can count on them.
“In fact, he asked me to share a message with you. He said he is very grateful and appreciates each and every one of you for helping him,” she said.
A friendship, a family
For Melanie Morris, who has grown up alongside Isaac Gallegos, the young man is more than a friend.
“He is part of our family,” he said, recalling his generosity and the joy with which he shared his achievements, like the day he came to their house to show them his car.
Morris recounted that it has been painful to witness the family's suffering and to receive a call from Isaac while he was in custody.
He asked people to keep hope alive, to support him, and to remember the human being behind the case.
“We must continue to pray for him, support him, and remind him that he is not alone,” he said.
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Actions to support Isaac
As part of the efforts to secure Isaac's release, his family created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal expenses and essential household needs.
Furthermore, Change.org A petition is being promoted requesting the immediate release of the young man.
During Saturday's meeting, attendees also joined in writing and signing letters of support to present to the judge who will hear their case.
Xavier Adams explained to Enlace Latino NC which seek to show Isaac's ties to the community and highlight his character and leadership.
“We have the letters to send to the judge who will hear Isaac’s case and to show that there is a community around Isaac, that he should be here,” Adams said.
“He is not just a member, but a leader in several communities in this area of Chapel Hill, Hillsboro, and Durham, and that is why we are writing and signing these letters,” he added.
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