https://www.newsweek.com/ice-detains-green-card-holder-returning-visit-son-us-air-force-2087397
Avila was detained May 7 at San Francisco International Airport after returning from Japan. The 66-year-old has been a legal permanent resident since 1967, when he immigrated to the United States from Mexico. He was returning from the trip with his wife, who had not been detained.
According to a GoFundMe page, his wife, four children and six grandchildren are all U.S. citizens, including his son, who serves in the U.S. Air Force.
A longtime resident of San Diego, Avila has worked as a legal assistant at the workers' compensation law firm Kiwan & Chambers APC for over a decade. Colleagues from the firm organized the fundraiser.
Newsweek reached out to Avila's employer, Kiwan & Chambers APC, for comment via email on Wednesday.
Avila's daughter, Carina Mejia, told local outlet ABC 10 News that her father was pulled over in 2009 and arrested for a DUI and drug possession misdemeanor. He served his time and paid the fines for the misdemeanors. She said he has been able to renew his green card two times since that arrest.
In a Tuesday update, the organizers noted that Avila has been transferred to an ICE detention center outside of Bakersfield, California.