Jairo Pitalasig’s shoulders carried a heavy load. He worked a full-time construction job while finishing his senior year at North High School, providing a crucial paycheck to his family as they sought asylum from Ecuador, and helped take care of his dad, who was in remission from cancer.
With all that he juggled, Jairo missed one routine court date. On Jan. 12, ICE detained him while he was at work. He is now in El Paso, Texas, scheduled to be deported.
Classmates, teachers, and family were shocked to hear of Pitalasig’s detention. A day later, social media posts sprang up demanding his release…