Elder has been hired to paint the cells with a small crew in the Ash building. Having a job gives Elder something to do, and he is paid $1 per day, which goes into his commissary.

Minimum wage in Louisiana, where Elder is currently detained, is $7.25 per hour.

Tuesday, June 30 was a full day for Elder, and not all was good.

He started with a visit from some of our Louisiana-based team. They were able to arrange a picnic visit with Elder, which can happen only once a month and must be arranged in advance with the facility. Food must be purchased from Brookshire’s in Winnfield, LA and only one detainee is allowed at the picnic. Elder had even asked our team if he could give this picnic to another detainee, since that man has not had any visitors in his time at Winn. How kind and thoughtful of Elder; in spite of his challenges, he is thinking of his fellow man.

One of our team members who was at the picnic visit reported this:

“Today I filled out a request for him (Elder) to see an orthodontist to check his braces. I hope that happens!”

Later in the day, the guards raided his cell, as well as that of other detainees and took away many of their personal items – hats, clothing, letters, and hygiene products. They took the boxes where the detainees keep their food (purchased from the commissary with their own personal funds) and turned them over on the floor. Elder was particularly upset as the guards took away a baseball hat given to him by Carlos Della Valle, his friend and mentor. 

Finally, at the end of the day, Elder was able to speak with members of our community participating in a postcard-writing event in Pennsylvania. Keep reading for more news of that event, and what Elder had to say.

Did You Know?

• Elder was 17 years old when he was detained in December, 2025. The vast majority of detainees are adults. In fact, his fellow detainees call Elder El Niño (The Kid). While detained, Elder has turned 18. Know what this young man wants? He yearns to be back home to meet his new nephew, to support his sister and her family, and to return to school. 

• As of June 30, 2026, Elder has been detained for six months.

• Elder was granted Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status in September 2025, during the second Trump Administration. The SIJ was created by the U.S. Congress “to provide humanitarian protection for abused, neglected, or abandoned alien children eligible for long-term foster care.” It entitles any juvenile to apply for a green card (permanent residency) in the U.S. 

We think it is important to highlight the fact that Elder was granted this status during the second Trump administration in any communications with elected officials.

Our Community In Action

Team Elder has been taking action this week.

In Washington DC: An Alabama-based Team Elder member was able to meet with staff members of Sen. Katie Britt, Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Mike Rogers (3rd District) while in Washington, DC last week. She actually ran into Sen. Tuberville on the street and he told her to stop by his office! In all three meetings, staff members were receptive to Elder’s case. Now is the time for everyone to contact those elected officials and let them know constituents and non-constituents think Elder should be released.

In Downingtown, PA: About 50 people came to Downingtown Tuesday evening, June 30, to write postcards about Moshannon, the ICE detention facility located in Clearfield County, PA! The group finished 500+ cards, and many people took stacks to write at home and with other groups: over 1000 cards in total will be sent to the Clearfield County commissioners.

The group also finished several coloring pages for Elder. Elder was able to call from the detention center and speak to everyone last night, sharing that the guards had just come into the cells, and for no reason, took away the mens’ “non-essential” belongings like clothing, letters (including the letters of encouragement our community members wrote to him!), and hygiene products. Elder was especially upset that they took a baseball cap that Carlos had given to him when he was released.

The guards then took their boxes where the men keep their commissary food, and threw them out onto the floor.

“Why did they do that? I’m not a dog.” Elder said.

Thank you so much to all of you who have been writing, sharing, speaking up, and doing everything you can to help our neighbors who are being terrorized by ICE. Messiah Lutheran in Downingtown, PA will host another postcard session later this summer and get another wave of cards out before the Moshannon contract is set to renew in September, and we will also get Elder out of ICE detention and back to school where he belongs!

Actions You Can Take Today

1. Follow our social media accounts. – Find us on IG: @freeeldernow and Tiktok: @freeeldernoww. Share with your community to help get the word out about Elder.
2. Vigil  – An Alabama-based vigil is being planned for next week, organized by Pastor Andy Yarnell of Mosaic UMC and Pastor Carol Gullatt of Abundant Grace UMC. As soon as details are finalized, they will be posted on our social media and here.
3. Write to Elder – Can you write a letter or send a card to Elder? Communications from supporters give detainees a huge emotional boost. Check out the attached flyer for specific details.
4. Write/Call Elder’s federal officials – While all communications help, Alabama residents are especially needed to communicate with their representatives in Congress. Click here for contact info and templates.
5. Elder’s Chair Coloring Pages – Before Elder was detained, he built a handsome chair in his school’s carpentry workshop (There’s a photo at the end of this update of Elder and his chair). We’ve created a coloring page of Elder’s Chair, which you can download here. Because Elder was a minor when he was detained, it is our hope that children will color and decorate the page in honor of Elder. In the coming weeks, we’ll provide information about uploading the pages. We’ll then pass them on to Elder’s federal representatives, so they can see the robust and diverse community supporting Elder. Please make sure only first names or initials appear on the finished pages.

Thank you for joining the community to Free Elder Chavez Carranza.