Hello! Our Free Elder Now community continues to grow, news outlets are featuring Elder’s story and our website is developing. Read on to find out what’s been happening, as well as simple steps you can take to get Elder back to high school.

How Is Elder Doing?

Elder will be having visitors. Tomorrow, Louisiana-based members of our community will be visiting Elder again. On their last visit, our team members requested an orthodontist appointment for Elder, which has not yet happened. Also, Elder brought them cookies from his commissary, because that’s the kind of human we are all supporting. In the next few weeks, two of our Alabama-based clergy will travel to Winn to meet Elder in person for the first time. Finally, next month, two of our Pennsylvania-based members will be traveling down to visit Elder. We want this young man to know he is supported by people from all parts of the country.

Elder continues to work while detained at Winn, as a painter. He still makes $1.00 per day, which goes towards his commissary and phone calls. In case you forgot – phone calls are still 11 cents per minute. 

Here’s Elder’s most current Catch-22. This week, Elder received yet another biometric appointment for his Deferred Action Status. Having Deferred Action Status would mean Elder would have to be released from detention. This biometric appointment, which has already been postponed twice, is the final step before receiving Deferred Action Status. However, Elder can’t attend this appointment if he’s being detained. In addition, the appointment must be rescheduled (by Elder’s lawyer); if the appointment is missed, the case will be considered abandoned.

Did You Know?

Great news! Elder’s GoFundMe is up and running. ALL FUNDS will support Elder’s legal fees and commissary account (for phone calls and food). Any leftover funds will be used towards his education. Here’s the link to Elder’s GoFundMe. Thank you in advance for your compassion and generosity.

Elder’s case continues to be featured by media outlets. 

Last Thursday, Nick Valencia, independent journalist and former CNN journalist, interviewed members of Elder’s team, as well as ProPublica journalist, Mica Rosenberg, about Elder’s case. Watch the program here. Nick is a fantastic source for immigration news that is not currently being covered by other media sources. Follow Nick on all the socials: @nickvalencianews. 

On Monday, Univision broadcast a piece featuring Elder.

From a traffic violation to ICE arrest; young Elder Chavez fears deportation to Honduras

On Tuesday, Fox 54 News Huntsville aired this story about Elder.

Family of Albertville teen seek legal, financial help getting teen out of ICE detention

Don’t forget – sharing these stories with your community and on your social media is highly encouraged. The more awareness the public has about Elder’s case, the better.

FreeElder.net has new features, including the ability to automatically send an email to Elder’s elected officials in Alabama. Communicating with these officials is one of our most valuable tools. We continue to invite all, but especially Alabama residents, to join our community by communicating with these elected officials.

How long has Elder been detained? A simple click on the home page of FreeElder.net will now show the answer.

As of Wednesday, July 15, the total amount spent to detain Elder is $13,790.

This money comes from federal taxpayer-funded contracts. This is an excellent point to highlight in communications with elected officials.

Our Community In Action

Save the date! A joint event is being planned. Team Elder members from Alabama and Pennsylvania are in the midst of planning a joint letter-writing event/vigil for the evening of Wednesday, August 5. As soon as calendars are coordinated and spaces are reserved, details will be announced. Watch this space and our social media pages. 

Actions You Can Take Today

1. 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 an automated form.
2. Share Elder’s story with your community –  Getting the word out about Elder is an easy and effective way to support Elder and his family. The News and Update page on FreeElder.net has links to all of the media coverage about Elder.The more people hear about Elder and his case, the better. 
3. Follow our social media accounts. – Find us on FB: @freeeldernow, on IG: @freeeldernow, and on Tiktok: @freeeldernoww. Share with your community and on your accounts to help get the word out about Elder and to help Elder’s story rise in the algorithm.
4. 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.
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 above 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. And now, those pages can be uploaded to this website right here. 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.

We are so grateful for all of you that have joined the community to Free Elder Chavez Carranza.