A Family in Need

A family in our community is in dire need of help.

A few days ago, I sat down for a conversation with Mrs. Alvarez at the Alvarez Authentic Latin Food restaurant. For the most part, she reiterated the story reported by ABC Action News (HERE) and the Tampa Bay Times (HERE) but what these articles couldn't tell the reader was the pain, and fear, and the desperation I heard in her voice. A loving migrant family, who has been productively living in the United States for 20 years, who has never asked for or received any public assistance in any form, who has never broken even a minor law, has been torn apart by I.C.E. When Mr. Wilfredo Alvarez, owner of a successful restaurant, reported to the I.C.E. office here in Tampa for his yearly extension of the humanitarian deportation waver he was granted 13 years ago. he was detained by I.C.E, given 30 seconds to record a goodbye message to his family, then sent to Miami for deportation. Mr. Alvarez is now in Honduras, facing constant harm or death. Mrs. Alvarez told me that poverty is so bad there that the residents assume that anyone who has been deported back from the United States has money, making them a target of the gangs there. Mr. Alvarez stays in hiding.

Meanwhile, his wife, Veronica and their children Lindsay, 15; Dariel, 2; Dariannellys, 3; Sheila, 16; and Sheilind, 14, remain here in Tampa, struggling to maintain the family business and pursuing the costly process of trying to reinstate Mr. Alvarez' legal status in this country so that he can return to his family. Since Mr. Alvarez was deported, the revenue from the business has dropped from $5,000 per month to $2,000 per month. They are in fear of losing the business and they need the help of the community.

From left are Lindsay, 15; Dariel, 2; Dariannellys, 3; Sheila, 16; Sheilind, 14; cousin Kelsey Alvarez, 15; and mother Veronica. [JUAN CARLOS CHAVEZ / TAMPA BAY TIMES | Times]

The location of the restaurant is:

Alvarez Authentic Latin Food
12227 N Florida Ave
Tampa, FL

Stop by. Enjoy a delicious, authentic latin meal and show your love and support. You may decide, as I have, to make this restaurant a regular dining spot.