Senator Richard Blumenthal plans to contact the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of a New Fairfield father of two facing deportation to his native Guatemala. 

A rally was held yesterday in support of Joel Colindres, who is married to a U-S citizen.  His wife Samantha received approval in 2015 to sponsor her husband, but additional steps must be taken before he is able to adjust his status. 

Blumenthal says his heart breaks as Colindres fights another cold and callous attempt to break apart his family.  He says deporting Colindres would violate the spirit of Secretary Nielsen’s assurances to him in this week’s hearing that the Department's focus would be on criminals, not people like Joel who have paid taxes, contributed to communities, and lived here for decades, without any criminal record. 

Colindres got a last minute stay in August, but was told during a weekly meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 27th, that he must leave the country by the end of the month.  The 33-year old came to America in 2004, but a paperwork error prompted today's legal situation.