1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I’m asking you to do everything in your power to free Yaakub. On the morning of October 7, Yaakub “Jacob” Ira Vijandre, a Filipino-American DACA recipient who has maintained protected status for over twelve years, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside his home in Arlington, Texas. Yaakub is a respected member of the Dallas and Arlington community and a videographer who has consistently used his work to uplift others by documenting protests, community events, and advocacy efforts while amplifying marginalized voices. Immigration authorities moved to terminate Yaakub’s protected status after citing social media posts expressing pro-Palestinian views. During his immigration proceedings, an immigration judge denied his request for immigration relief after conflating Yaakub’s protected speech, religious expression, and journalism with support for terrorism. The posts referenced consist of condemnations of violence against Palestinians, calls for justice for political prisoners, and other forms of political speech that fall squarely within First Amendment protections. Despite extensive testimony from family members and community supporters highlighting his character and contributions, the immigration judge recently denied Yaakub’s request for immigration relief. This development makes continued oversight even more critical given the serious concerns that protected speech may have been improperly used to justify enforcement actions. Yaakub was initially detained at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas before being transferred to the Folkston ICE Processing Center in South Georgia, separating him from his community, loved ones, and legal support network. This relocation has made it significantly harder for his legal team to communicate with him and effectively advocate for his rights. Yaakub is currently represented by Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Lee & Godshall-Bennett LLP, the Muslim Legal Fund for America, and Project TAHA. His legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention and seeking his immediate release. If a DACA recipient with lawful protection can be detained based on political expression, it creates a chilling effect on immigrant and marginalized communities and raises serious constitutional concerns regarding freedom of speech and due process. In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge the Department of Homeland Security, Members of Congress, and Arlington City Council Members to take action to protect Yaakub’s rights. We ask that you: •Advocate for and facilitate Yaakub Vijandre’s immediate release while his legal case proceeds. For members of Arlington City Council, we are requesting a resolution in support of Yaakub's release. • Ensure DHS and ICE uphold constitutional protections, including the First and Fifth Amendments. • Seek transparency regarding the basis for his detention and whether protected speech was improperly used in enforcement actions. • Request or support review by the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division regarding the constitutional concerns raised in this case. • Affirm that civil rights and freedom of expression apply to all individuals regardless of immigration status or political belief. • Support legislative efforts to protect First Amendment rights from being used as grounds for immigration enforcement without evidence of criminal activity. • Support stronger due process protections in immigration proceedings and pathways to citizenship for DACA recipients. We urge your office to act swiftly to ensure constitutional protections are upheld and that Yaakub’s case receives the oversight it deserves. For additional information or clarification, please contact freeyaakub@gmail.com