Photo Courtesy: Keyla Contador | Juan Mejia Contador plays a guitar while singing with children.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) detained Juan Contador on Aug. 15 in Harlingen while he was traveling to work in La Feria.
Contador has lived in the U.S. for more than 27 years and has no criminal record, according to his daughter Keyla Contador. He remains at the Port Isabel Detention Center, where he is fighting his immigration case with legal representation.
His son Jacob Contador is a senior music education student at UTRGV and serves as the musical director of the family’s mariachi group. Jacob said his father’s detention has affected the entire family, especially his siblings who arepursuing their education.
“My father’s case is unique, but in a way, it also represents all of the working class fathers and mothers that are currently also being targeted by this administration’s current enforcement policy,”
Jacob Contador said.
He added his father has worked as a plumber for more than 13 years and has helped community members who could not afford repairs.
Juan Contador also founded Mariachi Contador, a Christian mariachi group that combines music and faith to serve communities across the Rio Grande Valley.
Keyla is also a member of Mariachi Contador and said her father’s dedication to helping others is one reason the family continues to advocate for his release.
“We understand that the law is the law, but we also do believe that justice, mercy and compassion can coexist together,”
Kayla Contador said.
She said the family has contacted the offices of U.S. Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Monica De La Cruz seeking assistance with the case.
According to Keyla, the response from Gonzalez’s office has been slow because of the influx of people detained.
She added that a member of De La Cruz’s office told her because an inquiry was already made by another representative, there was nothing the congresswoman could do.
The family also created an online petition and a GoFundMe to help cover legal expenses.
Vaquero Radio contacted the offices of Gonzalez and De La Cruz to request interviews but did not receive a response as of the airing of this broadcast. Contador’s next immigration hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26. A judge is expected to consider whether he qualifies to remain in the U.S.
This is Emilio Suarez for Vaquero Radio.
