ICE Detains Father in Washington State as Pregnant Wife Appeals for His Return Home

Guilherme Lemes Cardoso E Silva, an expectant father detained by ICE in Washington state, faces uncertain circumstances just months before the arrival of his child. Silva, a 35-year-old visual artist from Brazil, was apprehended on a private road while en route to pick up his daughter in Friday Harbor. This incident occurred on a Friday morning and involved multiple unmarked ICE vehicles and masked agents.

Silva, who shares a love story that began in 2023 at a Flaming Lips concert, married Rachel Leidig in April. Together, they were looking forward to welcoming a baby boy in October. Silva planned to relocate to Sausalito, California, at the end of the month to be with Leidig.

Leidig described him as “loving, warm, and kind,” emphasizing his positive character. Leidig reports that Silva has no criminal record and was actively working with an immigration attorney to legalize his residency status when he was detained. Additionally, he was in the process of renewing his work permit.

Following his detention, Leidig submitted a petition for Silva through the I-130 form, aiming to expedite the legal process. She highlighted the rough treatment he received from ICE agents during his arrest, who allegedly did not provide a warrant and confiscated his phone while making jokes about the situation. After spending 38 hours in a detention facility with subpar conditions, Silva’s health deteriorated due to food he was given.

He was also interrogated about tattoos and gang affiliations, which he firmly denied. As of now, Silva is held at a detention center in Tacoma, with a court hearing scheduled for the end of the month. Leidig remains hopeful for his release so he can be present for the birth of their child.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe campaign established by a friend has already raised over $56,000 to support Silva’s family and cover legal expenses. Leidig expressed her desire for Silva to use his background in law to assist others facing similar challenges after his release. “He wants to make this a bigger purpose of helping other people,” she explained.