1,000 signatures reached
To: Governor Abbot, Ken Paxton, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
#SavingNelson
Dear People in Power,
This is a TRUE story about about a boy N.A.G.A aka Nelson, now an 8 year old boy. He was trafficked into the United States as an infant by a man named Royme Enrique Gonzales. Nelson’s mother, Sinodia Emerita Arana Carillo (also known as Monica Arana), was a prostitute who gave Nelson to the trafficker as a newborn so that the trafficker could “put him to work.” Despite the fact that Nelson has been found by the United States to be a victim of human trafficking, members of the Department of Family and Protective Services, officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Guatemalan Consulate, and Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon of the 305th District Court in Dallas County, Texas, coordinated to engage in a backdoor deportation of Nelson on August 21, 2024 to send him back to the very people who trafficked and abused him.
This is a TRUE story about about a boy N.A.G.A aka Nelson, now an 8 year old boy. He was trafficked into the United States as an infant by a man named Royme Enrique Gonzales. Nelson’s mother, Sinodia Emerita Arana Carillo (also known as Monica Arana), was a prostitute who gave Nelson to the trafficker as a newborn so that the trafficker could “put him to work.” Despite the fact that Nelson has been found by the United States to be a victim of human trafficking, members of the Department of Family and Protective Services, officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Guatemalan Consulate, and Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon of the 305th District Court in Dallas County, Texas, coordinated to engage in a backdoor deportation of Nelson on August 21, 2024 to send him back to the very people who trafficked and abused him.
To give some backstory, in May of 2020, Nelson was found trapped in Royme Enrique Gonzales’ car in Garland, Texas. Royme, who had trafficked Nelson into the state as an infant, was incoherently drunk and had vomited on Nelson. Nelson was malnourished with signs of physical and sexual abuse. At the time, Nelson didn’t even know his own name and only responded to being called “niño”. The trafficker falsely claimed to be Nelson’s father, which was later proved to be false by DNA testing. The trafficker was charged and convicted of Felony Child Endangerment and Attempted Forgery of Government Documents and later deported from the United States.
After being placed in a foster home with Ben and Michelle Doerr, Nelson was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder due to his mistreatment by the trafficker. Nelson has acted out being beaten by the trafficker and has had years of night terrors due to the abuse suffered at his hands.
In April of 2022, Judge Andrea Martin in the 304th District Court in Dallas County, Texas, signed an order giving custody of Nelson back to the man who trafficked and abused him. Judge Martin ordered the Department of Family and Protective Services to drop off Nelson at the Guatemalan Consulate to be put on a plane and sent back to his abuser.
Despite fearing for their own safety, Ben and Michelle have spent the last four years fighting for Nelson’s rights to be safe from the man who trafficked him and abused him. They have given up countless hours and sought out every available resource to try and keep Nelson safe. They have worked with family law attorneys, immigration attorneys, therapists, and officials at all levels of the government to try and protect Nelson and help him to heal from the abuse he has suffered.
Since Nelson was trafficked into the United States, the Office on Trafficking in Persons of the Department of Health and Human Services has determined that Nelson is a victim of a “severe form of trafficking in persons.” The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, under the Department of Homeland Security, has also found Nelson to be a victim of a severe form of human trafficking and has granted him a T-Visa. Nelson currently has an asylum application pending as well. Despite this, Nelson was put on a plane and sent back to Guatemala to be put back into the hands of the man who trafficked and abused him. There are currently multiple cases pending at the District Court level and the Appellate Court level as we fight to save Nelson from further abuse.
We, the undersigned, urgently call upon you to address a grave injustice and act swiftly to rectify a severe error that has put Nelson at risk. He is an 8-year-old boy who was a victim of severe human trafficking, has been wrongfully deported back to Guatemala, where he is now at imminent risk of being returned to his abusers.
We, the undersigned, urgently call upon you to address a grave injustice and act swiftly to rectify a severe error that has put Nelson at risk. He is an 8-year-old boy who was a victim of severe human trafficking, has been wrongfully deported back to Guatemala, where he is now at imminent risk of being returned to his abusers.
Nelson’s case is a stark example of systemic failure. Despite clear evidence of his victimization, including recognition by the Office on Trafficking in Persons and the Department of Homeland Security, and the ongoing legal proceedings designed to protect him, he was deported to the very individuals who trafficked and abused him. This action directly contravenes the protective measures legally and ethically required for victims of trafficking.
We ask for the following immediate actions:
- Immediate Repatriation: Facilitate the immediate return of N.A.G.A aka Nelson to the United States, ensuring his safety and well-being are prioritized.
- Investigation and Accountability: Conduct a thorough investigation into the actions and decisions of all involved parties, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Guatemalan Consulate, and the judicial officials responsible for this grave oversight. Accountability must be ensured to prevent such failures in the future.
- Legal and Protective Measures: Reassess and reinforce legal protections for trafficking victims within the U.S., ensuring that similar cases are handled with the utmost care and adherence to the law.
- Support for Nelson: Provide necessary support and services to ensure Nelson receives the trauma-informed care he needs to heal from his past abuse and to integrate safely into a supportive environment upon his return.
The mistreatment and further endangerment of Nelson Gonzalez Arana is unacceptable. We urge you to take immediate and decisive action to correct this injustice and ensure that he is protected and supported as he deserves.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.
Why is this important?
This message is crucial because it highlights a severe injustice and failure within our legal and social systems, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of a vulnerable child. N.A.G.A aka Nelson, who has already endured unimaginable abuse and trauma, was wrongly sent back to the very people who trafficked and exploited him, despite clear evidence of his victimization and the protections to which he is legally entitled.
The message underscores the critical need for accountability and reform in handling cases of child trafficking and abuse. It brings to light the failures of various authorities, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, law enforcement, and the judiciary, in safeguarding Nelson's rights and ensuring his protection. Nelson's story is a poignant reminder of the real-world consequences of bureaucratic negligence and legal missteps, and it calls for immediate action to rectify these injustices and secure a safe future for him.
By sharing Nelson’s plight, we draw attention to the broader issues of human trafficking and the importance of upholding the rights of survivors. It advocates for systemic changes to prevent such egregious failures from recurring and reinforces the need for a compassionate, informed approach to child welfare and human trafficking cases. Nelson deserves not only our attention but our action to ensure that he is safe, loved, and given the opportunity to heal from his past trauma.
#savingnelson
The message underscores the critical need for accountability and reform in handling cases of child trafficking and abuse. It brings to light the failures of various authorities, including the Department of Family and Protective Services, law enforcement, and the judiciary, in safeguarding Nelson's rights and ensuring his protection. Nelson's story is a poignant reminder of the real-world consequences of bureaucratic negligence and legal missteps, and it calls for immediate action to rectify these injustices and secure a safe future for him.
By sharing Nelson’s plight, we draw attention to the broader issues of human trafficking and the importance of upholding the rights of survivors. It advocates for systemic changes to prevent such egregious failures from recurring and reinforces the need for a compassionate, informed approach to child welfare and human trafficking cases. Nelson deserves not only our attention but our action to ensure that he is safe, loved, and given the opportunity to heal from his past trauma.
#savingnelson
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