"Bring Erasmo Home": Campaign to Release Berks County Grandfather from ICE Custody Gains Momentum

SUNDAY:

Join ALDEA for a peaceful vigil at the home of Erasmo Zavala Almanza, a Berks County grandfather, caregiver, and cooperating witness in a domestic violence homicide case who is currently detained by ICE.

From ALDEA: We are planning a vigil this Mother's Day (Sunday 5/10) at 4:00 PM at the home of Erasmo & Maria. This family lost their daughter to domestic violence in an incident where their infant granddaughter was also shot. Erasmo, the grandfather, is now detained. Erasmo's case will be argued in court this Wednesday.

Let us gather at the Zavala family home for a short time to honor their daughter, Selena, but also Maria who now cares for 1-year-old Selene. Everyone is welcome to bring their own mothers, or others who would be supportive of these women during this difficult ordeal.

Visit https://aldeapjc.org/ or follow @aldea_pjc on Instagram for emerging details on the vigil and important updates in the campaign to #BringErasmoHome.

UPDATE (5/5/26)

We have an important update in the fight to bring Erasmo home.

From the moment we learned that Erasmo had been detained, our legal team moved quickly to activate the protections the law provides. But once his case reached federal court, it became clear: something was wrong.

A federal judge stepped in.

The Court ordered the government to stop Erasmo’s deportation, recognizing serious concerns about how his case has been handled and the risk that he could be removed without the legal protections he is owed.

Erasmo was taken to the airport for deportation ....and then brought back.

And we kept fighting.

We asked the Court to require the government to explain under what legal authority they are detaining this man:
a grandfather,
a caregiver,
a grieving father,
and a cooperating survivor with a pending U visa.

Yesterday, the Court agreed that this case raises complex and serious legal issues that deserve careful consideration, and not rushed decisions that tear families apart.

The Court agreed: this case must be heard.

A hearing is now scheduled for May 13. We will be ready.

This is an important step forward, but Erasmo is still detained, and his family is still waiting for him to come home.

ORIGINAL POST (5/4/26)

Reading, PA — Aldea – The People’s Justice Center today launched the “Bring Erasmo Home” campaign, calling for the immediate release of Erasmo Zavala Almanza, a Berks County grandfather, caregiver, and cooperating witness in a domestic violence homicide case who is currently detained by ICE.

Erasmo, 50, has lived in Pennsylvania for years, working and supporting his family. In February 2025, his daughter, Selena, was killed in a domestic violence murder-suicide. His two-month-old granddaughter, Selene, was also shot and left in critical condition, surviving after months of intensive medical care.

In the aftermath, Erasmo helped law enforcement investigate the case and stepped in as a primary caregiver to his granddaughter, learning to manage her medical needs and providing daily care and financial support.

“My father is very attentive, kind, and loving. He makes sure we have what we need,” said his younger daughter, Stephanie. “My niece Selene sees him as her dad. She feels safe with him.”

The Berks County District Attorney’s Office certified Erasmo for a U visa, a federal protection for victims and witnesses who assist law enforcement. According to court filings, the District Attorney confirmed his office was “comforted by the fact that the grandparents stepped in to provide care for this child” after the deaths of her parents.

Despite this, ICE officers detained Erasmo on April 15, 2026, during a targeted stop as he left for work and attempted to deport him within days with no due process.

In federal court filings, his attorneys argue that “there can be no greater example of the undermining of the U visa statute than what has occurred here,” warning that the case could have a “chilling effect… on law enforcement cooperation” in Berks County.

“When victims and families come forward, they should not be punished for it,” said advocates with Aldea. “Detaining Erasmo undermines public safety and sends the wrong message to every survivor deciding whether to call the police.”
Erasmo remains detained at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center. His granddaughter — now one year old and still recovering from a gunshot wound — has lost one of her primary caregivers, while his family has lost its sole financial provider.

The campaign calls on federal officials to:
• Release Erasmo from detention
• Defer his deportation while his U visa is pending
• Follow laws designed to protect victims and cooperating witnesses

Community members and advocates are also urging elected officials to visit Erasmo in detention and review ICE enforcement practices affecting crime victims and survivors.

A Mother’s Day vigil and additional advocacy events are planned in Reading.

“Erasmo did everything right,” advocates said. “He should be home—with his family, and with the child who depends on him.”

To learn more about what to do about this visit our Act page.