The fundraiser, started by Milton Ortiz, seeks $40K to help secure the release of his wife, Dolores, who he said was taken into custody by ICE
A Santa Monica family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for legal fees after a woman was detained by federal immigration agents last month in an incident that has drawn concern from city officials.
The fundraiser, started by Milton Ortiz, seeks $40,000 to help secure the release of his wife, Dolores, who he said was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sept. 17 outside Gilbert’s El Indio restaurant on Pico Boulevard. As of Thursday, the campaign had raised $3,646 from more than two dozen donors.
“We were having breakfast and as we were leaving, ICE pulled up and had us blocked,” Ortiz wrote on the fundraising page. “Dolores is a great mother that helps our kids with homework. She’s been in the USA for more than 20 years and has a clean record. We want her back.”
Ortiz said his wife has played a central role in their family’s life, helping their son — a Venice High School senior who hopes to attend Stanford University — prepare for college.
The reported detention occurred the same morning that Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete said multiple individuals were taken into custody by ICE agents at the nearby Santa Monica Car Wash, also next to Gilbert’s. The mayor called the incident “heartbreaking” and urged residents to stay informed about their legal rights.
City officials said they are working to confirm details of the operation and to connect affected families with legal and social services.
The campaign can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/reunite-dolores-with-her-loved-ones/igs/s?attribution_id=sl:440cba43-f2c5-494f-864e-12e1e3a4bdca&lang=en_US&ts=1760909899&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp17_td&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=instagram_story.
