SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio family fighting to stay in the United States got plenty of support from their local parish Monday night. The Randeniya family is facing possible deportation back to Sri Lanka after living in the U.S. for 10 years while attempting to become citizens.
Roughly 100 parishioners gathered at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church for a rally to support the family members’ efforts to free Saman Randeniya from an immigration detention facility in Pearsall.
The parishioners held signs and chanted, "Let them stay" as the family shared their story.
"At first I didn't expect anyone was going to show up but all this chanting and all this support just makes me smile," said Kevin Randeniya, a 15-year-old sophomore at John Marshall High School.
Until Monday night there hasn't been much for Kevin to smile about.
On Dec. 1, his father, Saman was detained while checking in with immigration officials. Kevin's mother and siblings have been warned they could also be detained if they don't leave the U.S. by Jan. 7.
The family could be deported to their home country Sri Lanka, a country the youngest children don't even know.
"I know that we're not going to be able thrive there, it's just going to be impossible," Kevin Randeniya said. "I'm an American. I'm an American kid just like any other here. You can't tell me apart, if you put me in a line there's no way you can pick me apart."
The family has been in the U.S. on travel visas since 2005. They've held jobs, paid taxes and attended public schools all while trying to become citizens.
"My parents risked everything to come here. They've given up everything," said Savi Randeniya, an 18-year-old student at Northwest Vista College. "They've sacrificed so much, so much blood sweat and tears just to let us live through them and it would destroy them for everything to be in vain."
The Randeniya family isn't just getting support from their parish. In just a few days more than 1,500 people have signed a petition asking immigration officials to release Saman from detention.
"We're hoping it makes an impact," said Mohammad Abdollahi and advocacy director for RAICES. "We're hoping that immigration made the wrong decision and are willing to this holiday season acknowledge they made the wrong decision. This family deserves to be together."
The family is now praying for a Christmas miracle so they can continue their American dream.
"Christmas is a time of giving and what this is is a time of taking. That's all they're doing, they're taking a family away, splitting us apart and sending us away," said Kevin.
The family is asking others to support them by signing the petition and contacting Rep. Joaquin Castro's office.