(background) I am a plumber. Part of my job is to fix the broken stuff under the slab/foundation of your home. One way to access it is to locate the area above ground, break concrete and access the plumbing from above. Another way is to tunnel from the edge of the foundation, however far, to the trouble area and repair it.

The shop I'm at is really small so we don't have a dedicated dig crew, we sub that part of the job out to someone else. The someone else I am referring to is originally from Ciudad Juarez but has paperwork that allows him to work in the US.

Whenever we call him, the crews he brings out are all from Mexico- none of them speak English, and the guys always last a couple weeks before they end up being replaced. I understand they are all here illegally and I don't give a fuck. I've never had an issue personal or professional with a single one of the likely hundred guys I've worked with.

That brings me to a guy named Mateo. I've needed semi long term help at a ranch running underground gas lines so he has been coming with me to help. He drives to the shop and we ride out in my service truck.

I've gotten to know Mateo over the last couple weeks. He is a honest, good hearted person. He has a wife whom I have met too, her name is Claudia. Her immigration status is the same as his, fuzzy.

This past Saturday Mateo, and Claudia were pulled over while driving for not signaling at a turn. Personally I think it was because he is Mestizo and much darker skinned than average Hispanic. You can kinda tell they're from deeper into Mexico sorta because of that.

Mateo, and his wife were arrested and are both being held on an immigration detainer. They will give up their house, their truck, their dog, and everything else, and be unceremoniously shipped across the border. I do not care that Mateo did not follow the laws of the land. I do care that he likely will not be back.

I'm so fucking upset by this.