I am writing to share my experience with Progressive Portland, in response to a recent letter to the editor by Simon Thompson, calling on candidates for local office to “condemn” the group.

On April 12, my husband, Otto Morales, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on his way to work. Otto came to the United States as a minor fleeing violence in Guatemala. Since then, he’s done nothing but work hard, pay taxes and build a family. But under the new administration, he was detained and deported to Guatemala. Already, the legal costs are piling up, and I don’t know when I’ll see my husband again.

In the midst of my personal and ongoing distress, Progressive Portland reached out to me. They asked if there was anything that could be done to help. I told them I was facing tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills, and they immediately jumped to action.

So far, over $15,000 has come into the GoFundMe page to support our legal and travel costs. This has allowed me to hire lawyers and visit Otto in Guatemala. I’m not wealthy. I don’t have political connections. None of this could have happened without Progressive Portland.

Progressive Portland stepped up and came to my aid when they did not have to, and I am very grateful that they did. And when Mr. Thompson says he thinks the group should be condemned, I’d ask him to consider families like mine that have been helped so much by their work.

Sandra Merlim

Naples