Free Tomas Orellana – A Beloved Great Neck Community Member

"Where’s Daddy?" That’s the question Tomas Orellana’s 6-year-old asks every night. His father isn’t at home to tuck him in, read him a story, or tell him everything will be okay. Instead, Tomas—a loving husband and father of eight children—is sitting in an ICE detention center, torn away from the family he has spent decades building and protecting.

Tomas has lived in Great Neck, New York, for over 25 years. He has Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which means he has been legally allowed to live and work in the United States. And he has done exactly that—working tirelessly as a landscaper, taking odd jobs like painting, moving furniture, and driving neighbors when they needed help. For years, prior to its closing, he worked at the Great Neck Coffee Shop, greeting commuters with a smile. 

Tomas is the kind of person who never says “no” when someone needs a hand. He has been a contributing member of the Great Neck community for decades—helping neighbors, supporting local businesses, and raising his family here.

Now, his family is shattered. His wife is struggling to keep the household together. His eight children are missing their dad’s love and guidance.

“I just want my husband back,” his wife says. “He’s a good man. He works hard. He loves his children. Every day without him feels like we’re falling apart.”

Tomas is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, and we need to show strong community support before then. 

This is not justice. This is cruelty. 

Every day Tomas spends in detention is another day his children suffer. We are asking ICE and the courts to do the right thing: release Tomas from immigration detention while his case is pending—through bond, parole, or any lawful means—so he can return to his family and community.

Please, stand with us. Sign this petition. Share it widely. Help us bring Tomas home.

👉 Sign the petition now
👉 Donate to support his legal fight: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-free-tomas-orellena-from-ice-detention