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Dad awaiting deportation, metro Detroit family spends holiday without him

Posted at 10:56 PM, Nov 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-24 10:19:44-05

Thanksgiving means something different for everyone. It seems for many, it’s all about being with loved ones.

A Madison Heights family is missing someone from around their Thanksgiving table, because he is now an Iraqi detainee.

The 52-year-old spent more than 20 years in America. He worked and raised his family in this country. However, one day in June, he was taken into custody by ICE.

On this holiday he sits in an Ohio jail. He waiting to see if he’ll be deported to Iraq.

The family, like others in metro Detroit, are spending their first major holiday without a member of their family, because they have been detained.

Celebrating is nearly impossible when their hearts are filled with loneliness and fear.

 “It’s probably the hardest thing i’ve had to deal with in my whole life”, says daughter, Ashourina Slewo.

Her sister, feels the same way. 

“This is the time it hits you the hardest, this is it”, says Ashley Slewo

This Slewo family is holding out hope and praying that their father will be home for Christmas.