Her Partner Was Detained. Now She and Their Baby Face Christmas Without Him: 'My Family is Broken' As the choir's solemn hymns echoed through St. Peter's Catholic Church in San Francisco's Mission District, the weight of the holiday season bore down on Alma Alvarado. This Christmas, she and her infant daughter would be celebrating without the man they loved most - her partner, Juan, who had been detained by immigration authorities. "My family is broken," Alma said, her voice quivering with emotion. "Juan should be here with us, celebrating our daughter's first Christmas. Instead, we're alone." Alma's story is one shared by countless immigrant families across the United States, as a steady drumbeat of detentions and deportations separates parents from children, spouses from one another. In the shadows of the country's heated political debates over immigration policy, these families grapple with the very real human toll - the loss of income, the fragmentation of households, the lasting trauma inflicted on the most vulnerable. For Alma, the nightmare began in early November, when Juan was pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Within hours, he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Alma was left to navigate the bewildering bureaucracy of the immigration system, unsure of when - or if - her partner would be released. "One minute, Juan was here with us, planning for the holidays. The next, he was gone," Alma recounted, her eyes brimming with tears. "I had to explain to our daughter why her dad wasn't coming home. How do you do that?" The separation has taken a significant emotional and financial toll on the family. As the primary breadwinner, Juan's detainment has left Alma struggling to make ends meet, relying on the support of community organizations and the generosity of friends and neighbors. "It's been so hard," Alma said. "I've had to figure out how to pay the rent, buy groceries, and care for our baby - all while worrying about Juan and wondering when he'll be back." Alma's plight is not unique. According to data from Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, the number of immigration-related arrests has surged in recent years, with ICE carrying out more than 150,000 detentions nationwide in the 2019 fiscal year alone. Many of those swept up in the crackdown are parents of young children, leaving families like Alma's to grapple with the fallout. "These are not just statistics - these are real people, with real lives and real families," said Maria Hernandez, a community organizer with the San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network (SFILEN). "When a parent is detained, it doesn't just impact them - it shatters the entire family unit." In the Mission District, community groups like SFILEN have stepped up to provide support and resources for families navigating the immigration system. From legal assistance to mental health services to holiday toy drives, these organizations offer a lifeline to those facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. "We know that the holiday season can be an especially difficult time for families who are separated," Hernandez said. "That's why we work to create spaces of community, solidarity, and healing - to let these families know that they're not alone." As the mass at St. Peter's drew to a close, Alma joined hands with other immigrant families, their voices joining in a sorrowful yet resolute rendition of "Silent Night." In that moment, the true meaning of the season - of family, of connection, of hope - seemed to shine through the darkness. "I keep telling myself that Juan will be home soon, that this is only temporary," Alma said, her gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight. "But the truth is, I don't know when he'll be back. All I know is that my daughter and I are missing him terribly, and that our family won't be whole again until he's here with us." With the new year on the horizon, Alma's focus remains firmly on the fight to bring her partner home. She is working closely with SFILEN and other advocacy groups to navigate the complex legal landscape, seeking any avenue to secure Juan's release and reunite their family. "I won't give up," Alma said, her voice tinged with determination. "Juan is everything to us, and we need him back. This is our fight, and we're going to keep pushing until he's home." As the community members filed out of the church, their faces illuminated by the glow of the Christmas tree, Alma knew that the road ahead would be long and arduous. But in the embrace of her fellow immigrants, she found a glimmer of solace - a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is power in coming together, in supporting one another, in the unbreakable bonds of family.