Pastor Espinal is Back Home

EASTON, Md. — Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal was granted bond by an immigration judge in Louisiana last Tuesday and reunited with his family by Friday, after being detained for an extended period. The pastor, who has lived in the U.S. on a work visa since 2001, was attempting to secure a green card when he was detained.

In a video shared by family friend Len Foxwell on Facebook, Espinal expressed his gratitude: “Hi, everyone. My name is Daniel Fuentes Espinal. I am the pastor from Eastern Nazarene Church. I want to give thanks to all the community for the support you give me to run this process.”

Foxwell said a service was held Sunday to celebrate Espinal’s return, but emphasized that the process was far from over. “The next step is really just going through a series of administrative, rather than legal, steps to resolve his immigration status and obtain permanent residency,” Foxwell explained.

The road to securing permanent residency is often complicated, lengthy, and costly. Foxwell described the immigration system as “broken,” citing the administrative delays and financial burdens involved.

Espinal is currently not facing deportation but is committed to completing the immigration process, which Foxwell called “the end of the beginning.”

Foxwell shared that Espinal’s family, friends, and church are all happy to have him back home.