The 32nd Prayer Vigil
By Philip Cardella March 8, 2026
Outside the so called Alligator Alcatraz on US 41 in Florida
It's been a busy week for me and the things I care about so this is late in coming. While it is dated March 8, 2026, I'm writing this on March 13, 2026. The 32nd prayer vigil did occur on March 8, to be clear.
I already posted one newsie take on this vigil about poop trucks. Literally, it's about poop trucks and how they aren't bearing the marks that they're legally supposed to be bearing.
Philip Cardella
I believe that since before Christmas of 2025 the attendance at the vigils has dipped below 100 one time and this week was not that time. Over 100 attended again, including many first time visitors including a "vagabond" who has attended vigils and protests all over the country but is out of the Southwest United States, a woman from New Jersey, people from Philadelphia and other places.
One first time visitor in particular stood out to me and that was Brandon.
Brandon's wife was detained by ICE almost 120 days ago. Though Brandon is a US born, US citizen, his wife, Gabriela, arrived to the United States legally in 2023 from Venezuela. I think their story is important so I'm going to post most of what they have on their gofundme page.
It's also a common story and a depressing one that, frankly, as I write this, is acting like a black hole on the entire event. Brandon spoke near the middle of the vigil and he and his family's plight is at the heart of these vigils.
From their gofundme page:
Gabriela entered the United States legally in 2023 through the humanitarian parole program created for Venezuelans during the humanitarian crisis that has forced more than 8 million people to flee Venezuela. She received travel authorization and flew into Miami, just like thousands of others who came through this legal program.
In April 2025, just two days before her parole expired, Gabriela and I got married. As a U.S. citizen spouse, I began preparing to file her Adjustment of Status so she could continue on a legal path toward permanent residency.
Then in October 2025, everything changed.
After a minor domestic dispute, a neighbor called the police. No physical violence was alleged, and after reviewing the case the Broward County State Attorney’s Office declined to file charges. The case was formally no-filed.
However, ICE had already placed an immigration detainer on Gabriela. The day after the criminal case was dismissed, she was transferred into federal immigration custody.
Gabriela has now been detained for five months at Baker County Jail in Jacksonville, Florida.
What Happened During the Initial Detention
According to court filings and what we experienced:
• Gabriela was held for four days at the Miramar ICE office, which is an administrative office building, without access to a bed or shower.
• Her asthma medication was not provided, even though it had been delivered to the facility.
• She was transferred back and forth between the Orlando ICE office and Orange County Jail every 72 hours.
Our attorneys later explained that similar transfer practices have been challenged in other federal filings, alleging ICE sometimes rotates detainees between facilities to avoid exceeding certain 72-hour detention limits.
After roughly two weeks of these transfers, Gabriela was moved to Baker County Jail, where she remains today.
-The Core Legal Issue:
The entire case now centers on how ICE classified Gabriela in immigration court.
Gabriela entered the United States legally on humanitarian parole and lived here for years before being arrested inside the country, yet ICE still labeled her an “arriving alien,” a classification typically used for people detained at the border.
Because of that classification, ICE placed her under mandatory detention, which means she cannot request a bond hearing and must remain detained while her case moves through the courts.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/Helpusfightice
There is more on the page and I recommend clicking on the link above.
Here's what Brandon said on Sunday to the congregation gathered for the 32nd Sunday prayer vigil across from the racist nickname bearing South Florida Detention Center.
She's been deported and he and their daughter are being forced to leave the country with her, or have their family broken up.
Other first time visitors stood out, like this guy who called himself a vagabond protester and draped himself in a less than subtle flag, that at this prayer vigil, I know the organizers' aren't crazy about.
The vigils remain vibrant, representing a range of people from across America who consistently tell of the hope and courage being at the events brings to attendees.
