The first time ICE arrested him, in the fall of Trump’s first term in office, Dy (pronounced Yee) spent five months and twenty one days in immigrant detention. ICE finally released him after public attention and a habeas corpus petition. Baby Chari was twice as old when her father came home.

Dy and his wife Tammy are expecting another baby, due next month. Dy’s brother is getting married this summer. His nephew too. A season of joy, and yet Dy knows, because he has been paying attention to stories of who is getting released, that no one at Stewart Detention Center seems to be getting out. All of the habeas cases at Stewart go to one judge, who is appointed for life. Dy says softly, “I had to let my wife know I might be missing out.” At the end of this summer, Dy turns forty.

I went to Lumpkin, Georgia, to speak with Dy in detention. Dy tells me his greatest challenge is knowing Tammy has to hold down everything without him right now. I’m looking forward to meeting the other half of this love story, and hearing from her.

Part 1 of this story is up now at teabuoy.substack.com