A small Hispanic church in Wimauma, Florida, is praying through heartbreak after its pastor, a father of five, was deported to Guatemala following more than two decades in the United States.

Maurilio Ambrocio, 42, led Iglesia de Santidad Vida Nueva, a congregation of around 50 members, before he was arrested during a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in April. Ambrocio had lived in Florida for over 20 years after entering the country as a teenager, working to provide for his family while leading his church and raising five children, all U.S. citizens.

Last week, Ambrocio was among 100 Guatemalan immigrants deported on a charter flight. He was allowed to call his family once he arrived, offering them some comfort after months of fear and uncertainty.

“My mother, my brothers, and I are very saddened by all this, but also relieved that my father is no longer in prison and is a free man,” his 19-year-old daughter, Ashley, told the Tampa Bay Times. “We were very worried about his health.”

Ambrocio described his detention as harsh, losing 24 pounds during the ordeal, and expressed the pain of being separated from his family and ministry.

“I don’t think we deserved that because we are not bad people or criminals,” Ambrocio said. “But that time is over. Now we have to recover and think about what to do next.”

His wife, Marleny, shared the heavy burden now on her shoulders, saying it feels like “the world ended” for their family. “How are we going to eat? How are we going to pay the bills?” she asked.

Ambrocio’s story is not isolated. Across the country, Christian communities are grappling with the tension between immigration enforcement and the human cost of separating families, including cases of believers who have served faithfully in their churches while living under the shadow of deportation.

Earlier this year, Pastor Ara Torosian of Cornerstone Church in Los Angeles spoke out after five members of his Iranian congregation were detained by federal agents, including a young couple who fled Iran to escape persecution for their faith in Christ. Similarly, Afghan Christians in North Carolina have faced deportation notices despite the life-threatening persecution they would face if returned.

While the U.S. government emphasizes deporting those with criminal records, many cases involve individuals with deep community ties, no violent history, and active church involvement. For families like the Ambrocios, these actions have left them clinging to faith in God’s provision in the face of fear, loss, and uncertainty.

The Tebow Foundation, World Relief, and other Christian organizations continue to advocate for vulnerable immigrants, emphasizing the biblical call to love the stranger and care for families facing unimaginable trials.

In this season of uncertainty, the Ambrocio family asks for prayers for strength, provision, and wisdom as they navigate life without their father at home.