Dozens march Saturday in Chambersburg to oppose deportation of elementary school custodian

CHAMBERSBURG – Dozens of people marched through Chambersburg on Saturday morning to protest the deportation of Carlos Bonilla, a longtime community member, custodian at both an elementary school and local YMCA, who was deported to Mexico when he appeared for what was to be a routine immigration check-in.

The march ended at Courthouse Plaza, where participants held a rally and called attention to Bonilla’s case. Supporters said Bonilla — who has lived in the Chambersburg area for over 20 years — said “Mr. Carlos'” absence is sorely felt by students, parents and staff at the school he served, Falling Springs Elementary.

Bonnie Morrow, a fifth grade teacher at the school, said students have noticed Bonilla is no longer there. “It’s a very small building,” Morrow said. “We get to know everybody in there, if they are the nurse, the custodian, the music teacher, everyone.”

She described Bonilla as a familiar and consistent presence in the building and said his absence has been difficult to explain to children. “Some kids have been asking where he is and just have to say he’s not here right now,” she said in media reports.

Supporters said Bonilla was detained by ICE during a scheduled follow-up with his immigration office on Black Friday. They added that he was later deported and is now staying with family in Guadalajara, Mexico, while his wife, daughter and grandson remain in Chambersburg.

According to community members, donations have been coming in to support Bonilla and his family with legal and medical costs. Bonilla is diabetic and has concerns about access to medication and medical care, they said.

Beth Farnham, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District, which includes Franklin and Adams counties, attended the rally and spoke in support of Bonilla. “I did not know Mr. Carlos personally. I was touched by his personal story. He’s a beloved member of the community he serves, and I’m so grateful that the rest of the community turned out for him,” she said.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Dec. 18 on Facebook, which said the office was not involved in Bonilla’s removal but requested an official statement from ICE after what it described as false information circulating publicly about the case. In that statement, ICE said Bonilla had been deported in 1998 and 2000.

In 2018, he was arrested again but released to allow him to make arrangements to care for his minor daughter. He had been checking in regularly with immigration offices since that time. But ICE revoked that status when Bonilla showed up for that regular appointment and shuttled him to various holding facilities before taking him to Nogales, Mexico, where he was left with no resources and without his diabetes medication, supporters and family members say.

See related story about his immigration status

Being a father and grandfather, Bonilla was used to being around children and was somewhat of a legend at the school, especially with the kids. Many of the local parents have expressed their concern for not only Bonilla’s welfare but for the impact of his detainment on his family and also their own. In some cases, their kids are too young to understand why Bonilla has not been back to school.

This reporter spoke Thursday with Tatiana Bonilla, Bonilla’s daughter, about the responses and support she has been getting from the community. When asked if she had heard anything from the school board pertaining to her father, she replied that she hadn’t heard anything from the school district.

A Chambersburg Area School District spokesman said the district cannot comment on personnel issues.

She did say that she has received an overwhelming amount of support from both teachers and the parents of Falling Springs students who have expressed how much they miss Bonilla and how important he is to the school faculty and students whose lives he touched every day with his humor and stories. Tatiana did express that many were “very upset” because they weren’t sure how to explain to the children where “Mr. Carlos” had gone.

As for where Bonilla has gone, his daughter provided an update. He is back in Mexico. However, the trauma for him and his family has not ended with his deportation. They are very concerned about his health and well-being.

“We are trying to get him his medication,” Tatiana explained. “He is diabetic, and he didn’t have anything with him when they took him away.”

When asked what message she and her family would like to share with the community, Tatiana emotionally replied, “There are not enough words to show our appreciation to the people who have stood by us. I am a single mother, and they have been my backbone and been here to support us. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

In addition to the march and rally, there is also a petition and gofundme page that community members can sign and donate to show their support for Bonilla and his family.