LIVERMORE — At least 200 residents and demonstrators gathered at a rally on Wednesday night to demand the federal government’s release of a Livermore father who was detained by immigration officials last week.

The family of 47-year-old Miguel Lopez met with othr city residents at the downtown Livermorium Plaza, chanting and waving signs with messages such as “Free Miguel” and “Bring Miguel Home.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Lopez on May 27, when he showed up to a government building in San Francisco as part of a routine process toward his citizenship, his family said.

Lopez was born in Mexico and has lived in California for 29 years, including for several years in Livermore.

His wife, Rosa Lopez, said he is being held in a detention facility in McFarland in Kern County. His family said he worked as a welder and machinist at Wente Winery in Livermore, where he’s been employed for nine years. He would often work long hours and pick up side jobs to provide for his family of five, his wife said.

On weekends, he would take his wife and children to nearby lakes and camping grounds to fish, or could be found at Carnegie State Park where his kids enjoyed riding dirt bikes, Rosa Lopez said.

“I have no idea what’s going to happen,” she said Tuesday. “I’m hoping he gets released, and he gets released here.”

Before he was taken into custody last week, Lopez said her husband’s last words were, “Call my lawyer, I’m being detained.”Later, Miguel called Rosa to say was being transferred somewhere several hours away from San Francisco.

No one in the family was told what he was being detained for — or for how long he would be held, Lopez said. Even her husband doesn’t know why he got detained, she said.

Now she wants him to be returned home.

At the rally Wednesday evening, his daughter Stephanie Lopez choked back tears. She spoke of his character, describing him as a helpful man and well-respected in the community.

“My dad goes out of his way to help everyone, and is a friend to all,” she said.

In an interview with this news organization, she called her family’s situation “shocking” and “something we would have never expected.”

The family’s youngest son, Julian Lopez, 17, attends Granada High School, where next fall he’ll be a senior defensive back on the Matadors’ football team. He said his father encouraged him this year to pick up the sport for the first time — and never missed a game.

“I thought it wasn’t real until my mom started crying and told me,” Julian said. “I haven’t felt the same since.”

Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert told this news organization Wednesday that his office connected the family to legal services.

“We are making sure that his family has resources from the county, such as food, medical and looking to see if they need rental assistance,” Haubert said. “When you lose a family member’s income, it affects the entire family.”

At the rally Wednesday evening, droves community members chanted for Miguel’s release, including dozens of Granada High students and some teachers.

Though Miguel’s wife has visited him in McFarland, they continue to have limited contact. They aren’t sure what will happen next.

“Hopefully, our voice is heard,” Rosa Lopez said. “He’s not a bad person. He should get an opportunity to stay here with his family.”