A married man and father who is married to a U.S. citizen is trying to fight being deported.

Joel Colindres, of East Fairfield, came to the United States illegally in 2004 from Guatemala. He married a U.S. citizen in 2010, with whom he has two children.

Colindres has been ordered to leave the country by Aug. 17. He says he missed a court date that he did not know about.

Supporters of Colindres are now calling on federal officials to allow him to stay in Connecticut while he becomes a citizen. 

The group of supporters rallied outside the federal courthouse in Hartford.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal is working with the family and released a statement saying, "The fact that ICE would give a father only 28 days notice to leave his wife and children, leaving next to no time to pursue legal remedies, is cold, callous and reprehensible." 

Colindres' family says that they will not be separated – if Joel is forced to return to Guatemala, they will go with him.