Our hearts are broken.
Our life not complete.
ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) has abducted my dad from our lives. He’s been in this country for 38 years. He made a mistake 33 years ago and served two years for it. From that time on, he was a stand up citizen. He worked hard for his family, even becoming an entrepreneur opening his own small grocery store. I remember him working 14 – 16 hour days. Even after my parents closed their store, he went to work at a warehouse and still worked 10-12 hour days. My dad, who as my stepfather, raised me since I was a toddler and took me in as his own. If he was a good father, he has been an even more amazing grandfather.
My kids are devastated, my mom, who despite having their ups and downs, misses him and needs him. He would do so much for her, helping her around the house, her companion for so many years. And just like that, without any warning, he was just kept one day, after reporting to ICE for close to 11 years. I cannot explain this feeling to you, unless you’ve been through this, it is absolutely heart wrenching.
He had no issues when we lived in NJ. When they moved to FL 12 years ago, that’s when his troubles started. He used to have to report yearly, and then after this new administration, he had to come in first every 3 days, then every week, every 2 weeks, every month until boom! And it’s not like he just goes a few miles, no! He has to drive 3 hours there to Miramar and 3 hours back. Stand outside with hundreds of people, for HOURS! Rain or shine, no bathroom access, no water, no food. Let me tell you, this system is heartless. People’s cars were then being towed because there are barely enough spots for all the people they make come on any given day.
I found out there was a group of people that come on Wednesdays for a weekly Circle of Protection, who bring people water and snacks. Here’s their mission:
Every day 100’s of immigrants stand in line in the sun, the heat, the cold and the rain for hours and hours just to learn if they are still worthy to stay in the land of the free, or will they be imprisoned and deported, destroying lives and families They have no access to bathrooms. Friends of Miami-Dade Detainees, United We Dream, Women Working Together Usa, United Families and others have maintained a weekly presence at this ICE fortress for 7 months to bear witness, and to provide support with water, coffee, donuts, snacks, and humanity. Please take even an hour to show where you stand.
When my dad was detained we didn’t know what to do. I felt so small and helpless. Usually, I’d remember when he had an appointment, but this time, I had forgotten. I would always remind him to let me know when he was on his way back from his long day. This day, I remembered after he had left. Little did I know that I’d never get that text. We didn’t get to say goodbye, we didn’t get to hug him. How do you explain to your small kids that grandpa was taken and we don’t know when we’ll see him again?
I called a friend from facebook. A woman I had never met, who is an activist, and volunteers with many groups fighting for the underrepresented. Laurie came out to meet us in Miramar, embracing me and recording our story on FB live. She told us what to expect and told us what we could do. We were blessed that from her FB live video, an attorney offered to help us. To me, she’s an angel sent to us by a serving God. A few days later we received a call from my dad and even though he calls weekly, life is still so unfair.
God knows, I’ve been through a lot of crap in my lifetime already but this hurts so much because of the injustice. I can’t believe what is happening in our world today. There are hundreds of thousands of people in our shoes. And all of the children being separated from parents, small children. I can’t believe that America feels like we’ve gone back in time and that we’re so close to what feels like terror again. The language that Trump and his party uses to describe us, Sickening!
We are doing what we can with this Lawyers guidance. We are praying that justice is served and that my dad will NOT be deported! But this has been so hard. Today has been the worst day yet. After finally being able to visit him yesterday after weeks of not seeing him, I’m even more depressed. I have literally cried every hour. How unfair, that a man who was doing the right thing, reporting every single time, no matter how hard it was, who didn’t bother anyone, be detained? He’s just been thrown into a detention center, which is basically jail and they’ve torn our family apart! I’m praying for my Faith to stay strong because God is Good! But for now all I want to tell you, is that everyone can make a difference, you can get involved. Help, donate, and make sure to VOTE!
And Love, as hard as it is, keep giving Love.
