Yes, I am taking it personally. It is personal. It is my family. Those of you that know me know that family comes first and my family will do just about anything to protect each other and those associated with us. THANKS to all of you that wrote declarations for Eric and Yolanda and signed petitions. I think that is what really brought this to a quick close. It's been 3 months, but that is quick in US visa land. We were given nightmare scenarios and told stories that would make your head spin. Why and how could certain people be denied with the true hardship they were going through? I'll tell you why, they didn't have enough people behind them, not enough voices coming from their corner. It takes people. You cannot do anything in this world alone. There is always someone else that had some influence as to why a person has overcome an adversity.
Eric and Yolanda fell in love, the state of California allowed them to get married, right here in the US! The US government gave Yolanda a work permit and Social Security Card. The state of California gave Yolanda a drivers license. She was allowed to pay taxes a mortgage and property taxes. She and Eric have two beautiful children. She's covered under Eric and her own insurance from their place of employment. Yet, every time she applied for citizenship she was denied. Eric and Yolanda hired lawyers to help. Did you know there are lawyers out here and I'm sure in other states as well that take advantage of people like my brother and sister-in-law? They took the money and ran. Not literally, they just continue to take money and give bad advice over and over until people can no longer pay. The last bit of advice was to go to the US Consulate in Juarez, Mx and appeal in person for citizenship. Juarez has been described to me as a place where "they kill women for sport." The appeal was denied Eric, James, Analy and Yolanda drove through northern Mexico back to the west coast and the Baja Peninsula to find a place for Yolanda and Analy to live. Yolanda was forced to live in Mexico, separated from her family. They found a "safe" place, surrounded by other people in the same predicament. All of this was happening at a time when unrest at the border is at an all time high. Every morning we sat through(and continue to)news about bodies being found in TJ. Headless bodies and the innocent victims caught in the crossfire of the drug war and corrupt government officials. I agree citizenship should not be given away, but at least have the process make sense. Forcing people to live apart from their families is not a good punishment. You end up punishing the innocent victims. Victims who are legal citizens of the US. James was being forced to live without his mother. He was starting to act out in school. Don't get me started on the public school system out here. This was a very stressful situation. A situation that would have negative consequences and could end up costing taxpayers more money (another tangent on social programs here in the US). So here we were, Yolanda in Mexico with Analy. Who can afford daycare on top of just losing the second income in the family and now having to pay rent on another residence? Eric and James at home and traveling back to Mexico every weekend so they could all spend as much time together as possible.
There are good lawyers out there, like the ones recommended this last time. That is how you find the good ones. Someone has to have a good experience, get good counsel and a good outcome. Then their name is passed on. They actually care whether or not you get what you are looking for and give good advice. "Get as many signatures and declarations as you can." "Do you make regular contributions to any charities?" "Do you have family photos? Get them together the more group shots the better." Yolanda's stack of paperwork going into that hearing must have been the largest of the day and it could have been larger. We take lots of pictures and I'm a sucker to take those group shots. Christmas, Boston, Yosemite, Easter, birthdays, 4th of July you name it I've got a picture of it. We had to prove that we are indeed a family and Yolanda wasn't out to scam her way into a green card. She's been here 13 years! Why would she have to scam anyone? She could have kept her mouth shut but she wanted to be a citizen like the rest of her family. I can't tell you how happy we all are that we will all be together on Christmas Eve. Christmas came early this year, thanks to all of you that stood up for what was right!
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