Tic-toc our time is almost up

In September my husband will be in court. I don't know exactly what is going to happen but I've been getting really anxious about it. I feel like the clock is counting down (tic-toc, tic-toc) and we will know what direction the judge will set our lives on.

It sucks, Jose has been home for almost a year and a half and most of our family and friends our immigration woes are over. They are actually surprised that after all we went through the last few years the government still wants to deport my husband. It comes to show how most people don't know how our immigration laws work. Some actually thought he was now on the path to legal residency and were very surprised to find out he is not.

I'm feeling nervous a scared. I look back on this last year and I don't know how Cairo and I would have survived without Jose being home. The fact that he has been working has helped tremendously financially. Not to mention his presence alone has helped so much with taking care of Cairo. Jose is my support system, he's my family and life without him is just back breakingly difficult.

I read on immigration news as much as I can and sometimes I get excited thinking finally we will have CIR and hopefully it will help my family. Then I read about how those who would benefit from the proposed laws are people without criminal history and that's when I realize there aren't any politicians out there who are looking out for my family. How is "criminal history" defined? Where is the line drawn? Is someone who has committed a none violent crime a "criminal"? What if the case is vacated? Does it matter how it was vacated? Why is it that these politicians, even those in favor of CIR insist of making these distinctions?

My husband is no angel and he has made mistakes but he is a good man and a good father. He does the best he can to do right by his son and myself. He is not the same person from 5 years ago, or 10 years ago or 15 years ago. None of us are, we grow, we learn, we evolve. Why does that not account for anything? Why can't they see the person who may have made a mistake years ago is not the same person who is fighting to stay with their family now?

I'm scared that if and when CIR is passed, we will fall through the loop holes. I'm scared that our family will be split up again. I'm scared of how that will not only affect me but how that will affect my son.

Tweeting the devil and the Wasilewski family

I was able to attend todays immigration vigil downtown.  Every Friday a group of people gather at the downtown court house and pray for the families affected by current immigration laws.  Immigrants are deported from the building some during the day on Fridays.  Mr. Little B has a solid attendance rate, I've only been able to go a couple times because of morning issues, like actually getting up early enough to make it there on time and getting Cairo out of bed.

I made it a point to go today because I knew the Wasilewski family was going to be there. I got my butt up and got to the blue line in time to get there. The Wasilewski family was there, it brought me to tears to see them. When everything was done I walked over to Janina and welcomed her back.  She gave me a big hug and I told her that I am very happy they were together again and she had a beautiful family.  She asked me what my story was and I explained, of course I started to tear up and she gave me a big hug.  She gave me hope with her words.  I will keep her in my thoughts and I am very grateful I got to meet them.  Brian is very cute, he reminded me of Cairo, I wanted to squeeze him but I restrained myself because well you know he's 10 and I didn't want to freak him out.

I talked to Mr. Little B before he left.  Jose did not call yesterday, I don't think he was allowed and I really don't think he would have missed calling Cairo on his birthday.  So I'm sure Jose was not allowed to call home, he's still in the hole.  He said to document everything, it's our only way of fighting back in the end.  During the vigil Mr. Little B suggested as every one does, to contact our local reps and senators about CIR, "Silence is acceptance".  Email, send letters and/or tweet every day, he said.  So I am taking it upon myself to tweet as many times as I remember....like just now....to tweet:  

We need #CIR,  stop #deportations! @RepMikeQuigley @SenatorDurbin @SenatorReid @SenatorSanders @Kirk4senate @LamarSmithTX21 #immigration

As you can see I've included Mr. Lamar Smith.  I invite you to do the same.  BTW you will have to change your tweet slightly if you want to keep retweeting it.  I just discovered that as I just.....retweeted it.

Dear Supporters of State Immigration Laws

It seems like every day every state in the country is attempting to pass it's own immigration law.  It started with Arizona and has spread rampant across the country, one bill after another.  Some are passing some are not.  I get it, states are frustrated.  The federal government is playing tug of war with the subject and basically ignoring the issue by playing the blame game.  My issue with these laws is this, as a Latina who is a US citizen by birth I feel personally attacked by these laws.

These laws that are popping up are being set up so that undocumented immigrants can be found and essentially be "sent back home" even if they have set roots and have US family members in this country. How are these laws supposed to be enforced by local law enforcement officers?  What is a valid reason for an officer to be "suspicious" of  a person being undocumented?  You can't tell by looking at them, undocumented immigrants come in every walk of life, just like their "legal" counter parts.  Is it a persons accent?  The color of their skin?  Is it cuz their freaked out some cop just pulled them over, gun in hand? How are local law enforcement officers going to be prevented from stereotyping?

Reality is that when a person thinks "illegal immigrant" they see images of tanned skin, brown hair, brown eyes bouncing around in their head.  I take offense to this, I'm a dark haired, tanned skinned person.  Do I look undocumented?   Truth of the matter is if I forget my DL at home for what ever reason and I get pulled over by a cop, I would say there's a good chance he's gonna take me in.  If Mr. Tom Smith get's pulled over without a DL, he's probably going to get a verbal warning and will be off on his merry way.  There is a higher chance authorities will doubt my  "papers" authenticity...not so of Mr. Smiths.  My point is why should the majority be inconvenienced just so that the minority can pretend to feel safe?  (By minority I mean old white men)  Why do any of you feel like it's ok and should be a burden that we should bare?  If you are a person of color who is in favor of these laws, think twice buddy, you my find yourself in an immigration prison the next time you get pulled over. Don't take my word for it, Google it. There are plenty of US citizens who have almost been deported and others that have because of this.  These laws are violating my rights and are offensive to me a US citizen who should not have to live in fear just because I'm browner than the jackasses...ahem...politicians who are making these laws up.

If these politicians had any sense of justice and in doing the right thing they would get rid of these blatantly racist laws and put pressure on the federal government to take care of the issue.  Immigration reform is needed there is not doubt about it.   No one should have to wait a decade before being able to even start the process of bring their loved one home.  People shouldn't be barred from ever coming the US because of none violent mistakes that Americans do ALL THE TIME.

Violent undocumented immigrants have no place here.  Sorry Bud, you broke into a DD for some munchkins at gun point, you're SOL.  It's easy to accept these laws when you are not a victim of them.