WTH???

After seeing Jose's attorney last night I wanted to send a note to him ASAP to give him some info before he's in court on Wednesday.  Since he's not going to call until Monday night I want him to have the info on paper so he can review it.  I went to the post office this morning to send him the letter over night.  The woman at the post office looked at the "to" address and as she proceeded to process everything she started rattling off stuff and then asked if I needed stamps or passport applications....I politely said "No thank you." but in my head I thought "Bitch what you tryin' to say?".  Ok I admit it, I'm most likely reading waaaaaaay to into it, it is one of their "services" after all,  but she didn't ask any of the other two people who were there if they need passport applications....WTH?

Attorney hired

The immigration attorney has been hired and now we wait.  I like that he's very passionate about what he does.  Our conversation didn't last very long today I made my points and brought up the ICE memo, to which he responded "The ICE attorneys here have not even heard of it." and when he asked a judge about it the judge said "It's not going to make a difference".  Basically he said, ICE and Mr. Obama are pandering for the Latino vote.  It seems that the memo was sent out to make it seem like something is being done to help the community when in reality they are still trying to hit their yearly quota of over 300,000 people deported.  You might say what do you expect the memo came out almost a week ago?  The thing is, it affects peoples lives.  It affects my life.  If that memo came out Friday the attorneys should be putting it into effect Monday.  I understand some things take time but that is something I don't have.  Jose has court Wednesday and if these attorneys read the memo and put it into effect he might be let go....but they haven't and might not ever read that memo and where will that leave us?

After our meeting I practically ran with Mr. Little B to the local church, he picked up a rosary and a book and he bought me the Virgin de Guadalupe card I want to send to Jose.  He had them blessed and ran back to his next appointment and I stayed and cried and prayed.  He informed me of the vigil that is held every Friday morning down town for the people being deported that morning.  I'm thinking of going and add to the support...I'm afraid to see the buses leave though.  I'm not sure I'll be able to handle seeing all those people being taken away.

What Mr. Little B said doesn't mean we're not going to fight, it just means we are going fight even harder.  Laws are placed in such a way that they suppress minorities.  In Joses case, even though he was convicted of a crime where there was no victim, no one was hurt yet he is marked as an undesirable, a person who is deportable in this countries eyes.  It doesn't matter that he made a mistake that Millions of Americans make every day (and have every right to make but that is a topic for another day), or that he's a stay at home dad or that his son who desperately needs him is waiting for him to come home.  They don't see the people, they see the conviction. They don't see the broken home or a family torn apart, they see their quota increased.

200 what?!?!

I got last months phone bill...yup it was over 200 bucks, more than double from last month.  A total of about 8 phone calls from Jose cost me over $150.  I was shocked...that's about how much money we raised this weekend to be used towards attorney fees.  I'll admit it, my first reaction was to cry but I told myself to postpone the river till after I called the phone company.  Good thing I did, they were nice enough to work something out and let me pay it spread out in several months.  Who would have thought that phone calls would cost so much?  I mean I knew it could get expensive but what the hell?  It's a total rip off.  Not only is the CCA making money off of Jose being there but somebody is making booku bucks off of those phone calls home.  It's a rip off I tell ya!  A RIP OFF!!

So call nights are gonna be once a week and we gotta keep 'em short and sweet.

The impact on Cairo & I'm hiring the attorney this week

When Cairo was just starting to speak he stuttered.  We helped him by telling him to slow down and think about what he wanted to say then say it.  We thought he stuttered because his mind was going a million miles per hour and his mouth couldn't really keep up.  Over time he out grew it.  Well now it's back.  I'm sure it's not because his mouth can't keep up.  I'm almost sure it's because of what is going on with Jose.  

He's become very attached to me and refuses to be alone for a long period of time.  Granted he's never been one to be off on his own but I feel like he's become fearful of being alone, even if he's watching TV or playing.  Seriously, I can't go to the bathroom without hearing "moooooommm?".  He starts looking for me....and to top it off I think he's starting to have an eating disorder :(  He's always been a good eater....but recently it's out of control.  He's only five!!  He shouldn't have these kinds of problems.  I've called my Dr. and have asked for a referral to a family therapist, I'm hoping they call by tomorrow.  We both need to talk to someone.  I don't think I can stay sane for much longer.  I miss Jose with every cell in my body.

Thursday afternoon I will head over to see Mr. Little B. and officially hire him.  I've looked at that memo sent out last week and I don't see why we can't fight and win.  I still haven't heard from Mr. Big B.  I wonder if he's avoiding me...Jose is supposed to call tomorrow and I want to have good news for him...at least something that will help keep his spirits up.

No verdict on the memo

I talked to Mr. Little B., he didn't have any good news for me.  Since the memo I mentioned before is relatively new no one knows how the prosecutors are going to be taking it or putting it into effect.  I refuse to give up, but as time passes and the less positive things I hear from the people who are in the line of fire my mind lingers back to my Mexico survivor guide :(  On paper they may be deporting just him but in reality they would be deporting the three of us.

I still have not hired him, I'm waiting, again, for Mr. Big B to get back to me.  I hope it's soon.  It's coming to the point where we have to decide do we add on debt for the attorneys fees and risk still being deported or do we give up and accept what is being dealt to us?  I don't want to leave, this is my home, but I can't live with my family separated and added debt on top of it.  I have a somewhat stable job with benefits and it's safe here, I don't want to exchange that with unemployment and a possible death sentence.  I'm scared and I don't know what to do.

He finally called!!

Jose finally called today!  Thank GOD!  He didn't call yesterday for the very same reason I thought.  He's ok, he got to see the Dr. and got some meds and lotion,  Hopefully the infection will clear up soon.

On an other note...there was a memo sent out by ICE, it was announced at the AILA conference in San Diego, I've been keeping tabs via twitter and articles:

"In a fix likely to have broad practical effect, Mr. Morton issued a memorandum that greatly expanded the factors immigration authorities can take into account in deciding to defer or cancel deportations. Agents are now formally urged to consider how long an illegal immigrant has been in the United States, or whether the immigrant was brought here illegally as a child and is studying in high school or college.

In practice, the memorandum gives immigration agents authority to postpone or cancel, on a case by case basis, deportations of illegal immigrant students who might have been eligible for legal status under a bill stalled in Congress that is known as the Dream Act.

The authorities are also instructed to give “particular care and consideration” to veterans and active duty members of the military, especially if they have been in combat, and to their close relatives.

Mr. Morton also expanded the authority of federal lawyers who handle cases in immigration courts to dismiss deportation proceedings against immigrants without serious criminal records."

I just hope it means good news for us. 

*CROSSING FINGERS*

He hasn't called since Sunday!!

Geese!  Jose was supposed to call on Wednesday. The phone rang but there was nothing on the other end so I hung up. I watched the phone like a hawk and nothin!


I thought he'd call last night, but he didn't.  I hope that's because the phones are turned off on Thursdays and don't turned off till really late.  That's when people are taken to be deported. I guess they don't want people to call their loved ones to let them know?


I don't know if I should be concerned or not.  He's had a bad skin infection since he's arrived at the prison.  He's got sensitive skin and it's not taking well to the sheets or soap or something.  The nurse has only been giving him some pomada to put on there but it hasn't been working :( 


I hope he's ok and calls tonight.