If you need one example of the injustice of the U.S. immigration system, you need to look no further than with “H.” He is 45-years-old, born in Mexico, has lived in the U.S. for twenty years, currently lives in Minnesota, speaks Spanish and English fluently, works in construction, is married and has a 4 ½-year-old daughter. They are a family and have deep roots in their community.

If “H” is deported, what will mom say to their daughter when she asks why dad is never home and asks, “Doesn’t he love me anymore?” To cope, will they need therapy and other social services? Could “H” receive those services back in Mexico? If he’s deported, may his wife and daughter face eviction?

Some may say that he committed a crime and must pay the consequences. Well, he did. He served his sentence, was set to be paroled, then ICE picked him up. Some may say that “H” should never have come to the U.S. without documents in the first place. My response is: “If we didn’t want him here, he shouldn’t have been hired and been allowed to work here for twenty years.”

Deportation would be cruel and unusual emotional torture. Families are sacred units and should not and must not be separated! If people have established deep roots in the U.S., they should be permitted to stay if they want to.

Steve Kraemer, CWF Exec. Director

From the 8/15/22 CWF Newsletter