Together Rising #ReunifyFamilies Update – Jose Interview
Sister and Liz stood at the Border and watched Jose give this interview yesterday. Please watch. Jose is speaking to you. In May, Jose and his wife made the impossible decision to have Jose and their 9 year old son flee violence in Guatemala and seek asylum in the US. They tried. After they were detained authorities told Jose he would be deported and his son would be given up for adoption in the US. Jose begged them to let his son be deported with him. Authorities said no. Jose said that the most painful moments of his life were walking back to his wife in Guatemala preparing to tell her he had lost their boy, the love of her life. It was then that a reporter stopped Jose to ask what was wrong. Jose told this man what had happened-that his boy was gone. Maybe forever. The reporter said this: I know a group of Americans called Together Rising. They are helping families like you. They will help you find your son. I have not stopped thinking about that: A man, at the lowest moment of his life- in the streets of Guatemala – hears good news. You are the good news. You are the people of the impossible.
Yesterday, we vowed to Jose that we would stand with him and 28 other families on the Border for as long as it took to make sure he was able to cross over. So he could present his asylum claims and be reunited with his son. Twelve hours into yesterday, Jose crossed over – the last one of the group of families – and one step closer to his greatest wish: giving his baby boy a hug. We will continue to stand for these families until they are reunited with their children. Please consider doing 2 things today: Please donate to Together Rising at https://togetherrising.org/give/. 100% of what we receive will go to support, advocacy and reunification. Right now, ICE is making custody determinations on whether the families will be detained or released to the sponsor families who are ready and eager to receive them. Please call 1-855-681-1349 and tell Immigration And Customs Enforcement to do the right thing: Release these asylum-seeking families to their sponsors immediately so they may reunite with their children.