It was April of 2009. My sister, Jelena and her fiance Steve were finishing up the last touches to get their wedding organized which was to take place in June that year. The dress was bought, venues booked and it was wedding prep time in full swing. My sister planned bridesmaid lunches and bought gifts for everyone, took photos and began organizing everything for her big day. She even moved out of the home she and Steve purchased and lived in an apartment in order to make their marriage more special once the wedding happened.
One not very particular day, Steve received an abrupt knock on the door and a swat team of at least seven guys dressed to combat a terrorist attack came to his home. My sister who was living in the apartment, was getting ready and on her way to work during this time. The officers told Steve that they were looking for a missing girl and think Jelena knows her and could help, so they needed to find her. Steve told them she did not live there and was probably on her way to work, then complied and gave them the address to her company. He called my sister and told her about this strange incident, and I think she had an idea of who it was. It has been her terror and source for nightmares and fear all these years. "They were coming to get us!"
She pulled into her parking lot at work nevertheless, and out came the van with the swat team apprehending her and knocking her down, then shoving her in the van. All this while her coworkers stood by and watched. She was dressed in a business suit for her marketing job, and treated as a criminal. She called me before then and I talked to her briefly, half scared and half trying to comfort her that it's probably nothing. Our fears that our dad had been worrying about all these years were coming to pass.
Jelena was taken to an ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) holding facility where she was kept all day as they went through paperwork. She still remembers how freezing cold that cell was and how scared she was not knowing her fate and not being communicated with. She was later transported to the Rolling Plains Regional Jail and Detention Center in Haskell, TX, about a four hour drive west. I hope she writes a blog describing her experience, and explains in detail her time there. There are so many stories she told of countless women taken from their babies, families and homes, waiting, but without hope, for a miracle.
During this time, she called Steve and we found out what had happened. I called Dan who was working temporarily in Galveston with a friend, repairing the town from hurricane Ike. He advised me to go to his mom's and bring the kids. At this point, I had to flee or fight. I chose to fight. My sister was the most important friend in my life next to Dan, and I also still felt a need to protect her. I packed up the kids quickly and drove to my in-law's home. Dan and I could not imagine having our kids apprehended and taken from me by some agency. I sat with Dan's mom and proceeded to tell her as best as I could and in as short time as I could about our situation. She could not believe her ears, but offered to help in any way. I kissed my kiddos, knowing it could have been for the last time for a long time, and left. I left crying but quickly changed my mind to think positively and put on mental fight gear. It was time to settle this once and for all.
Much opposition and many temptations arose from a million different angles during this time. I had to fight to keep my sanity about me and invite the peace I knew was mine. I talked to Steve and we met to discuss what we would do next. We thought about going to Gateway Church - which was their home church at this time, and seeing if the pastors could help in any way. I called the pastors at the church we were attending, The Met Church. We called our lawyer and told him, at which he was appalled and gave names to some fellow immigration lawyers in town. I spoke to many people that day, and many lawyers, until we came to one who would see us shortly. Dan was worried that I would be picked up as well, but no one came to my home. I even asked Steve to bring me some of Jelena's clothes so I did not have to return home yet, so I can change in the bathroom of the burger place we went to. I had left early that morning in my stretchy house pants and shirt I slept in.
I even asked Steve to go home and get my book I had written which I was told the proceeds of would all go to Gateway Church. I wanted to show it to the pastor in hopes he would listen and hear our story. Now I am glad his secretary would not let me in to see him - she probably thought I was nuts! Also, now that I think about it, I have no idea what I really thought the pastors could actually do for us, but at that time I was desperate for any help. Pastor Spurling from Gateway listened to us and offered to drive up to Haskell on my sister's behalf. Matt Oxley from the Met Church also offered to drive up there and speak to Jelena. The lawyer we spoke with asked for some cash to start the process, and my mom and George paid it. This lawyer stayed with us during the urgent time with my sister, and told us that he believed a background check my sister had filled out at church in order to work with the youth is what triggered the authorities since we were now listed as fugitives. He released her case shortly after and our lawyer from Austin who helped my mom, Mr. Smith, took over. It was all happening so fast.
The secret was no longer a secret. People began to find out and our phone lines were flooded with phone calls from friends and family from all over the place. It was remarkable how everyone came together to help! It was as if many people were just waiting for something to fight for and a cause to uphold.
My sister worked with Dan and also Kim, my sister in-law, so most of the employees at the company knew us. At once, the team began to come together on our behalf. My sister's current place of business also stepped in with VP's and CEO's donating and trying to help in any way. What we wanted to keep on the down-low, now everyone we knew was finding out. What once kept us in bondage was now loosening its grip as more and more people found out about it. One shocking truth was revealed: everyone was on our side! The lies that people would hate us, and shun us, and treat us bad was just that - a big, fat, lie. ALL of our friends, family, their friends and family, and even people who just found out somehow sympathized with us. I could not believe it, but the support and overwhelming encouragement was enough to fuel my desire to get my sister out ASAP!
My sister in law, Kim, came over and we began to strategize. She had not known either, so I filled her in too... Steve set up a Facebook page called "Free Jelena" and we began to post it to our own pages. This was a HUGE step for me, because I have friends on Facebook I have known since grade school, also many people I had worked with at many different establishments, and to now come out and say that I am an illegal alien was embarrassing. I had to do it though, and I knew it. People called and gave ideas about lawyers and going to the news. Steve called his neighbor who works for a news channel and we contacted some other stations but we were told that in situations like these it is actually harmful to get the story in the spotlight. We were told that it would hurt her as they will most certainly deport her. So we stayed away from the media, and went through social networks. We were on Twitter and Facebook setting up links, and Kim was getting a hold of people she knew that could help. We were letting Dan know what was happening, and that I and the kids were safe. We did not want to keep asking mom and George to pay for stuff, and I had like thirty bucks until Dan came home. Steve had just gotten laid off as well, and we had no idea what to do. He did not know how they would pay their bills and house and car payments and also have time to try to help my sister. We set up a Paypal account on Jelena's Facebook page and within the week donations were pouring in from everywhere! Including my mom and George's help, we raised enough money to pay for the lawyer, all of their bills and payments and for Steve to have for food and stuff so he does not worry about his job situation. It was so amazing to see how our friends and family pulled together and helped us!!! I began to see just how much I loved people!
No comments:
Post a Comment