While my sister was donning an orange jumpsuit and waiting for her cash we sent in so she can buy extra items like a toothbrush and ice cream, freezing in the cell with other women with even more horrific stories from all over the world who have been at the Haskell prison for months and months - I was being summoned to the ICE office myself. Dan came with me, but was not allowed in, so he waited for me outside for what seemed to be an eternity. As I walked in the back to meet with the officers, it seemed I was taken to a movie set back in the 80's of a police office. The way everyone spoke and talked was saddening, and I just sat back taking it all in and wondering how these officers could find peace and a positive outlook on life. I'm sure that after dealing with criminals like the few I witnessed behind me who were smuggling people in from Mexico and obviously lying about their identity, the officers become tainted and lose feeling. I don't know, but there is definitely a need to help those in our public offices. Greater pay and benefits for example? If police officers, fire fighters, teachers, and many other government employees especially in the military branches who work with people to raise up and protect people got paid half as much as IT professionals who raise up and protect computers, maybe things would be different. I suppose being satisfied in life helps to be more loving towards humanity and treating people with respect. The old adage that you treat others the way you would want to be treated should stand for those you do not respect, know, and even your enemies. Treating criminals "like criminals" only makes them want to become greater criminals. We are creating this world around us. I'm not saying that the punishment does not fit the crime, and I even support the death penalty in some cases. But the road to it needs to be paved with respectable and decent people in charge, professionals who convey truth in ways that make even criminals on their way to the electric chair feel remorse for their actions. Although it may not help their circumstances, the power of Love can absolutely change their eternal destination.
Anyway, I told them my story and filled out paperwork, stamped my fingers and all that jazz. I asked them to talk to my lawyer so he can let them know we were underway of getting this taken care of, but they were fed up with speaking with lawyers, I think. I received some paperwork that were to be known as "my papers" from that day on, and I was to carry them with me wherever I went. The paperwork included my rights, picture, fingerprints, etc. I was placed on a monitoring system, through which I had to call weekly on a voice recognition program and report to the office on a regular basis as well. I began to receive home visits so that they were sure I would not leave. Now, we have been in the same house for 13 years, and I was not a threat. I think although this was necessary protocol, it was a waste of taxpayers money - taxpayers, which included us. The company that was outsourced to take care of "watching us" was G4S (Group 4 Securicor http://www.g4s.com/) and it reminded me of the Bourne Identity movies when I looked them up, although the US Dallas division lacked this cool and sophisticated style . I really had no idea how serious this was, and honestly, had blocked it out of my mind so I don't know. I didn't want to think of myself as a criminal, and hated the concept. I wished I had been strong enough to face my fears and tell Dan back then and file to get my paperwork situated when I was first old enough to do it. I had been so scared to take this on, so I hid it well. I craved to be a normal US citizen and dreamed of being born here. But now - I felt weaker than ever, and filled with regret.
My sister stayed in Haskell for almost a month. My mom came to stay with us for a week and help translate all of the departure paperwork needed - which was actually deportation proceedings. For some reason ICE gave us this paperwork in original Serbian Cyrillic which even mom could hardly depict. Steve was flipping out and very nervous, as he was jobless and without his future wife in a short week.We prayed and prayed and trusted that God had a bigger plan than what we could see and know. One good thing that happened was that my mom's cousin who she had spoken to since we have been in the States, came to visit during this time and help and support us. It was a very wonderful reunion with Gordanana (as my son Gabriel called her)! My sister called when allowed but the trembling and fear in her voice made us even more aware of how proactive we had to be and how urgent our prompt cooperation. The women in my sister's cell did not have the support system she did, to help give them hope of being released to their families anytime soon. One woman was taken from her newborn baby and one while on her way back to her country of origin. I cannot help but think there has to be a better way to document people who want to be here and become Americans one day and set them apart from those who have come to abuse the system, commit crime, with no loyalty or dedication to this great land.
Because of much help from our friends and family, who contacted politicians on our behalf, Jelena was released. It could have been the "temp" lawyer's help who was working on her behalf for this short time, but we do not think so. Nevertheless, our lives returned to normal with a few minor adjustments. We both were placed on the surveillance system as I described before, and this became a part of life for us. We checked in to the ICE office whenever scheduled, as well as making our appointments with G4S. Meanwhile, our lawyer was working hard to create a possibility as with our mom, and obtain permanent residency for us. Since Jelena and Steve had planned a wedding in June, with this major upset, the plans were changed. Our lawyer told them they had to get married as soon as possible so he can continue to work on her behalf and have hopes of it turning positive. The good news was that Jelena was released from Haskell and did not have to get married in an orange jumpsuit. Pastor John Spurling took time out of his busy schedule, on his son's birthday even, to marry my sister and Steve at the Southlake Town-Center, not long after she was released from prison. His commitment to help people and love for others was an amazing example of God's kindness. At the Men's Conference called the Alpha Summit, Dan and Steve went to during this time, the confirmation set, and we began to attend Gateway Church.
Things slowed down, and life went on. Jelena and Steve moved their wedding date at the church, because she still wanted a ceremony, a chance to wear her dress and use the decorations she had already bought. The small ceremony in the gazebo in May included only us and our mom and George. We thought about going ninety miles an hour and keeping the date to June and making it happen, but I think my sister was just exhausted and a wedding ceremony did not have the wondrous appeal as it once did. It was a very weird time in our lives, filled with trials and tests of every kind.
I remember going to see another lawyer in Dallas, Mr. Gary Davis. He met us immediately and was a lot easier to understand than our lawyer, as he is younger and spoke in terms we understood. He explained the entire situation to us, and encouraged us, gave us advice and provided answers to all of our questions. In the end, he never charged us and we are so grateful for his time and effort. We were so amazed by this man after all of our experiences in the past with lawyers who only demand money - there are still a few good men. I would definitely recommend Gary Davis for any immigration needs for anyone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and of course G. Wellington Smith in the Austin area.
She stayed at home for the next year planning her wedding as best as she could and I continued home-schooling our kids, and volunteering at church. My husband soon got a permanent job at the Denton County Jail as an officer, and Steve received a new job soon as well, much better than the previous one. Dan still went on his mission trip to Africa, in the fall, even though he was reluctant in doing so, in fears of leaving us for a few weeks. But we had peace about it and knew it was time for him to go and fulfill a prophecy spoken over him some years ago. In the midst of our financial drama, we managed to raise the money with many friends and family members chipping in, including help from our church. We received a lot of support as I knew it was meant to happen. I wish I could have been there with the Kidstand team, but it was not time for me to be loosed out into to the world yet.
We were adjusting to life once again, and soon put all of the craziness behind us, as we planned to receive our green cards within two years. Of course, we put it behind us only as much as we could, because the weekly check-ins, phonecalls, or trips to the ICE office kept us humbled as fugitives in a foreign land. But we kept this stuff to ourselves, and after thanking everyone who supported us on Facebook and so on, we thought we would never have to revisit this mess again. We were just going through required protocol until our lawyer finishes up our case. Even though he thought the reporting and check in's were a bit much, he advised us to comply with everything and just go through it.
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