Juan was deported to Nogales, Sonora two years ago, and now lives separated from his U.S.-based family by a border and from his relatives in Chiapas by thousands of miles. Struggling to make ends meet and missing his wife and children, he occupies that in-between state so common to the deported, a life with uncertainty, vulnerability, resilience, and hope. When Juan was deported to Mexico in 2015, he had lived in the U.S. for 20 years, working as an agricultural laborer harvesting oranges, …Read More
María’s Story: The Toll of Poverty and Family Separation
U.S. detention and deportation policies have long been the source of separation for immigrant families seeking to be together. María crossed the U.S.–Mexico border twice to visit her father who she has not seen in a decade, but it is not clear how or when that reunion will take place. María came to the KBI in mid-August, after serving 30 days in a U.S. prison and being deported to Nogales, Sonora. She hasn’t seen her dad in 10 years, and her goal was to live with him in Atlanta, work to send …Read More
Edwin’s Story
Edwin Vazquez, Guatemala Entrevista con la Hermana Engracia, 16 de agosto 2017 A long time ago—in 2002—my brother and I tried to come [to the US]. I am from Guatemala. My name is Edwin Vazquez, I'm Guatemalan, and I've been traveling on the train. I seek a better… [I’m migrating for economic reasons]. I seek a good job, a normal salary (that’s objective, of course) in order to support my family and myself. Right now I just have one child, a little girl—she is about to turn 11 years …Read More
Enrique’s Story: The Toll of Detention and Family Separation
Enrique was deported and arrived at the KBI recently after 35 years in the United States, the last two spent in detention. Now, he faces an uncertain future as he pursues a visa to reunite with his children and the grandchildren he has never met. Born in Mexico, Enrique has lived most of his 55 years in the U.S.—working, marrying, and raising two sons, both U.S. citizens. Two years ago, he was arrested and detained; this past month he was deported to Nogales, Sonora. Not knowing anyone …Read More
Maria’s Story: An Update on Her Asylum Case
Maria came to the KBI with her four children last fall after a two-year journey, fleeing extortion and kidnapping threats from a criminal gang in her native Honduras. We shared her story as advocacy and church groups in Green Valley, AZ welcomed her and supported her through the asylum process. Now, we happily report on the successful outcome of her case. As a small business woman in Honduras, Maria was able to support her four children as a single mom. But when the local arm of an …Read More