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Dear Editor:
My story begins on June 11, 2002, but in actuality it began in May 1998. On June 11, 2002, my husband James was taken out of our home (in Reading, PA) by 5 INS Officials wearing bullet proof vests and carrying pistols. Something I have only witnessed on Cops. At the time that he was removed and placed into INS Custody, I was 9 months pregnant with our last child. The child was scheduled to be born the following day 6/12/02. He was, needless to say, born without his father present.
My husband is from The Gambia in West Africa. He came to the US on a visitor for pleasure visa in 1993. He arrived in NYC to visit with his mother and siblings. He eventually decided to stay in the US. He then filed for political asylum (Nov. 1995) and was denied. He was granted voluntary departure by May 6, 1996. He did not surrender himself for removal, which then was "upgraded" to a final order of deportation in 1997.
We met in May 1998. I have 1 child from a previous relationship, Nicholas, that James raised as if he were his father. In Dec. 1999 we had our first son together, LJ (Little James). In Nov. 2000, we married. And on June 12, 2002, our second son together, Davis, was born without a father.
Nicholas has AHD and severe behavioral problems. In the weeks that James has been absent from the home, these conditions have worsened. His biological father does not provide any type of support, so James has been more of a father to this child than the child's father. His loss of consistency has devastated his overall health.
LJ witnessed this whole ordeal and wakes up in the middle of the night screaming for his daddy. He will not sleep in his own bed because he fears that someone will come and take him away. His last memory of his daddy was the sight of him being handcuffed and taken away.
Davis, while still too young, will grow up with the knowledge that his daddy was taken away the day before he was born. He may never have the opportunity to know the love of this wonderful man that helped to create him, much less be held by his father
for the first time.
I have had to return to work after having a major abdominal surgery and only 3 1/2 weeks of maternity leave. I have had to apply for welfare and was told that the only amount of money that I would receive is $400 and some odd dollars per month.
I have send e-mail letters to the President of this fine nation, the Governor of the State of PA, 2 US Senators, 1 Congressman, 1 PA Senator and the District Director of the Philadelphia branch of the INS. Basically each person slammed the window of opportunity right on my fingers.
When all of this happened, his family in VA, hired Chidi Ogolo, PC (who practices Immigration Law in PA, VA and NC) and paid him a retainer fee of $2750.00. He was on this case for 2 weeks and did nothing more than file a Freedom of Information form and a form to show that he was representing us in this matter. I fired him and now travel frequently to Philadelphia to my attorneys there. In 2 hours, the new attorney did more for me than the first did in 2 weeks.
We have filed for a Stay on June 26 and it was finally approved until 8/22/02. We now have to reopen the case in NY and have a change of venue. Which I pray everyday happens.
The INS are very cold, nasty people who seem to enjoy playing games with people. First the Stay was approved on 7/09/02 then was changed to denied on 7/11/02. During which time, we were not notified.
I have since given an interview to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Only to find out that I am not the only person that this has happened to. I feel so terribly bad for every single person that has had the unfortunate experience of dealing with the INS.
I now fear that in a matter of minutes, that I will be left to raise 3 boys on my own. Not by my choice, not by my husband's choice but by the decision of my government.
Thank you for listening... |
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