Thursday, April 22, 2010

Lord have mercy

Okay, so I figure some of the folks reading about us in the news will google me and find this so I would like to tough on the part of the story that a 4 min spot can't cover.
Jose did in fact enter the countrt illegally. He was 18 and the second of eight children (the oldest is mentally ill). His father was drunk the entire time he was a child, Jose never saw his father sober until he returned to Mexico months ago. He wore Mayan shoes growing up until he was twelve and a rich kid gave him a pair off sneakers. Until then, they cut up old tires and tied them to their feet with bananna leaves. He did not have a house of any way to get clean water. They drank from the same river they bathed in and had a hut made of bananna leaves and palms. So he was trying to save his family from poverty and he broke the law.
He worke for minimun wage and saved enough money to build a house, dig a well and build a store. He created a way for his mother to provide financially for her children. His plan was always to go home once he had paved the way. Then we met.
So when the LIFE act was passed by congress it was the right thing to do. We researched and found a well recommended lawyer. We hired him, we filed and we did follow up to make sure it was filed on time. In fact that attorney still insists it was filed on time just has given me nothing to prove this to the US government and all evidence says otherwise.
So we hired a new lawyer who fought for years and Jose was allowed to work and reside here duing the ongoing legal battle. He paid taxes for 10 years. He legally held a job during this time.
We actually planned neither of our children because we thought it best to wait until the legal battle was over, but God had other plans for us.
So here we are, years and years later. It has cost us a lot of money, but really it is a small price to pay for the love of your life or father to yoyur children to remain by your side.
The new lawyer did nothing wrong, she fought hard and legally we just had not recourse in the end. She is arguablly the best immigration attorney in the State of Washington.
Over Jose's dead body would he chose to have his children raised in Mexico. Women finish 6th grade and men 7th...it just isn't what is best for them. There is a recession in Mexico too and minimum wage if you were to find a job is 4 dollars a day. A American looking for work there could expect to make less because you would have to work under the table most likely. I do not think it is smart to leave my job in the middle of a recession either. So we will settle on visiting him there.
I don't think I have it half as bad as him, my life is hard right now but I have my children. He has no one. He is alone and has been stripped of his ability to provide for his children, something men need to do just to keep their sanity. He is unable to hold them when they cry or help them in any way. So I feel like the lucky one.
Hope the story sits well with you, and if it doesn't I guess I just don't care. Those who know Jose, will understand. BTW the hateful comments on the King 5 sight are rude and often ignorant. Jose speaks English, Mayan and Spanish. He has paid taxes. We are not on welfare. Just to set some of you straght. Poor are not legally able to come to America even if just to visit. My father in law was not allowed to visit because he did not have enough money in the bank...and I (American citizen) applied on his behalf.
Ok Thats it, the end.