1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: Also media. 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 2: Hi, everyone, welcome to the podcast. 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: It's me James today and I'm very fortunate to be 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: joined by Francis, whose husband Amos is facing a date 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: in immigration court this week. We wanted to bring you 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: a first time perspective of what it's like going through 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: immigration court right now. 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: So Francis, thank you for joining us. 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you so much for having me. 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course, we're very glad you're here. So to 11 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: start with, like, would you like to explain your families 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: and it's a lengthy topic, your family's immigration story. 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 3: Yes, I met my husband Amos in Hollywood. We were 14 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 3: both living in Hollywood and we dated a couple of 15 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 3: years there and then ended up moving to his home 16 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 3: country of Tunisia because he had a big family there 17 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 3: and I don't have much family here and we wanted 18 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 3: to have children. It's much better cost of living there, 19 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: and at the time the government there was doing pretty well. 20 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 3: There had been an Arab spring, which my husband was 21 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 3: very much involved with on this over here in the States, 22 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 3: like helping with that, and so he's an activist, and 23 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 3: at the time the government there was pretty good. So 24 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 3: we lived there for eight years, had our children there, 25 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 3: and a new presidency came in while we were living there, 26 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 3: the current president Caius Sayid, and things started to change. 27 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 3: So my husband was doing a lot of organizing grassroots 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 3: movement through local farmers unions and monitoring elections and doing 29 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 3: democracy activities for anti corruption and he's really an activist 30 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 3: for free speech and things like that. So he started 31 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: getting harassed. He was arrested, he was beaten up by 32 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 3: the police and things like that. So it started getting 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 3: very uncomfortable. Also, I was getting harassed. I would get 34 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 3: pulled over a lot by the police. They would impound 35 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 3: our car, they would take us out. Yeah, the police 36 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 3: there carry big guns, you know, as in most Arab countries, 37 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 3: and so it was very frightening for me. Yeah, they 38 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: carry big guns. They're either on their backs or even 39 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 3: in their hands, and they would have me and the 40 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 3: kids get out of the car, and it was very frightening. So, yeah, 41 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 3: the children and I, well, we were all planning on 42 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 3: coming back to the States. I hadn't been home in 43 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 3: a while, and so the children and I went ahead 44 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 3: and came, assuming that my husband would be able to 45 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 3: get a at least a visa to you know, see 46 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 3: us and while once we were here, he was not 47 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 3: able to get a visa. He tried and tried and tried, 48 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 3: and I was begging the embassy to allow him to 49 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 3: see us here, and they just would not. So we 50 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 3: were separated for nine months. So him being away from 51 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: our children, they were about four and six at the time, 52 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: or maybe five and seven. It was devastating for all 53 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 3: of us. So he ended up taking a very treacherous 54 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: journey across South America and made his way through many 55 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 3: countries and presented himself for asylum at the border because again, 56 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 3: we did not feel safe living in Tunia anymore. So 57 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: he presented himself for asylum at the border and they 58 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 3: allowed him into this country with a court date. And 59 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 3: at the time, Biden was president, So things are, you know, 60 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: have changed a lot since then. You know, the immigration 61 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 3: system is broken. Everybody knows that. It takes years and 62 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 3: years and years and tons and tons of money for 63 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: an immigrant to you know, go through the process. You 64 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: know people who say, oh, just do it the right way. 65 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 3: It's not that simple. It takes a lot of money 66 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: and a lot of time, and it's very complicated. And 67 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 3: when you're fleeing a country or a situation where you're 68 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 3: in danger, there is no other option, you know, there's 69 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: nowhere to go back, right, So that's what we're kind 70 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 3: of facing now. So he had a court date. We've 71 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 3: had five master hearings, and we've gone through a few 72 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 3: different lawyers because we have found, for one thing, it's 73 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 3: extremely difficult to find a lawyer these days because they're 74 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 3: very overbooked. Most of them are not taking new cases. 75 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 3: People tell us, oh, just get a pro bono lawyer. 76 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 3: It is almost impossible to get a pro bono lawyer anymore. 77 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,559 Speaker 3: And you know who has thousands and thousands of extra 78 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 3: dollars to pay for legal help with the situation. We 79 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 3: do have a lawyer now thanks to some fundraising that 80 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 3: we've done. So since he's been here, we've had to 81 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 3: check in at the ICE office like it was on 82 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,239 Speaker 3: sort of a basis of after you have a court 83 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 3: hearing the next day or within a couple of days, 84 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 3: you must go check in it ICE. And it's been 85 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 3: very fine, like the there's a very nice officer there 86 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 3: who knows us and helped tries to he answer our questions. 87 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 3: So it was pretty calm when Biden was president, and 88 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: then now that Trump's administration has taken over. We knew 89 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 3: that there would be a lot of changes and we 90 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 3: were very frightened. So we went for a hearing earlier 91 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,679 Speaker 3: this year. You know, we're just a lot more nervous. 92 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 3: And the hearing went fine, just kind of as normal. 93 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 3: We went to the ICE check in. I think our 94 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 3: guard was kind of down because we thought, since the 95 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 3: hearing went fine, this will go fine. Yeah, and the 96 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: nice officer told us, you know, well this is going 97 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: to sound a little scary, but we need you to 98 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 3: go check in at a different place this time. And 99 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 3: so they sent us to a company called ice App. 100 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 3: They own, i think migrant detention centers. So we went 101 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: to this place and he was there the whole day. 102 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: They were interviewing him. They put an app in his 103 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 3: phone so that now he has to do these weekly 104 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 3: check ins where his phone makes this loud alarm sound. 105 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 3: He must stop everything and take a picture of himself. 106 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 3: There's a monthly home visit where they come to our 107 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: house and take his picture and ask him questions. There's 108 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 3: we have to go check in at their office, and 109 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 3: also he does virtual check in. So it's just a 110 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 3: lot more and everything was kind of going as planned. 111 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 3: We are last hearing in July that was really stressful 112 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 3: because we didn't have a lawyer leading up to it, 113 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 3: and at the last second we were able to get 114 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 3: a lawyer. And the reason it's so important to have 115 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,920 Speaker 3: a lawyer is because if you don't, you must appear 116 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 3: in person, and that's very stressful and frightening. Again, we 117 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 3: have small children. We don't even do babysitters, like, we're 118 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 3: always just together. We're a very tight family unit, and 119 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 3: so we go to these things together. And we really 120 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 3: wanted this last one in July to be virtual because 121 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 3: if it's virtual, you know, it's just feels a lot safer. 122 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 3: We're in the comfort of our own home and we've 123 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 3: been hearing in the news, you know, how they're picking 124 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 3: up people outside of their court hearings. So we got 125 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: the attorney, we got a virtual here. It was a 126 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 3: very short hearing. It was great because she just gave 127 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: us the next hearing date was September of twenty twenty eight, 128 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 3: and the judge said, Okay, see you in twenty twenty eight, 129 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 3: and we breathed a sigh of relief, crossed our fingers, 130 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 3: did our necessary check ins, and we were just you know, 131 00:07:19,720 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: hoping that everything would be fine. Ye, well, just here 132 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 3: at the end of August, beginning of September, we get 133 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 3: out of the blue a new notice. It was very 134 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: interesting too, because this iceapp company calls us and says, 135 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 3: good news, We're gonna lessen the amount of check ins 136 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 3: you have to do. It's going to be a lot 137 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: less now. So, you know, it was interesting because she's like, 138 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: this is great news for you, so like once a month, 139 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 3: you'll still do the weekly ones and then it's just 140 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 3: going to be once. 141 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 2: A month, okay. 142 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 3: But then she says, and then we'll see you after 143 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 3: your hearing in September, meaning this September. And we thought 144 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 3: it was a mistake because we knew we had one 145 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 3: in twenty twenty eight. Yeah, like, no, no, you got 146 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: a new hearing notice. So that's how we found out. 147 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: They didn't send it to us. Even our lawyer didn't know. 148 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 3: So we find out that we have a new hearing 149 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 3: out of the blue. There was a mix up about 150 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 3: the dates, but anyway, it was September eleventh or fifteenth, 151 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: and then our attorney asked for an extension and the 152 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 3: most they could give us was nine days. So now 153 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 3: our hearing is this coming Wednesday, September twenty fourth, and 154 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 3: on this has never happened before, but when again, when 155 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 3: you have an attorney, you can appear virtually, and on 156 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 3: this hearing notice it said that the attorney can appear virtually, 157 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 3: but the respondent must appear in person, and that is 158 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 3: highly unusual. It's in bold at the top. So our 159 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 3: attorney agrees with us that it's pretty clear the plan is. 160 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 3: What they've been doing now is when you go to court, 161 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 3: they drop your case. So now it's dismissed, and therefore 162 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 3: you are just here without due process. Now you don't 163 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 3: have a right to do process. It's done, so you're 164 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 3: just here legally, and then they're sometimes waiting for you 165 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 3: in the hallway or outside the building to take you 166 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 3: to iced attention. So obviously since we found this out, 167 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 3: I mean, we've just been sleepless nights, full panic mode 168 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 3: of figuring out like what to do, and then our 169 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 3: attorney doesn't even have answers for us. She does not 170 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 3: know what to do. She says, this is all new 171 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 3: to her, it's new to all the lawyers. She doesn't 172 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 3: even know what to do or who to ask. And 173 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 3: that's frightening, because that's why we have an attorney, you know, 174 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 3: We're hoping for some support or someone who's knowledgeable about 175 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 3: the law and what are our options, and it feels 176 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 3: like we don't have any. We feel extremely helpless, and 177 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 3: I've never thought I would see this in my country, 178 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 3: my quote unquote free country that I have lived in 179 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 3: most of my life and grew up in. Also, about 180 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 3: two weeks ago, they changed the law where now we 181 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 3: are not entitled to a bar, so if he is 182 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: taken into detention, we can't even get him out, because 183 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 3: that was the first thing we thought was, well, let's 184 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: just try to get some money together and we'll bail 185 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 3: him out. Yeah, that's not even an option anymore. So 186 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 3: again more fear. So we're dealing with all of this 187 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 3: and wondering what to do as far as you know. Again, 188 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 3: we have small children. They're now seven and nine years old. 189 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 3: We're extremely happy where we're living. We live in a 190 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: small community that does lean on the conservative side, so 191 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 3: we do feel a little uncomfortable with some of our 192 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 3: neighbors and their flags and everything. They're very bold, so 193 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 3: you know, and you can't hide being brown, so it's 194 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 3: awkward and then our children because of the way that 195 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 3: we left before. When we left Tunisia, it was pretty sudden. 196 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 3: We kind of took them out of school and just 197 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 3: came to America and left their dad behind. So they've 198 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 3: been in therapy ever since. They each have a weekly 199 00:10:56,679 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 3: therapist just to help with if they're you know, if 200 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 3: they're going to have any symptoms of trauma coming up 201 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 3: for them. And they're doing great. Actually, they're thriving here. 202 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: They are so happy. They are in the best school. 203 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 3: I actually work at their school, and my husband volunteers 204 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: at the school and he's been their soccer coach for 205 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 3: both of their teams, which is a lot to take on. 206 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 3: He also volunteers in our community at a ranch helping 207 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 3: with horses and at a facility for senior citizens. And 208 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: he does have a work permit. They granted him a 209 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 3: work permit, which took a long time to get. 210 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 2: That's good because that can take a long time. 211 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: It took a long time, over a year, but he 212 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 3: does have it now. So we got excited because he 213 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 3: only got the work permit a couple months ago, so 214 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 3: we're very excited, you know, he can work and now 215 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: it's just out of the blue. Our world has turned 216 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 3: upside down where there's a strong potential that he will 217 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 3: be taken into ice custody and listen, I understand if 218 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 3: that's how they want to do things now, but if 219 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 3: it was like a safer situation where maybe they just. 220 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 2: I don't know. 221 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 3: It's just there's so many unknowns about where are they 222 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: taking him. There's our lawyer does not think we will 223 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 3: be informed about where they take him. That's one thing 224 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: which means we probably won't be able to communicate with him. 225 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 3: We don't know how long he'll be there. They could 226 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 3: keep him there the entire three years until twenty twenty eight. 227 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 3: They might just want to keep him in detention and wait, 228 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 3: you know, for his next year. It doesn't make any 229 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: sense to me because that costs money, and he's a 230 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 3: tax payer. Wouldn't it pay more if he's home working. 231 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: By the way, yes, he has no criminal record whatsoever. 232 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 3: He has not broken any immigration laws, at least when 233 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 3: he came over the border. It was legal to present 234 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 3: yourself for asylum when you are coming from a country 235 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: like he was. Where he was you know, being harassed, detained, 236 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: and our entire family like we were being threatened and 237 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 3: feeling very unsafe there. 238 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: So, yeah, it's a textbook asylum place, right, like. 239 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, we have a valid asylum claim. We've submitted hundreds 240 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 3: of documents of evidence to the court. You know, the 241 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 3: judge actually complimented us on how well we did because 242 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 3: at the time we didn't have an attorney. We were 243 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 3: just trying to do it on our own because we 244 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 3: couldn't afford an attorney. We were both college graduates, so 245 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 3: we put together a really organized, you know case, and 246 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 3: so I have filed to sponsor him as well. You know, 247 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 3: as my husband. We've been together twelve years, married ten 248 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: two kids, and they don't care about that. It does 249 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 3: not matter if he has an American family, it does 250 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 3: not matter. They are taking anybody. And that also is very, 251 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 3: very frustrating, and that's the reason that we should have 252 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 3: due process. They should be looking at every single case 253 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 3: individually and have a judge make a decision. That's the 254 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 3: whole point of it. Obviously, if we hadn't hindsight, if 255 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 3: we had known that this could have happened, we had 256 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 3: no idea that this could have happened in our country, 257 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 3: we would have started this sponsorship process a long time ago. 258 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 3: The reason we did and is because he was married 259 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 3: before and he went through this process with USCIS to 260 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 3: try to get sponsorship with his first wife, and it 261 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 3: was extremely complicated and frustrating and cost a lot of money, 262 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 3: and he went through a bunch of lawyers and he 263 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 3: was so traumatized by the experience that literally we had 264 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: big legal files in our house that I had to 265 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 3: hide because he couldn't even see them or he would 266 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 3: get triggered. So he didn't want to put me through that. 267 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 3: And we were living in Tunisia anyway, and so we 268 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 3: just figured we were just kind of kicking the can 269 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 3: down the road, thinking, oh, we'll deal with it at 270 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 3: some point. Unfortunately, we waited way too long and you know, 271 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 3: didn't start dealing with it until he got here. And 272 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 3: so USCIS, which is where we you know, file for 273 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 3: this sponsorship. 274 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, you ask Customs Immigration Service people know familiar. 275 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 3: Yes, thank you. After we filed that, they gave us 276 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 3: a time period on when we would get the decision. 277 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 3: It was fifteen months that we would have to wait. 278 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 3: And we've been checking the site, checking the site, checking 279 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 3: the site, has been counting down, counting down, and about 280 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 3: a month ago we were down. 281 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 2: To a week, oh well, okay, that we would be. 282 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 3: Getting a decision, and after the week passed, it changed 283 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 3: the message on the app now or the website now 284 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 3: says and definitely you'll have to wait indefinitely for this decision. 285 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 3: So we've been trying to ask our lawyer please push 286 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 3: for this because if that gets you know, an answer, 287 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 3: that would be great. But the answer could be no 288 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 3: on that as well. They could just say no, come 289 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 3: on in and they can take him straight from there 290 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 3: as well. So the whole thing is so incredibly stressful 291 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 3: and frightening the fact that my government, I'm in America, 292 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 3: I'm an American citizen with two American kids, and my 293 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: government is threatening to tear our family apart and take 294 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 3: my husband away, the father of my children, and traumatize 295 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: my children again to have their dad not with us, 296 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 3: and lord knows where they're going to send him. It 297 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 3: is absolutely infuriating, and it feels like agony too, because 298 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 3: like every day I wake up and I'm counting down 299 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 3: the days to this hearing, and we have no idea 300 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 3: what's going to happen. Right, it feels very very threatening 301 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 3: to our safety and our livelihood, and that it's coming 302 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 3: from our government does not make me feel like this 303 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: is a great country to live in and I do 304 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 3: not feel safe living here. 305 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, thanks for sharing all that. 306 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: That's a lot too, yeah to have to put out there, 307 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: so thank you for sharing it. Yes, we should just 308 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: explain for people, like there's a lot of stuff that 309 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,680 Speaker 1: maybe people who haven't been through the system might not 310 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: not grasp within that right, So what the government has 311 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: if I just break down, like the dismissal of cases, 312 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: as I understand that what the government has been doing 313 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: has been dismissing people's asylum case right, which they got 314 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: under Title eight when they entered and added by the administration, 315 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: and then placing them in expedited removal proceedings, which is 316 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 1: a mandatory detention as you said, right, it's not a 317 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: bailout situation, and then as you say, forcing them to 318 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 1: fight from detention, right, which in this case would obviously 319 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: stop your husband from working, stop your husband from paying taxes, 320 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 1: and instead make him a burden on the American taxpayer 321 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 1: while he's detained in conditions which could often be very poor. 322 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: In that situation, You're only sort of claim is a 323 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: credible fear of torture, right, which is something that in 324 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 1: your case, it sounds like would be very real. But nonetheless, 325 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: that is a very high bar, and we've seen the 326 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 1: United States do all kinds of things to get around that. 327 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: We've got on that all the time, so I can 328 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: understand that fear and where it comes from. I think 329 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: people will be shocked, but they perhaps shouldn't be to 330 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: hear that, Like, yes, you can be a US citizen 331 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: married to a non US citizen. This can still happen 332 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: to you. It can happen to anyone who is not 333 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: a citizen in this country right now. I wonder, like 334 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: it must have been pretty heartbreaking to see the election, 335 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: to see the rhetoric, Like how does that line up 336 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: with your lives in your community? Because I see this 337 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: often even from really conservative people, right, Like I know 338 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: people who voted for Trump who have also shown up 339 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: to cook for asylum seekers in the desert or to 340 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 1: help refugees living in our community. Like it's a very 341 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 1: strange thing. Have you felt alienated from your community since 342 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: the beginning of this year, because I'm interested in, like 343 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: how your lives have changed because of that change in rhetoric. 344 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 3: Yes, Like I said, we have neighbors on our streets. 345 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 3: So there was a block party for Fourth of July, 346 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 3: which I didn't even feel like celebrating, but we had 347 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 3: just moved into this house, so we felt, you know, 348 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:17,919 Speaker 3: like we should go at least meet the neighbors. And 349 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 3: there's a lot of Trump flags on our street, and 350 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 3: it was very awkward. But my husband is very charming 351 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 3: and charismatic and outgoing, and he just goes right up 352 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 3: and introduces himself. And there was one gentleman wearing a 353 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 3: T shirt that said they hate us because they ate us, 354 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 3: and it's got a big old, you know, Trump face 355 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: on it, and it was just so so awkward. So yeah, 356 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 3: we feel uncomfortable. Also, like I said, it's a leans 357 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 3: conservative in this community and our school. Even like, as 358 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 3: we're doing this fundraiser, we were very careful not to 359 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 3: share it with anyone that we live near, just in case, 360 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 3: you know, because we have been hearing reports of people 361 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 3: like neighbors calling ice on their neighbors to you report 362 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 3: them and you know, go pick up this person. You know, 363 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,359 Speaker 3: he looks brown or I don't know what they're what 364 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 3: they're doing or their logic, but you know, yeah, it 365 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 3: feels very threatening and even Oh. My daughter even said, uh, 366 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:18,119 Speaker 3: can't Data just cover up his skin? You know, like 367 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 3: she was just thinking like, yeah, was he gonna wear 368 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 3: her cup? 369 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? Right? 370 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 3: I mean, you can't really hide who you are, and 371 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 3: you shouldn't have. 372 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: To, right, And it's very hard for the kids to 373 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: be saying that, yeah, the dad should be hiding. 374 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 4: Yeah. 375 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 3: And they've asked me, how can we make Trump just 376 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 3: forget about Data, you know, and I said, well, he 377 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:41,720 Speaker 3: doesn't really know. They don't you know, he doesn't know 378 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 3: exactly your dad. He's just they're doing this to a 379 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 3: lot of people. You know. We just happened to be 380 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 3: in that group. But I will say we have some 381 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 3: some close friends that we really adore and they are Trumpers. 382 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 3: You know, we see it on their Facebook page, but 383 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 3: then when we're in their presence, they don't bring it up, 384 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 3: and it's just kind of an elephant room. And honestly, 385 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 3: as our core data is getting closer, we plan on 386 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 3: having them over to talk about it because it feels 387 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 3: very awkward. And I just think there's the kindest people. 388 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 3: They're extremely religious, which we are not when we're on 389 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 3: the spiritual side, but you know, I think they're just 390 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,200 Speaker 3: they're just on a team. They've chosen a team, and 391 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 3: I don't think they're necessarily paying a lot of attention 392 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 3: to what's actually happening to people. So we're hoping that 393 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: just a conversation will just let them know. We want 394 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 3: to be honest with the people that are close to us, 395 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 3: and that mean a lot to us, you know, because 396 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 3: we don't know what's about to happen. And even there's 397 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 3: members of my family that I feel very awkward talking 398 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,479 Speaker 3: to as well, where I'm kind of distanced myself because 399 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 3: people who are still supporting this regime at this point, 400 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 3: to me are too far gone to even kind of 401 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 3: get them to come around, I guess. I mean, I 402 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 3: just don't understand. I can't understand support of Trump from 403 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 3: the first place. So again, if people are still on 404 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 3: that boat, I really don't relate to them, and it's 405 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:15,160 Speaker 3: very awkward. Especially Yeah, people in my family who supposedly 406 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 3: love me and my children, you know, are still supporting 407 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 3: that regime, and despite seeing all the things, maybe they 408 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,919 Speaker 3: don't see it. I mean, I know they if they 409 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 3: are exclusively watching Fox News, then they are only receiving 410 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 3: that information, which is not telling the whole story, right, 411 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: And it's definitely completely skewed to make them look like 412 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 3: the good guys, and anyone on that's liberal is a 413 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 3: bad guy. And they're very much targeting you know, Democrats 414 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 3: now as the enemy, the enemy of the state. They 415 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 3: have even said. So it's I mean, it's so now 416 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 3: I'm starting to feel even nonsafe for myself because I'm 417 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 3: I'm not super active on Facebook, but I am outspoken 418 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 3: because I can't resist. I mean, there is freedom of 419 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 3: speech in this country, or at least there was, and 420 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 3: there should be. And it's hard to be quiet at 421 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 3: this time. And we would be a lot more outspoken 422 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 3: if we weren't feeling unsafe. 423 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, but you have that fear, yes, yeah. 424 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 3: Yes, especially my husband because he's always been an activist 425 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,479 Speaker 3: and a you know, fighter for free speech and equal rights, 426 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,679 Speaker 3: and so it's that's one of the things that's really 427 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 3: crushing him and his soul and his spirit through all this, 428 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 3: is that he cannot even speak out. Yes, so you know, 429 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 3: for people like him. It's not even for himself, but 430 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 3: just for people like him. I know he wants to help, 431 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 3: you know, and it's really challenging. 432 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 1: I know, it's so sad to see the whole point 433 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: of the asylum system, and like at least the sort 434 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: of stated purpose of American foreign policy, it's sort of 435 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: spread democracy throughout the world, and a lot of people 436 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: have stood up for democracy and been persecuted to come 437 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: here and be safe. Evidently the United States doesn't even 438 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: believe it's saying that anymore, in so much as it 439 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 1: said it didn't always do it in the past. Yeah, 440 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: it is really sad to think that, like even that 441 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: it's gone. Yeah, for so many people. I think the 442 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 1: idea of migrants is like an abstract one right for 443 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: your Fox News viewer. Migrants are just like an abstract 444 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: brown skin bad person. And I often think that if 445 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: those people had known migrants in their community, they would 446 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: either not vote that way or they would at least 447 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: not like that policy. There are other things they liked 448 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: about Trump, which it go. That's not something I can 449 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: I can find much understanding of. And those people do exist, 450 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: but it's just so sad to see like people turned 451 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: against anyone who wasn't born in this country. Yeah, it's 452 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: simply because they were, not because of any other character trait. 453 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 3: They have, particularly the brown skin though, because you have 454 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 3: to admit the Canadians there. I mean, even though there's 455 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 3: been a little tension with the Canadians at first in 456 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 3: this regime, you know, pretty much under the radar, and 457 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 3: anyone from Europe or anyone. He's even said like send 458 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 3: a Nordic people, that's fine, you know, I mean, he's 459 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 3: he's very clear, right, Yeah, the Africans refugees are welcome. 460 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 3: Come on. It's just so blatant, you know. And and 461 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 3: I remember when I was growing up, my mom in particular, 462 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 3: would would complain when when we started to have to 463 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 3: press one for English. I remember my mom complaining about 464 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 3: that or thinking, you know, you know, if you're here, 465 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 3: you should learn the language. Well, I got to say, 466 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 3: I lived in Tunisia for eight years and I did 467 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 3: not learn the language. I tried to teach myself. It's 468 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 3: a dialect that you know, at the time, they didn't 469 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 3: have lessons that you could get on YouTube or duo 470 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 3: lingo or anything. You know. If I learned French and Arabic, 471 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 3: maybe I could piece something together. But I you know, 472 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 3: it's not as easy as people say. 473 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 2: And yeah, yeah, And then just. 474 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 3: To speak of my mother, I guess she prides her 475 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 3: self on making friends with people at the grocery store 476 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,680 Speaker 3: who are of another ethnicity, or like really you know, 477 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 3: getting to know a doctor, or she has a housekeeper 478 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 3: who's been working for her for like thirty years, and 479 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 3: so I know she doesn't think of that person as 480 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 3: being someone that shouldn't be here, right, So you know, 481 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 3: so I think even if you do know a family 482 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 3: or two who's who's an immigrant, you might think, oh, well, 483 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 3: not them, I don't mean them, I mean also other ones. 484 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 3: I mean all the bad guys. 485 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, the bad ones. 486 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, and if Trump was serious about getting the bad 487 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 3: ones go to the gang neighborhoods, Like we do know 488 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,959 Speaker 3: where the dangerous gang neighborhoods are, but they're not sending 489 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,919 Speaker 3: the tanks there. They're sending them to MacArthur Park, you know, 490 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 3: home depot. It's like, if you want to get the gangs, 491 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 3: get the gangs. But I think they're too scared of 492 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 3: that because these are really just regular people that they're 493 00:26:56,840 --> 00:27:00,959 Speaker 3: hiring to do this work for them to people, and 494 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 3: that's why they're hiding their faces, because they are regular 495 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,359 Speaker 3: people who would like to probably have a normal life 496 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 3: outside of this new job that they've been so well 497 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 3: paid for. 498 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:14,239 Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, and certainly they're they're recruiting a lot more 499 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: people to do that right now, which is can I 500 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: only see a step up in enforcement? 501 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 4: Yeah? 502 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: I wonder like in so much anything has helped because 503 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 1: people will want to help, right Like, I think people 504 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: will listen, they will understand a situation, they will see 505 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: the possibility of your family being torn apart and want 506 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 1: to help. But it's hard to help right now, right 507 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: unless you're an immigration lawyer. And every pro bono immigration 508 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: lawyer I know is mental health damaging levels of overworked 509 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 1: and stressed and traumatized. I think, So what can people do, 510 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:59,719 Speaker 1: either for you or in their communities to show up 511 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 1: for people who are in your situation? 512 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 3: I would say donate. You could donate to the ACL, 513 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 3: you donate to individual families like ours. I'm sure. I 514 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 3: think there's a lot of gofundmes out there that people 515 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 3: are trying to raise money for. That's the way, you know, 516 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 3: everything is kind of done these days when people are 517 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 3: desperate and speak out, And I think the most important 518 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 3: thing is have conversations and get to know people and 519 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 3: even like, yeah, sometimes I see you know, a Hispanic 520 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 3: person in a grocery store. I just wanted to tell them, 521 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 3: thank you for being here. I'm glad you're here, because 522 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 3: I think they must be feeling so scared right now 523 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:39,120 Speaker 3: and so unwanted and so unappreciated when they are doing 524 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 3: some of the hardest jobs that nobody else wants to 525 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 3: do for very little money. Yeah, these are essential workers. 526 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 3: They should be paid the most. Everything is backwards, you know. 527 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 3: The people who are doing the hardest, you know, cleaning 528 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 3: the toilets and picking the fields, they should be paid 529 00:28:57,240 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 3: the most. It doesn't make any sense. Regardless of where 530 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 3: they're from, they're willing to do the work, and Lord 531 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 3: knows their background of where they came from and how 532 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,479 Speaker 3: the struggles that they've been through to leave their home country. 533 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 3: Nobody wants to leave their home country. You do that 534 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 3: because it's so bad that you must, you know, especially 535 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 3: if you have children. You're trying to make a better 536 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 3: life for yourself. And we've been sold on this American 537 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 3: dream prospect. You know that we've heard our whole lives 538 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 3: and the whole world has heard about So they come 539 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 3: and now we're just punishing them brutally. It's not even like, 540 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 3: oh no, sorry, we're full, you know, we're gonna have 541 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 3: to send you back. It's like, no, we're gonna punish you. 542 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 3: We're gonna treat you like dogs, call you animals and 543 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 3: vermin and call you horrible things. Yeah, send you to 544 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 3: places where you're unsafe and untaken care of, and maybe, 545 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 3: if you're lucky, you'll get sent back to your home country, 546 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 3: or you'll get sent to a random country or even 547 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 3: a prison, like a horrible prison in another country where 548 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 3: who knows what's It's just this is what frightens me. Yea, 549 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 3: you know again, if he was sent to somewhere, to 550 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 3: a place where I could you know, we could have 551 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 3: visits or calls or you know, and he waits it out, 552 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 3: I guess that would be more tolerable than the unknown 553 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 3: of his safety. He's not going to be well taken 554 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 3: care of. That's a fact. They don't care about these people. 555 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:25,959 Speaker 3: And my husband, unfortunately, he's always been extremely strong, extremely brave, 556 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 3: a fighter, and I feel like his fight is gone. 557 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:33,000 Speaker 3: He's physically and mentally at the end of his rope. 558 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 3: And I'm extremely frightened. I mean, he just feels like 559 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 3: he's tired of fighting. He's just exhausted from this, you 560 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 3: know again, I mean, we've been together twelve years. And 561 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 3: again he was going through this process with his first 562 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 3: wife who he was with for eight years, and he 563 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 3: never got an answer. He was never denied, but he 564 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 3: just never got an answer, and that was enough for 565 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 3: them for our case, just to you know, it's going 566 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 3: to be really, really difficult to get a yes for 567 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 3: a green card. 568 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I mean it still happens. I've heard of 569 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: it happening even in the last few months, but it 570 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,480 Speaker 1: is increasingly harder and less common, and that is brutal. 571 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's horrible. 572 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,720 Speaker 1: And the way, of course, as you're saying, system is 573 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 1: designed to make you feel hopeless and just to as 574 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: they call it self, deport. 575 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 3: Yes, And even our lawyer doesn't know what to do. 576 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 3: And I feel the judge seems like a nice person, 577 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 3: and I would imagine it must be very frustrating too 578 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 3: to be a judge at this time where they have 579 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 3: to be the ones that are just kind of their 580 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 3: hands are tied. They will lose their job if they 581 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 3: don't do what the regime wants them to do. So 582 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 3: you know, this is what happens in third world countries. 583 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:50,000 Speaker 3: This is why America has been great, because we weren't 584 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 3: like this before with US, you know, cutting out free 585 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 3: speech and things like that. It's changing rapidly and if 586 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 3: people don't stand up more, and I'm sorry, but it's 587 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 3: going to have to take more than these peaceful protests. Unfortunately, 588 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 3: because they're not doing anything. We are being laughed at 589 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 3: by the Maga Republicans. They do not care about our 590 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 3: peaceful protests. They're just like, Okay, there's a protest on 591 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 3: this day. Next day, They're just going to keep doing 592 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:19,719 Speaker 3: it harder, you know. 593 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 2: Sure, Yeah, it's. 594 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 3: Not changing anything, so something has to change. I'm hoping 595 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,960 Speaker 3: more celebrities come out and start speaking up. I think 596 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 3: that would help because people tend to back the celebrities 597 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 3: that they love, and I'm kind of alarmed that more 598 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 3: people like especially the most powerful celebrities like Oprah for example, 599 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 3: why aren't they out there every day, yeah, you know, 600 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 3: saying this is what I support and this is what 601 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 3: I don't support. I think they're scared, I'm assuming. 602 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,720 Speaker 2: I would imagine, so what a sad thought. 603 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 3: I do think that the Maga Republicans are outnumbered, and 604 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,880 Speaker 3: I think that they're continuously going to be outnumbered as 605 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 3: things get more and more you know, shocking as we're 606 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 3: seeing our freedoms being stripped, the constitutional freedoms that we've 607 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 3: always known being stripped. I think it's going to get worse, 608 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 3: and I don't know how about it has to get 609 00:33:12,360 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 3: before change happens. 610 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think any of us do. I do 611 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 2: think you're right. 612 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,840 Speaker 1: The more and more people are not happy with HAWS 613 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: is happening, But there doesn't even seem to be a 614 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: well among Democrats to oppose this in a meaningful way. 615 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, she's very. 616 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 3: Sad and like, yeah, even the Democrats in power don't 617 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 3: know what to do. 618 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:34,440 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, and they seem to think that it's 619 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 1: electoral suicide just to be basically decent and say, we 620 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,800 Speaker 1: need to be decent people and kind to people who 621 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: come here asking us to help them. And there seems 622 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: to be something that is just inadmissible in electoral politics, 623 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: which is really sad. 624 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:48,160 Speaker 3: Right now. 625 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you guys have your court date. We will 626 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:53,600 Speaker 1: obviously continue covering this. 627 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 628 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 2: We get We're going to continue updating people. 629 00:33:57,360 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: We will continue talking about this and covering this, and yeah, 630 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 1: we'll try and get an update out. This is coming out. 631 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: You'll be hearing this on Monday, and we will try 632 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:09,799 Speaker 1: and get an update out within a week or so, 633 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 1: just to let everyone know how things have gone and 634 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:14,439 Speaker 1: what they can do to help. Is there anything else 635 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: you'd like to say to people before we go? 636 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, as we found out, you know that there's 637 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:22,880 Speaker 3: a good possibility that he will be taken into iced 638 00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:26,120 Speaker 3: attention on Wednesday. We ask our lawyer, Okay, so what 639 00:34:26,200 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 3: are the next steps if that happens? What you know, 640 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 3: he has a constitutional right to do process of law 641 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,439 Speaker 3: habeas corpus and she doesn't know what to do. She's 642 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:38,400 Speaker 3: never done it before. So therefore we need to find 643 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,439 Speaker 3: a different lawyer that can help us with that. It's 644 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:45,320 Speaker 3: not in immigration court, it's federal court. So we have inquiries. 645 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 3: We actually have a consult today with someone who maybe 646 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 3: help us with that. We sent emails out last night 647 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,880 Speaker 3: kind of telling our story to another lawyer, hoping that 648 00:34:53,920 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 3: we can get some support and on that front, because 649 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:01,879 Speaker 3: basically that's your next step. You're in detention. You raise 650 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 3: your constitutional rights of due process of law, you know, 651 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 3: but then again it's another fight and again it could 652 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:13,239 Speaker 3: be from detention, which is yeah, more money, I'm going 653 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 3: to be at that point, a single mother, you know, 654 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 3: trying to support bills here in California, which is already 655 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 3: you know, difficult, and you know, on my own, and 656 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 3: also paying lawyers and trying to fight to either find 657 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 3: my husband or get him out of there. You know, 658 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 3: we don't want to be the country if we if 659 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 3: we don't have to. We we love it here. I 660 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,239 Speaker 3: don't know where else to go. We can't go to Tunisia. 661 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 3: I'm American. Where are we supposed to go? Yeah? And 662 00:35:45,160 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 3: that's what people don't understand too with immigrants. You know, 663 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 3: if they can't return to their home country because of 664 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 3: safety reasons, which is most of the cases, that's why 665 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,760 Speaker 3: we have the silent cases, then what are they supposed 666 00:35:57,800 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 3: to do? You know? 667 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,440 Speaker 1: And I don't think a lot of people seem to care, right, 668 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 1: They think people just want people to go away. 669 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 2: Somewhere, go figure it out. 670 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:07,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not our problem. 671 00:36:07,680 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, which in this case it very much is 672 00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 1: and in every case, and like it is our problem 673 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: that we should take responsibility for one another as well. 674 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 2: Being right, Yes, as humans should care about each other. 675 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, just have empathy at least that's the least we 676 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:23,799 Speaker 3: could do. 677 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, A society that says it's not my problem, it's 678 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:29,400 Speaker 2: not one that any of us should want to live in. 679 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 4: Yeah. 680 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, And in our case, my husband's particularly worried because 681 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 3: if he does get sent back to Tunisia, most definitely 682 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 3: he would be in jail there as well, which is 683 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:41,160 Speaker 3: also not a pleasant experience. 684 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:42,479 Speaker 2: Yet to put it mildly, and it would be. 685 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, where they torture people in jail. So yeah, again, 686 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,080 Speaker 3: we don't really know what to do or where to go. 687 00:36:49,239 --> 00:36:51,920 Speaker 3: But these are the thoughts that we're having. 688 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're not unreasonable. 689 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:57,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, if we do self deport, when do we, Like, 690 00:36:57,680 --> 00:36:59,359 Speaker 3: we're trying to push it as long as we can 691 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,520 Speaker 3: stay stayed day, stay, stay, stay, stay, you know, and 692 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 3: then when do we let them know? Okay, okay, I 693 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:06,840 Speaker 3: guess we'll self deport, like at the last second before 694 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,279 Speaker 3: they take them into detend, like, you know, I don't 695 00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 3: know the safe way to do that, right, And then 696 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:15,000 Speaker 3: if we do, can they give us time to get 697 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,600 Speaker 3: our affairs in order, Like leaving the country is no 698 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 3: small task and we don't even have money to do that. 699 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 3: So you know, these are our options, These are literally 700 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:28,080 Speaker 3: our options. And again, small children second grade, fourth grade, 701 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 3: you know, and they're thriving here like they don't deserve this. 702 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:35,759 Speaker 3: And my husband even said, you know, he said this 703 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:38,239 Speaker 3: the other day, like our children don't deserve this, and 704 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,760 Speaker 3: I said, no, children deserve the horrors of this planet. 705 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 3: You know that. I mean, we're we're actually a lot 706 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:48,600 Speaker 3: luckier than a lot of other children. So but at 707 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:50,840 Speaker 3: the same time, there are children, and this is the 708 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:53,920 Speaker 3: problem that we're dealing with, and unfortunately they have to 709 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:56,440 Speaker 3: deal with it too. You know, that's just what a 710 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,799 Speaker 3: family is. Yea. Our goal is to stay together no 711 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:03,800 Speaker 3: matter matter what. We want to keep my husband safe, 712 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:07,400 Speaker 3: and we want to keep us together. That's our number 713 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 3: one call. So unfortunately that may mean that we need 714 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:14,000 Speaker 3: to leave. And I will be very, very sad if 715 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,880 Speaker 3: that's the case, because I have always loved this country. 716 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:22,040 Speaker 3: It's always stood for greatness, and ironically, the group that 717 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:25,600 Speaker 3: thinks they're going to make America great again is failing miserably. 718 00:38:26,000 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's incredibly sad. And like you said, 719 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 1: you've already up and left your children want, yes to 720 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,359 Speaker 1: come to a safe place, to be safe, and then 721 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,280 Speaker 1: to have to do it again from that safe place, 722 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure we'll be and the order to get more 723 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:39,800 Speaker 1: than they realize what's happening. 724 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:43,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's only two years later, you know, the poor kids. 725 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:47,319 Speaker 2: Yeah exactly. Who. I'm so sorry you're going through this. 726 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you. 727 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 2: This sucks. We'll all be thinking of you. 728 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 3: Thank you very much. 729 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:55,200 Speaker 2: And yeah, if you're listening, I will. I will try 730 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:57,360 Speaker 2: and keep you updated over the next few weeks. 731 00:38:57,640 --> 00:38:58,359 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 732 00:38:58,440 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 2: James, all right, thank you, thank you for your time. 733 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:01,880 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. 734 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:08,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you. It Could Happen Here is a production 735 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 3: of cool Zone Media. For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, 736 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,399 Speaker 3: visit our website coolzonmedia dot com, or check us out 737 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:18,880 Speaker 3: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 738 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,560 Speaker 3: to podcasts. You can now find sources for It Could 739 00:39:21,560 --> 00:39:23,839 Speaker 3: Happen here listed directly in episode descriptions. 740 00:39:24,160 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening.