New immigration policy separates families, loved ones

It’s really hard.”

Border agents returned most of the immigrants to Mexico immediately, but allowed the Cruz siblings to stay, began formal removal proceedings against them, and allowed them to continue on to New York where their mother was living legally as an immigrant of temporary protected status.

The executive order will give Alex an opportunity to continue his education, something no one in his family has done before.  “I will quit my job, apply for a loan and go to college.” Alex told the Times.

For many people like Nelly the threat of deportation is real, as the Obama administration has deported more than 1.1 million illegal immigrants, more than the number of illegals deported by previous administrations.

“Their situation is common, Allan Wernick, director of Citizenship Now!, an immigrant legal assistance program at the City University of New York told the Times. “Everybody who is eligible knows someone who isn’t, whether a friend or a family member,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of inquiries from people hoping it’s flexible, but it’s not flexible.”

The Times also tells the story of Boni and Gilda, a married couple who have been raising their son David in Harlem. Boni is 28 and eligible under the act, but Gilda, who is 32, is not. Her biggest fear is being picked up in a raid and separated from her son and husband.

Boni and Gilda, who only gave their first names, lived in the same town of Puebla, Mexico, but came to the United States separately. They met again at a party in New York and started dating. Boni worked in a restaurant kitchen, while Gilda worked at a jewelry factory. They eventually married and gave birth to their son David six years ago.

When they first heard of the new policy, they both thought they were ineligible. Gilda because she was too old and Boni because he did not have the proper documents, but Boni found out from a neighbor who works at the New York Immigration Coalition that he could apply using affidavits to prove his dates of residence.

“It’s going to open a lot of doors,” he said. “I always wanted to open a business, but because of the papers situation, I always think I’m not going to be able to do it. But if I qualify and can get this, it’s going to be more easy for me to one day open a business or start going back to school, apply for some financial aid. Or prepare for something in life.”

Gilda is focusing her time on raising her son David. “I am afraid of being separated, hearing about raids, in case there’s a raid in the workplace,” Gilda told the Times. “I think about my child, and what it would be for us to get separated. Or what if they get me while I’m with my child? My husband says not to worry, but it’s something I’m afraid of.”

Yohan Garcia and Monica Sibri met as volunteers in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office while in college. After they graduate, Garcia plans to go into politics, but Monica will most likely return to her country “because there is nothing else I can do with my papers.”

Garcia is gathering his documents together for his application and will now have the opportunity to pursue jobs that were originally closed to him. Garcia said he got offers from the mayor’s office, the labor union Local 32BJ, and City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, but had to turn them all down because of his status. Instead Garcia spent his nights working at a 24-hour bagel shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

“When I got offered a job at 32BJ and couldn’t take it because of my immigration status, I felt like crying,” Garcia told the Times. “I thought, no matter what I do, I was never going to get one of these job opportunities. Even though you were volunteering, giving your time, the city or the state or the country wasn’t giving you anything back. You were just a number on the side that didn’t count.” But now, he said, all that has changed. “Deferred action is going to make us feel we’re a part of society.”