Know Your Rights in Solms

We knew that we needed to share the information we were gathering with those around us.  We had prepared a PowerPoint to guide a discussion of KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.  At the same time we had a sheet and some cards to hand out.

We invited a group of our neighbors to our house to discuss this information to ease their fears and let them know that they were not alone in their circumstances.  Our response was light but it was a good meeting.   With what we now had prepared, we asked our neighbors to invite their friends and family to another session.  This was not productive.  We just could not get our friends to show the level of concern that we were feeling.  Maybe it was that we had not earned enough trust.  Maybe this just didn't seem relevant as long as things seemed to be unchanged.  And most likely, this topic has been protected by silence for so long that it was not one to be discussed at anytime.

We learned of a resource being offered by a state in Mexico to its citizens living in New Braunfels.   We took fliers to the meeting there and invited these families to another KNOW YOUR RIGHTS training at our house.  We had no calls or response.

Because of the stances expressed by their leadership, Lucretia and I went to the three Catholic churches in our town to offer trainings or information to their parishioners.  Again, no response even though we knew that their Archdiosis was calling for awareness about immigrant issues.

We have concluded that we have to let our friends know that we have resources available when needed and that we can offer help when it is asked for.

Protect DACA

Our initial motivation for visiting the Interfaith Welcome Coalition was to learn more about how we could help inform and protect our immigrant families who live near us.  We learned that most of these families had migrated from an area just north of Mexico City.  After getting to know them and their kids we would sometimes learn that a mom or dad was undocumented.  Sometimes both were.  Some who had come across on a work visa had established families here and then not having enough money to renew their green cards they slipped into the culture that survives on the edge of our legal system.

Several families had kids who had been brought across the border as children.  In 2014 with the continued failure of Congress to act on immigration, President Obama made a Presidential Order which declared that for 2 year periods action would be deferred against the status of people who came to the US illegally as children since they often did not have a say in their arrival.  This is referred to as DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.  Kids that we knew had to register their presence with US Customs and Immigration Service, pay a fee, remain in school or hold down a steady job, and pass a background check.  In exchange for registering they were allowed to get a Social Security card and depending on the state they live in a 2 yr. Drivers License.

We supported the DACA system that was established and were appalled when even this was threatened with political blustering in the 2016 race and followed by threats and actions in early 2017.  Still Congress drug its feet in acting to protect these young people who were so important to us.

After hearing about a rally to be held in D.C. in June of 2017, Lucretia modified our vacation plans to include time in the Capitol city at the same time.  We joined thousands of young activists at a rally and march around the Mall and White House.  Until we all stand up for action and listen to others seeking a fair solution we will continue to have hundreds of thousands of young people living in limbo and fear in the only country they can relate to.

A Personal Declaration from The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

Lucretia and I often read books together on trips or just taking turns.  One example of this is in the book The FINAL SUMMIT by Andy Andrews.  On pages 217-218, we found this text which has a lot of meaning in our lives:

 

Communion

As we were listening to speakers at the No Ban, No Wall protest in Austin we tried to retreat to the shade of a large tree near the middle of the crowd.  It was a very interesting mix of people who had come together to speak with one voice against what was happening in America.  We stood next to a Muslim family and of course, Lucretia introduced herself.  There was some language difficulty but smiles translate in every language.  They were very friendly and we felt that they appreciated being "seen" by us in this large group.  As the speeches rolled on, one of the ladies reached in her bag and brought out a container of snacks including vegetables and small bites of cheese.  As they shared these between themselves they turned and offered some to us.  It made us feel accepted like family and of course we accepted their hospitality.

Lucretia has told of this as an instance of communion with a family that we will not forget.  May we remember to always be as welcoming to others as they were to us.

No Ban, No Wall

As we learned about DACA and Asylum seekers the country was also beset with the trauma of a Presidential order that banned immigration from Muslem countries for those who had already been cleared by U.S. immigration authorities.  These were individuals with previous background checks and families to receive them.  At the same time threats were being made to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

Calls for protest went out to activists across Texas for a protest at the capitol in Austin.  Lucretia and I had thought about going, but to travel to Austin and fight traffic downtown seemed too daunting.  That was before I was awakened during the night with images of what our country would look like if we followed through with banning Muslims and Central Americans because of our fear of them.  I woke up and wrote down my thoughts.

 The reality that we could face the kind of hatred against foreigners that Hitler had stirred up against Jewish people prompted me to suggest that we had to do something!  Lucretia was easily persuaded and we were on our way to protest in Austin.

Once we got to the capitol we met a loose organization of people who were drawn there for the same reasons.  We had to voice our concerns.  Among the crowds were various organizations.  Congressional representatives, local politicians, and people of all colors joined to chant and declare "No Ban, No Walls".  We were appalled at what was being witnessed at airports as passengers were being detained and sent back.  Lawyers spoke of what they say and how many of them stepped up to represent those who needed them.  It was a call to action for all of us.

What might the forced removal of the undocumented look like?

My vision of what forced removal of the undocumented might look like has changed recently. I’ve been hearing more and more about not only this possibility but this reality. I had trouble describing who these “undocumented” are? To me they are kids that I’ve watched growing up. They are the parents or brothers and sisters of these kids. They are people who have blessed me by including me into their community.

Now I see news reports showing wives crying over their husbands being removed from them. I see the fear in the expressions of friends who get texts reporting ICE raids near their homes. I watch as they quickly call to their families to spread the word. I hear of conversations going on at home when a documented mother of 6 kids born in the states explains to them that her paperwork for a renewal is delayed. Now she might face deportation if pulled over for a traffic ticket or broken tail light.

People are getting scared. They cry as they ask for assurance that things will be OK. But what can we say to them? They hear __ “Get ‘em outta here!” Don’t worry. We are only talking about the “bad” ones. But the lines become less clear as I hear about undocumented families from Central America being detained for over a year in facilities that resemble the camps for Japanese internment during WWII. Yes, and I heard about the MS13 gangs being arrested. These becomes the faces of “undocumented” that gets seen instead of those I know.

Ok, I missed that description before. “undocumented” equals “criminal aliens”. That is how it is framed. That is how it begins. History is being repeated. How was it different in 1940 when people began using labels for displaced Jews or Gypsies who didn’t fit in to Christian Germany. They became blamed for economic or societal downturns. It would be better if they were removed from the neighborhood. Round them up and lock them up. Call them “aliens” and then if they don’t comply with all your laws they are “criminal aliens”.

It is different now, right? We are only going after the bad guys. Or we are blocking refugees from war torn areas because there might be bad dudes among them. We will clean the streets of all the gangs and drugs and violence by targeting the bad guys. And if you look like them or have an accent or dress like them then you can go too. The hatred that is stirred up in this movement spills out into racial battles and burning of mosques and desecration of Jewish cemeteries and hate crimes. Hate breeds hate.

I can’t be quiet in this. I was thinking that my friends from Mexico needed my help in some way. I realized that we are also affected deeply by all of this rhetoric. How much more will we all be affected as families are torn apart or hide in fear that they will be next? If I speak out will I be labeled also? Probably. If I remain silent do I forfeit the freedoms and values that I hold. Liberty and justice for all! Love your neighbor as yourself!

Interfaith Welcome Coalition IWC

After learning about the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, IWC, we committed to going to a General Monthly meeting.  I never have liked driving into San Antonio or really into the center of any large city.  So when we decided to check out this group in San Antonio that might help our community learn more about how to deal with their fears of ICE, Lucretia and I drove to the indicated address, parked and waited a little but there was no activity.  We decided to walk around the building and discovered the entrance was really on the other side of the church building.  As we entered, signs led us up stairs and down a hall to the meeting hall.

The meeting began with introductions and we discovered that there was another one there from our denomination and later met someone else from our town.   We were impressed by the conversations and the knowledgeable volunteers who were reporting on their work at the bus station, airport, and the actions in the Texas legislature.  The focus of the discussion was on the asylum seekers being released at the bus stations.  While the reports were interesting, we were there to learn how to help the families where we lived.  Near the end of the meeting, I asked if they had collaborations with other groups that might help with our issues.  There seemed to be a lack of cooperation among the various immigration groups in the area.  The meeting concluded by trying to get people to  break into working groups.  The table that was to be for collaboration was empty and we ended up talking with the two people that we had met, one from our denomination and one from our town.  We enjoyed the visit but came away feeling that we were still needing to learn more for our friends and this group, although desiring to have a broader cooperation with others, was not really able to point us to what we needed.

I went home and started researching the immigration issue by myself.  There was a lot from various groups.  As I was gathering information, we got an email from the IWC leadership which suggested that maybe the couple from out of town (us) might help fit in the role of collaboration since I had asked about it.  It was suggested that we join in with one from the leadership in working toward a collaboration with others.   I continued to work on bringing information together and created an online site to organize this.  Thus began our work with IWC to bring immigration groups together.

We began our committee work with Sr. Sharon.   After learning about a conference in Houston, we arranged a trip with the three of us representing IWC primarily to learn about how other groups were being brought together in Houston and around the country.  When we returned we were the speakers at one of our General Meetings to relay information that we had brought back.   We had met representatives from several groups at the conference and I began to try to make connections with these.  Our desire was to try to model what was organized in the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaboration.

From what we learned at the conference and from others locally and online we learned that important information was available as Know Your Rights training.  It was being taught in San Antonio and we were ready to work on getting this info our to our community.

Sin miedo -- Living without fear

What is it like to live in constant fear that your life as you now know it may be turned upside down in a single moment?

In early 2017 we were out to lunch with some friends on a Sunday afternoon.  Actually, we were celebrating the baptisms of one friend with her son and nephew.  What was a day of joy became shadowed by a text one person at the table received that told of an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raid in our neighborhood.  Lucretia and I moved into an area of town about 4 years ago that is largely Hispanic with most families who are first generation from Mexico.  Most are Permanent Residents or were born in the states but some came to our area without papers across the border into Texas.  They came to work and make a better life for themselves and their families.  Some had come across legally but lost that status when they were unable to afford the expense of renewing their status.  In any case, we didn't ask questions about status for the people we met.  After living in community with these families, we earned their trust and were sometimes told bits and pieces about what they were going through.

This turned out to be one of the days that brought change to our lives in a big way.  On hearing the news of the raid, two of our friends got up from the table to make quick calls to family to warn them to stay home or avoid driving to the area of the raid.  The expressions of fear were plainly seen in the faces of these friends.  Their loved ones might face deportation if detained by ICE.  Their families could be torn apart in a single afternoon.  We were aware of this possibility but until this day had not really grasped the constant presence of fear that our friends experienced.

Later that afternoon, Lucretia received a desperate phone call from another neighbor who had also heard about the raid and was tearfully relating how this had her family in a state of panic.  We saw how little we really knew about this situation or how to respond to our friends.  I began searching the internet for resources and our attention became focused on learning more about this issue.  Isn't it amazing how we can be exposed to news and information in large amounts, but until we have an interest in a topic it's as if we couldn't see or hear what was going on around us.  We happened on a news segment on the undocumented (Illegal Aliens) in California and how a Catholic church was trying to help them know their rights.  I gathered enough information online that we felt we could open a dialog with those in our community and invited a few others from churches and schools who seemed interested in learning more.

Our first gathering was less about giving out information than listening to each other.  Gathered that evening were two young men who would later get their DACA status (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), two sisters who have lived in the states all their lives - one born here and the other with Permanent Residence status, and three clergy representatives.  We decided to continue this dialog as we gathered more information and that we would get back together as we learned more.  One church leader suggested that a group in San Antonio, the Interfaith Welcome Coalition might be a good source for information so Lucretia and I made plans to attend their next meeting.