by Rabbi Ron Stern
The text came to my phone at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday evening from Sue Kay: I called Sue immediately and subsequently learned the details of this heart wrenching case: Juana is an indigenous Guatemalan who speaks a rare and ancient Mayan dialect. She fled spousal abuse and threats against her 16-year-old daughter. Upon crossing the border, she and her child were apprehended and separated without explanation or clarification. Her language limitations made the experience particularly traumatic. She is being held in Irvine, her daughter in Arizona, and Juana is especially isolated because no one speaks her language. Public Counsel has taken their case because they believe that they have standing to challenge the detention and familial separation. The immigration attorney from Public Counsel asked us if we would offer material support in the form of covering her transportation costs to stay with a Mayan family with legal residency. The host family lives in Florida and speaks the same Mayan language. The attorney also asked for a letter of support and endorsement of Public Counsel’s efforts from Stephen Wise Temple because Wise is a prominent religious organization. We immediately reached out to Wise’s Tikkun Olam Committee and asked if they would be willing to endorse a letter affirming our support of asylum for Juana and her daughter, as well as their reunification request. Our committee responded with unanimous affirmation and were joined by members of the clergy including Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback. In addition, we secured generous donations from benefactors for transportation costs. The attorney took our letter and our guarantee of covered travel funds to the immigration judge in Orange County to plead Juana’s case. Because of our efforts the woman was released on bail, reunited with her daughter, and they are now are safely housed with the family in Florida. We are awaiting news on Juana’s application for asylum. We took action because we know the plight of the stranger all too closely. We all have our own immigrant stories to share and, tragically, some of us can tell stories of family members who lost their lives or faced terrible hardships because they were denied entry to this country as refugees. Our tradition commands us to love the stranger for we were strangers in the land of Egypt. Our conscience reminds us that when our ancestors needed refuge, the doors to this country were sometimes closed to them; lives were lost, well-being was compromised. At the very least, we can ensure that the doors are not closed to those seeking the same security. We can and must make a difference as individuals and as a community to ensure that families are kept together and that our immigration laws and policies are consistent with our highest values as Americans and as Jews. If you are interested in working with our Tikkun Olam Committee to help protect the most vulnerable, please contact me at [email protected].
“My cousin works as a lawyer for Public Counsel