—————————————————————————THE FOLLOWING BELOW IS MY LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
October 21, 2009

President Barack Obama &
First Lady, Michelle Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, DC
Cc: CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post,
MD and VA Congressmen
DC Council Representatives
The Oprah Winfrey Show

Dear President Obama and First Lady Obama:

I am one of many women who have the same concern about the topic I’m about to write to you about – that is, the hardships of single immigrant mothers raising their American born children facing deportation.

First, I want you to know that prior to my living in the United States, I was given away by my single mother to my father and stepmother at age five in East Africa because my own mother at the time, could not afford to feed me or raise me on her own. As a result, I have suffered grave emotional and physical abuse by my stepmother who raised me. With those memories, I had vowed to myself that I will never let a child of mine suffer like I did. Thus, given birth to my baby here in America several years ago, I continue to do my best in trying to raise my child in the way my child deserves to be in this great country.

I’d like to give you a brief history of my transition here and before my child was born so that you can understand the specifics of my concern related to the topic as noted above. When I came to America over a decade ago, I was sponsored by my father and lived in the same house with him, my brother and unfortunately with the person who used to abuse me (my stepmother). Because of the discomfort of her continued emotional abuse as in the past, my Father and brother transferred me to a nearby family home temporarily within the same city. When it came time for me to receive the immigration court letter, it was mailed to the previous house where my stepmother resided. I never received that letter and believe that she has concealed it from me as she has with other personal mail of mine in the past. Some of my relatives including my Father believed that she did conceal it – there were a few of those relatives that wrote witness letters on my behalf claiming that she was behind my not receiving that important and time sensitive deadline immigration document.

When my Father received the following letter from immigration at the same original address, the letter said that since I didn’t show-up for court at the allocated deadline mentioned in the first letter (which I never received), the judge decided that I need to leave the country. I was so shocked and saddened to read that as was my Father and other relatives here. I ended up hiring an immigration lawyer to help me understand and represent me so that I can remain in my new country here in the United States.

The lawyer has tried several times to motion and reopen my case but the immigration office did not want to reopen my case. In fact, the immigration office sent a letter stating that I still have to leave the country. My lawyer explained to me that I still have another chance, which is to send a letter to the 4th circuit court – however, it would take about three to four years to get the answer and since I had no other choice at the time, I agreed to comply with that suggestion by my lawyer. While my lawyer was working on my case file, I tried contacting him on various occasions to find out the status of my case and he would often say that he would contact me back when he gets an answer as it will take several years (he said not to contact him until he calls me) – I didn’t contact him for two years due to his request. After waiting for so long and not hearing anything back about my case, I decided to call him again and never got any response from my lawyer. Therefore, I decided to visit his office along with several relatives to find out about my case.

As soon as he saw me he told me “your case is dead like water!” At first, I didn’t understand but then he explained that the forth circuit court did not want to reopen my case either. But when I asked him to give me the copy of their answer he told me I am no longer his client so he doesn’t have time to look up my file – however if he gets time he will look for it. Shortly after, I went to his office two or three times to get my copies but he did not even have interest to talk with me and then I felt a very strong feeling that he may have not even sent the letter to the 4th circuit court. I decided to seek another lawyer referred to me by a trusted friend. Once I informed the new attorney about my case, he confirmed that the previous attorney never sent a letter to the Circuit Court as there was nothing on record about it. This new attorney said that I have a 50% chance to remain in the country so I paid him a few thousands dollars as a retainer deposit for his legal immigration services.

For almost three years this new lawyer was collecting a lot of information about my case from my family and me. Because of the story I told him about my childhood, he sent me to get therapy which he believed would be really helpful to me – but I didn’t finish the therapy because I couldn’t afford to pay any further. The new lawyer eventually told me I am very sorry to tell you this – when I took your case I thought you had 50/50 chance especially when I saw how desperate you were/are to stay in here U.S.A. He continued to say that if he sent my case to the immigration again, they might give us a court date and if we go, they might retain me there and eventually send me back home. He explained that he didn’t want to see that happen given what he has learned of my past and desire to continue my new life here in America with my child. He suggested that he hold onto my case in the event that the government comes up with something new to support cases like mine.

I had thanked my new lawyer for his honesty. I truly had some hope to continue my life here – plans to go to college so that I can give a better life to my American born child… at some moments though I felt like my life and my baby’s life dreams have become somewhat of unreachable dreams due to the uncertainty of my immigration case.

In closing, I want you to know that I thought about the horrible possibility of my being forced to leave this great country, and fears of going back to poor conditions of poverty, lack of educational opportunities and job opportunities gives me big fears in providing a wonderful future for my American born child. Besides, the majority of my family and extended relatives are here in the United States. I would end up being alone without any support in very poor conditions if I were to return back to Africa.

I tried my very best not to be illegal in this country by hiring lawyers to fight for my case. When required, I pay my taxes like everyone else and yet me and my child’s lives are uncertain. In these five years of uncertainty about my immigration case, I have talked to a lot of mothers in similar circumstances from varying countries. Their kids are American born and they are immigrants pending legal alien-ship. They all, like me, have adopted the American lifestyle and have continued desires and hopes to provide great opportunities for their American born children.

I grew up in a country where the culture prohibited self-expression of speaking out openly. I never spoke out until today because this is a very important matter to me and especially for my child. As all of us know, America is a blessing, a unique and wonderful country that provides endless opportunities and possibilities to everyone who lives in it. All Americans should be aware, whether they have kids or not, the importance and value a mother has for her child in wanting to provide all that is beneficial to their children. I plead with you to take under consideration the many thousand of single immigrant mothers that live in this country with American born children facing the unfair and unexplained legal laws of facing deportation. I am hopeful, that with my expression of sharing my personal story in this letter, that something can be done about such unfair rulings of our immigration laws.

Thank you for the opportunity of reading my letter. I look forward to positive changes of our immigration laws.

GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!

Sincerely
G. Medehin

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