If you know me, you know that one of the biggest flaws that I have, is that it's very hard for me to ask for help. This is something that I have always struggled with my entire life. So please, understand how hard this is for me.
As you all know I am very vocal a bout my background. It is in my opinion important to share my story, and why my family left El Salvador. So people understand and don't fall into the lies or the ideas they make up in regards to immigrants and immigration.
Me and my family have fought tooth and nail since day one to be able to fix our immigration status. Many doors have been closed on our faces. I came here at the age of 15, fleeing horrible conditions in El Salvador that threatened our lives. My family was threatened with death by gangsters over things we didn't do. Salvadorian police didn't care to help after countless reports. We lost everything we had, and had to run to the US where all of my mom's family has lived since the 80's. While in El Salvador we suffered a lot through this entire situation. To the point where my 14 year old cousin was killed by gangsters. At the time I was old enough to know what was happening, I was forced to grow up faster, and understand our lives were at risk. We witnessed a crime, and we had no control over what gangsters did. They chased us, broke into our home, left threatening notes, broke windows. we couldn't live in those conditions any more. We fled hoping we could have a better life. Went trough Mexico then migrated to the US. We applied for asylum, we fought non stop, but judges continued to asked why are laws in El Salvador not like the American laws. After we showed proof police officers did nothing to help us. As of now I am a DACA holder, that is married to the most AMAZING person in the world. That person happens to be a US citizen born and raised in Maryland. We have now been married for 5 years. We have a wonderful family together, a home we fought to get for many years, and 5 crazy and adorable dogs. We have hoped to adopt a child from the foster care system for years now, as our dream is to be fathers, but we can’t do that until we can get this done. So you may ask yourself "if he is a citizen shouldn't you be too, since you are married?" well, not exactly. In order for me to no longer be a DACA recipient, I have to submit a family petition to the department of Homeland security. But it doesn't end there. Because of all the 14 years and THOUSANDS of dollars spent by my family in lawyer and federal fees that went nowhere, I would have to leave the US and leave Dustin for two and a half years while I wait in El Salvador for my documents after submitting my family petition, this is due to all the previous cases failing.
Thankfully there is a way I can stay, and me and Dustin would only have to go down to El Salvador for the interview which is scheduled and we would only need to visit for a day or two. This petition is to argue that me leaving Dustin alone in the US would actually create major suffering, not only emotionally but also financially, and on top of it all, it would be a major life risk as I am a gay man, and my life would be in danger in El Salvador. Which is the reason for this gofund me. Just to start we are looking at more than $9,000 in lawyer and federal fees. This is what has held us back, for a while now we have hopped something else would come along and we don't have to go through this crazy route. But with the current political climate, we rather get things in just in case the president throws another curve ball. First is the family petition, then goes the request to stay in parole to cut down to only 1 year away, then the second request to cut down to only show up for the interview. This is an expensive process. This is why I come to this now. Please know this is hard for me. I have fought for years to find other solutions. All I want is to continue to stay with my husband, work hard every day, pay my taxes, and not be in this weird limbo any more. I would like to be able to stay here and not have to leave for over two years and be at a major life risk. Thank you so much for reading this I really appreciate you, thank you for taking the time.
As you all know I am very vocal a bout my background. It is in my opinion important to share my story, and why my family left El Salvador. So people understand and don't fall into the lies or the ideas they make up in regards to immigrants and immigration.
Me and my family have fought tooth and nail since day one to be able to fix our immigration status. Many doors have been closed on our faces. I came here at the age of 15, fleeing horrible conditions in El Salvador that threatened our lives. My family was threatened with death by gangsters over things we didn't do. Salvadorian police didn't care to help after countless reports. We lost everything we had, and had to run to the US where all of my mom's family has lived since the 80's. While in El Salvador we suffered a lot through this entire situation. To the point where my 14 year old cousin was killed by gangsters. At the time I was old enough to know what was happening, I was forced to grow up faster, and understand our lives were at risk. We witnessed a crime, and we had no control over what gangsters did. They chased us, broke into our home, left threatening notes, broke windows. we couldn't live in those conditions any more. We fled hoping we could have a better life. Went trough Mexico then migrated to the US. We applied for asylum, we fought non stop, but judges continued to asked why are laws in El Salvador not like the American laws. After we showed proof police officers did nothing to help us. As of now I am a DACA holder, that is married to the most AMAZING person in the world. That person happens to be a US citizen born and raised in Maryland. We have now been married for 5 years. We have a wonderful family together, a home we fought to get for many years, and 5 crazy and adorable dogs. We have hoped to adopt a child from the foster care system for years now, as our dream is to be fathers, but we can’t do that until we can get this done. So you may ask yourself "if he is a citizen shouldn't you be too, since you are married?" well, not exactly. In order for me to no longer be a DACA recipient, I have to submit a family petition to the department of Homeland security. But it doesn't end there. Because of all the 14 years and THOUSANDS of dollars spent by my family in lawyer and federal fees that went nowhere, I would have to leave the US and leave Dustin for two and a half years while I wait in El Salvador for my documents after submitting my family petition, this is due to all the previous cases failing.
Thankfully there is a way I can stay, and me and Dustin would only have to go down to El Salvador for the interview which is scheduled and we would only need to visit for a day or two. This petition is to argue that me leaving Dustin alone in the US would actually create major suffering, not only emotionally but also financially, and on top of it all, it would be a major life risk as I am a gay man, and my life would be in danger in El Salvador. Which is the reason for this gofund me. Just to start we are looking at more than $9,000 in lawyer and federal fees. This is what has held us back, for a while now we have hopped something else would come along and we don't have to go through this crazy route. But with the current political climate, we rather get things in just in case the president throws another curve ball. First is the family petition, then goes the request to stay in parole to cut down to only 1 year away, then the second request to cut down to only show up for the interview. This is an expensive process. This is why I come to this now. Please know this is hard for me. I have fought for years to find other solutions. All I want is to continue to stay with my husband, work hard every day, pay my taxes, and not be in this weird limbo any more. I would like to be able to stay here and not have to leave for over two years and be at a major life risk. Thank you so much for reading this I really appreciate you, thank you for taking the time.