Bring Otto Home To His Wife and Family in Maine

Sandra and Otto need your help to bring him home to Maine and his family.

Without warning, Otto Morales-Caballeros was taken by ICE on the way to work early on the morning of April 12, 2017. They put him face down in the street, without provocation or incident, and sent him to prison. On May 11, 2017. Otto was sent back to his birth country of Guatemala, without money, a passport or cell phone. All he had were the clothes on his back. His wife, Sandra Scribner Merlim, never got to even say goodbye. She has been fighting to get him back to Maine ever since. His life and Sandra’s have been traumatic and difficult since their separation. They need funds for legal expenses, filing feeds and airfare to get him home.

Otto came to the US after his brother was murdered and his niece killed, escaping civil war. As a young teenager who did not speak english or have parents and relatives to help him, he did not know he needed to seek asylum. By the time he tried to apply for his green card, it was too late. He and Sandra have spent years and tens of thousands of dollars trying to get him citizenship. 

While in the US, Otto worked hard, paid his taxes and was a peaceful member of his community. He and his wife welcomed a grandchild, lived quietly in the lakes region and enjoyed their life. The couple were together for 9 years before marrying in 2015. They worked with an immigration attorney and had an agreement with the Obama administration that he could stay in the US while they worked on a permanent solution but that changed when Trump was elected. Otto and Sandra were early victims of the brutal policies enacted by the Trump administration.

Sandra, her family, and friends have tirelessly worked to bring Otto home to her, where he has earned his right to be. Life for Sandra has not been easy since Otto's deportation. After the initial shock, she pulled herself up, and worked many long hours at her job to support them both during this time. Sandra said that she married Otto until death do they part, not until deportation. And she meant that. She visited him twice in Guatemala but amidst covid and bills, she has not been able to visit again since 2018, though they speak via internet phone calls on a daily basis. They remain a strong, dedicated couple, despite the distance.

Sandra was homeless for nearly a year, living with her dogs out of her car due to financial hardship of not losing Otto. The difficulties also took a toll on her health. She ignored the warning signs because her husband was depending on her, and she had to "hold down the fort" while he’s been  gone. She had been doing well at this, she thought, until late November of 2020, when she was rushed to the hospital. This resulted in emergency quadruple bypass surgery on December 1st, 2020. She is currently working on her healing, but it is slow going and so stressful without her loving husband.

Finally, after nearly four years of stalled immigration during Trump’s presidency, Sandra and Otto’s case is moving forward again. Their lawyer took their case pro bono, but they must pay the thousands of dollars of filing fees, which falls to Sandra. She is struggling to keep afloat while she is trying to recuperate, and two expensive filing fees are now due. After paying her monthly bills, there just isn't enough to swing these added expenses.

Sandra is hoping for help from their supporters to cover legal fees and get him home,  It takes a village during hard times. Their case is being expedited because of Sandra's health problems. Sandra and Otto have been separated long enough.Families belong together.  It's time to bring Otto home to his wife and family, where he belongs. Can you help?  Any amount, no matter how small it may seem, will help reunite them. Thank you. It will be forever appreciated.

100% of the proceeds go to Sandra and Otto for legal filing fees which the goal amount will cover. If this goes over, we can also help with airfare.