Family Divided

Meet Hanna, Juancho, and little Lila.  They are a beautiful young family who are unable to  live and build a home together because their countries are failing them.


Hanna is a U.S. citizen, as is Lila.  Juancho is a Colombian citizen, (as is Lila!:)) When Hanna and Juancho were married six years ago, Colombia was stable under President Santos, and immigration policy was more open under President Obama.  Today, both countries are troubled, and Hanna and Juancho are struggling to be together.


Colombia is now under a strong-arm leader, President Duque, (a puppet for a vicious former leader, Uribe, if you are at all familiar with Colombian history and politics.). Additionally, Colombia has been flooded with millions of Venezuelan refugees, resulting in turbulent and unsafe conditions in their society.  Street crime is prolific.  Juancho works and lives in Pasto, Narino, an area that the U.S. State Department has warned as an unsafe place for American travelers and residents.  When Hanna and Lila are in Pasto to visit Juancho, they live like prisoners in their own apartment for fear of kidnapping.  In fact, last year, Hanna experienced a nightmare firsthand when she and another American friend were poisoned while having a drink at a neighborhood bar.  They narrowly escaped a violent outcome.


And so, Hanna and Lila periodically come to stay with us in the United States.  (This back-and-forth has been going on for  years.)  We would like Juancho to be here in the States as well, but  Trump's immigration policies have made this hope a small and high hoop to jump.  Hanna and Juancho have worked tirelessly to prepare their application for his visa -- a copious amount of information to be gathered for an application that demands every “t” be crossed and “i” dotted.  And even after they submit this paperwork and cross their fingers, the wait for processing will be 18 months - 2 years.  


Some people have wondered why Juancho doesn’t come into the U.S. on a visitors visa, just to tag up with Hanna and Lila from time to time.  The immigration department considers him a high risk for overstaying that visa, and therefore won’t grant this right to him.  They simply will not let him cross the border.  Can you imagine if there were an emergency with Hanna or Lila while they are in the States, and Juancho were unable to get to them?  


In the meantime, time is passing and this heartbroken father is prevented from watching his adorable 5 year old daughter grow. A confused daughter is unable to count on her daddy for a bedtime story.  Lila may be 8 years old before she can finally rest in her father's arms! 


So now they are considering a third location where they could be together.  They are considering a move to Merida, Mexico, (there’s some irony in that, wouldn’t you say?) while they await Juancho’s resident visa for the U.S..  Unfortunately, all the flights and application fees have left them financially strapped, and it’s for this reason we are seeking your help.  Relocations are expensive, especially with a child in tow, and jobs to be found.  Juancho's current contract will be finished in December, 2019,  and it's their hope to make this move after that.



Thank you for reading this long tale.  Any $$ you can spare would be very appreciated.  This is a plea from two parents/grandparents who can't bear the ache in their children's hearts.




Jenny and Tim O’Connell