Hi my name is Rhiannon and I’m raising money to help bring our family of 3 back together.

My husband, Jorge, came to the US from Mexico at the age of 5 and received DACA at the age of 25. After we got married in 2019, we began the process of adjusting his status to a permanent resident so we could live life fully. In December, we were finally given a date for an interview at the US consulate in Juarez, Mexico. We traveled to Mexico and Jorge attended his interview just to discover that he was denied a visa to enter the US. He was denied because the time he was in the United States between the ages of 18 and 25, when he received DACA, is considered illegal. He’s essentially being punished for those 6 years between when he became a legal adult and the time he became protected by DACA. The consequence can be up to 10 years without entry into the United States. Ezra and I had to painfully leave Jorge behind in Mexico and come home to figure out what to do next.

Fortunately, there is something we can do to bring him back more quickly. We can hire a lawyer and send an apology of sorts and provide proof that our son and I NEED him to be here with us. This process can take up to two year which is still too long but better than 10 years.

Santa Cruz is our home and we deeply value our community here. Jorge is an interior designer who prides himself in helping bring beauty to homes and community spaces. I am a preschool teacher with a jewelry store in downtown Santa Cruz where I teach workshops and bring other artists together. Ezra is a sweet and clever *almost* 4 year old who loves his preschool and friends. It is devastating to think that Jorge cannot come home and that we may have to leave this wonderful place that’s so full of our family and friends.

We are seeking financial help to hire a lawyer, submit the required forms to resolve this issue, and to help Ezra and I travel to Mexico to spend time with “Dada’”

If you have money to spare, we ask you with deep gratitude, to consider donating to our family’s fund.