Tanya has been a friend for many years and I have seen firsthand how hard she works for her family and her community. She and her husband have lived in the United States legally for nine years after fleeing Belarus, building a small business and raising two wonderful children, ages 5 and 7, who know no other home. They have always done everything right—pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, worked hard, and contributed to their community.

This week, Tanya and her husband traveled from Philadelphia to Newark for what they believed would be the next step in their asylum process. The interview seemed to be going well, but at the end of the meeting, everything changed. Immigration officers detained her husband without warning, giving them no chance to say goodbye. Tanya was left in utter shock, forced to return home, trying to hide her panic from her children, who keep asking, “Where is Daddy?” She is now scrambling to find legal aid and is in the process of hiring an experienced lawyer, but the fees are far beyond what she can afford—and acting quickly is critical.

The funds raised will be used to cover attorney and legal fees, filing and court costs, transportation and travel, and emergency family needs while her husband is detained. This is a good, hard working family that came here a decade ago with a promise of safety, fairness, and human dignity. They have built a life here through hard work, honesty, and tenacity. But now they are facing a dark moment, and need our help now.

If you are able to give, please make a contribution of any size, and help us spread the word. If you are not able to give, please share Tanya's story with others, and help bring this family back together.