This year, my amazing aunt Tulip made the difficult decision to self deport. 22 years ago, she traveled thousands of miles from what she had ever known to help support my parents in raising my siblings and I.

Tulip did everything by the book, consulted support for immigrating legally, did all the due diligence, and even fell in love with and married a citizen, but refused to take advantage of any citizenship privileges because she never wanted anyone to feel like that was the reason. Unfortunately for her, at one point in their journey, an immigration representative checked a wrong box for a one time visa, which permanently rendered her inapplicable for any future citizenship opportunities. Thousands of dollars in mitigation proceedings trying to change that one ticked box came up short. However, despite being royally screwed by a broken system, she continued to pay taxes, support local, and build community.

Fast forward to today and she left the country, packed up 22 years of memories in a single wooden container and shipped it to her new home back in NZ. Unfortunately, that container never left the dock, and instead caught fire, burning her whole life of memories in the US. There will supposedly be insurance, but that will take months and there was much in her container that was priceless to her; memories and Knick knacks from a life she can’t replace.

So here comes the ask friends: My brother Luke has a ticket to see Tulip in NZ in one month. I want to send him down with enough money to replace her big ticket favorites: her paddleboard and bike in time for her to enjoy the Kiwi summer (Jan-April). Anything you can give to help us get to our goal is appreciated!