We are raising funds to support a mother & her 8yr old son who are in the midst of the asylum-seeking process in Los Angeles. They have been in the US since January, and are currently undergoing yet another move this weekend. We are seeking to fundraise $$$ for housing until we secure a new host family for them in LA, as well as to support them with food and basics. With all the logistical, financial, and psychological obstacles to negotiating this process, getting stable is a real challenge. Please help with what you can and share!

More about our friends:
Celia, her son Jose, and her husband Manuel (whose names we have changed here for safety*) arrived in the US in January, escaping life-threatening violence in multiple Central American countries. Upon entry, Manuel was separated from Celia and Jose, and sent to several different detention sites in states far from Celia and Jose. Celia and Jose were released from detention within weeks, and promptly made their way to Texas from California with Sabina as a contact. During their week in Texas, they stayed with Rachael, and we became close to Celia and her kind, bright, and loving son, Jose. 

Celia and Jose then went to Los Angeles with the promise of free room and board from an acquaintance. Unfortunately, this situation quickly became volatile and unsafe, and, without Celia and Jose having any other contacts, we quickly acted to formulate a patchwork network of support in Los Angeles, from many states away. We are so very grateful for the many people who stepped in to support Celia and Jose: getting Jose registered for school, driving and accompanying them to their ICE check-ins, helping obtain vaccinations, helping them move to a safe place, providing funds towards new passports, telephone calls with her husband in detention, and on and on.

During this time, Manuel, isolated and despondent in detention several states away with little clear information and shrinking hope, signed his deporation papers, and went back to the extremely life-threatening situation he fled in his home country.

Celia and Jose are again at one of many major transitions. Daniel, who has been a key support in LA helping numerous friends in asylum-seeking transition, is currently seeking a positive host family situation for them in Los Angeles. This will likely mean Jose has to leave the school & neighborhood he has finally become accustomed to. Celia want to and is working on building self-reliance, though the asylum-seeking process prohibits her from being able to legally work for at least another 6 months. Unfortunately the process of applying for asylum means a long period of waiting, and slogging through an extremely clunky, arduous, and de-humanizing bureaucratic system.

This is one part of a long journey towards safety and a more independent life for our friends Celia and Jose. We and they appreciate every bit you can help to do bring some stability and a sense of community support in this wildly unstable and potentially isolating time.

With big love,
Sabina and Rachael


Sabina & Jose play airplane on the swings in Texas :-)

*photos have been used with Celia & Jose's permission