- M
- B
I need your help! I'm Jenn Weingarten, from Los Angeles, and my friend is going through a pretty horrible time right now and her story breaks my heart. It is just ONE example of Trump's IMMIGRATION INJUSTICE and ONE story of how his actions (and those of the people who support him) have the power to destroy a person to their core. Alex and I met about a year ago and I was instantly drawn to her energy, passion, and kind heart.
Please take a few minutes to read this story and PLEASE donate. $1, $10, $25, $1000... whatever you can, the power of numbers is remarkable and will show her how many people love and support her and all the other immigrants that are being mistreated in this country and by this administration. This is just ONE story and ONE way you can make a difference. PLEASE share on social media and ask your family, friends and colleagues to help too! The money you sent will be used to help cover her visa/immigration expenses since the government has frozen her accounts. Some of the money might also be used to help her with groceries so that she can have at least one meal a day. Funds will be removed from the account and given to Alex.
Because we are dealing with immigration and national security I need to keep my friend's identity hidden. We'll call her Alex for now. I also have to change some of the facts of this story but with YOUR SUPPORT, when this nightmare is over for her, I hope we can proudly reveal the person whose life YOU HELPED CHANGE. If you're a friend and have an idea of who I'm talking about please keep it confidential!!!
Here's her story:
Alex was born in Haiti to a prostitute mother and an incarcerated father. When she was four years old her American grandmother brought her to the US and legally adopted her. Unfortunately, this hopeful story takes a quick and ugly turn. When Alex was just 10 years old, a mere 3rd grader, her grandmother walked in on her kissing a girl. Now, I used to babysit a lot when I was a teenager and I’ve seen kids do the strangest things. But kids kissing is part of the growing process. At that age they are at the beginning of puberty, exploring their bodies and feelings, and experimenting with peers. One boy I babysit was just six years old when I found him laying on top of his nine year old cousin kissing her on his parents bed (when they were supposed to be watching a movie). These incidents are an opportunity to educate your kids, not to humiliate and shame them.
But instead, her grandmother yelled at her, called her “faggot”, beat her, and made her feel like she did something wrong. Next thing you know Alex was stuck on a plane back to her birth country… with nothing… and with no one on the other end to care for her. Alex had extended family there but none of them wanted the responsibility of raising her after her father was accused of sexually assaulting her so Alex had no choice but to raise herself. She was often homeless, fending for herself. She was unfamiliar with the country and culture in many ways from being raised in the U.S.. She somehow managed to go to school and, despite being sexually assaulted by several other people who “tried to help”, she got good grades and started winning literary awards for her writing. She realized she had a passion and love for creating and capturing moments on paper; she was a storyteller!
At just 20 years old, Alex founded her first production company. First gaining experience in the music video industry working with artists like Rihanna, Future and lots of other celebrities before venturing into film and television, Alex became the first filmmaker in her country to have her work distributed worldwide. Since film making in her country is almost nonexistent, she wanted to come back to the U.S. to pursue her dream. During the process of looking into furthering her education in the U.S. she quickly realized that she was not actually a U.S. citizen. Her grandmother had never filed her paperwork or application for citizenship when she was a child and now she was over 18.
She spoke with the U.S. Embassy and found out that she could petition fairly easily if she got her grandmother to provide the paperwork showing her adoption and eligibility for citizenship. However, her grandmother refused to participate and cut her off completely from the family (still for being gay). Now on her own, and with proof of eligibility unattainable, Alex applied for a student visa to continue her studies. She came to the U.S, went to film school, fell in love and got married. Coincidentally, through the marriage, she qualified for a conditional green card for which the conditions could be removed after two years. So, following all protocol, she filed for the conditions to be removed just before the end of her two years. Unfortunately, Alex ran into unlucky timing.
Just after her paperwork was submitted for what should have been a fairly straight-forward petition to remove her conditions, and now with a failing marriage, our lovely country voted for Trump. Almost immediately the government processing for most immigration-related requests came to a halt. Without her valid green card she also was stripped of her work permit. This was not made clear to her as she was legally allowed to remain in the country while her case was pending. So for a few months Alex continued working and tried to live life despite the stress and anxiety of unknown future due to her immigration status.
Now, two years after Trump was elected, Alex is STILL WAITING for her case to be processed. It has cost her tens of thousands of dollars in court and lawyer fees and, because for a short time two years ago she worked without a valid permit, they have frozen her bank accounts and access to all of her money until her paperwork is processed. She has been forced to work under the table in order to live and eat and had to turn down incredible work opportunities that could have propelled her into a household name. She has to keep a low profile and cannot receive a paycheck or credits for her work so she is between a rock and hard place.
This is where you come in. In December, she FINALLY received word from the courts that her file is being processed and she needs to submit an obscene amount of paperwork in 40 days or her entire case is thrown out. Unfortunately, the items they are requesting require a birth certificate she does not have and divorce papers that were never processed correctly. Now she has no choice but to fly back to her birth country to try and find a birth certificate. She also has to fly to the East Coast to process the divorce papers in person. Additionally, due to her inability to legitimately work, she struggles to keep a roof over her head and food in her mouth. She has run into one problem after another and if this wasn’t bad enough, our genius leader has now shutdown the government and, in turn, caused an immigration backlog that could take years to catch up on. So now Alex is really suffering. Her court date which was scheduled for this week has been postponed, indefinitely, until further notice.
She needs help to get through this mess, both financially and legally. She doesn’t deserve this. Alex is one of the strongest, most resilient and hard working people I have ever met! She deserves to have a break in life and a chance to just enjoy everything she has worked so hard to achieve. The fact that she is even having to go through this process is because of her sexuality which is just appalling and sad. If her grandmother wasn’t so homophobic she would have had U.S. citizenship with no problem. I have no doubt that Alex will be the Spielberg of her generation. She is an incredibly talented filmmaker and storyteller and I feel absolutely honored to know her and consider her a good friend.
Please help Alex get through this incredibly challenging time. I promise the return on your investment will be huge once she is able to do what she does so well. For a young adult who has never had a family stand behind her, there is something incredibly powerful seeing how much love there is out there for her.
Please give… whether its $1 or $1000, whatever you are able is fine… it’s knowing that you’re there, that you care, and that you support her is just as healing. Please help by posting this on your social media and sharing with your colleagues. I am sickened by what she has gone through and I feel so incredibly privileged to have had the family and support I’ve had in my life; particularly when I hear stories like hers. I am supporting her as much as I have the means to do and I am counting on all of you to help with the rest. We have a donor who has offered to match the first $5,000 that we raise for her. Lets show her that Trump is NOT a reflection of Americans and how much love and support she has behind her, not to give up… and to keep fighting!
WASHINGTON POST
Trump's Shutdown Paralyzed Immigration
Thank you... with all my love,
Jenn(ie)
Please take a few minutes to read this story and PLEASE donate. $1, $10, $25, $1000... whatever you can, the power of numbers is remarkable and will show her how many people love and support her and all the other immigrants that are being mistreated in this country and by this administration. This is just ONE story and ONE way you can make a difference. PLEASE share on social media and ask your family, friends and colleagues to help too! The money you sent will be used to help cover her visa/immigration expenses since the government has frozen her accounts. Some of the money might also be used to help her with groceries so that she can have at least one meal a day. Funds will be removed from the account and given to Alex.
Because we are dealing with immigration and national security I need to keep my friend's identity hidden. We'll call her Alex for now. I also have to change some of the facts of this story but with YOUR SUPPORT, when this nightmare is over for her, I hope we can proudly reveal the person whose life YOU HELPED CHANGE. If you're a friend and have an idea of who I'm talking about please keep it confidential!!!
Here's her story:
Alex was born in Haiti to a prostitute mother and an incarcerated father. When she was four years old her American grandmother brought her to the US and legally adopted her. Unfortunately, this hopeful story takes a quick and ugly turn. When Alex was just 10 years old, a mere 3rd grader, her grandmother walked in on her kissing a girl. Now, I used to babysit a lot when I was a teenager and I’ve seen kids do the strangest things. But kids kissing is part of the growing process. At that age they are at the beginning of puberty, exploring their bodies and feelings, and experimenting with peers. One boy I babysit was just six years old when I found him laying on top of his nine year old cousin kissing her on his parents bed (when they were supposed to be watching a movie). These incidents are an opportunity to educate your kids, not to humiliate and shame them.
But instead, her grandmother yelled at her, called her “faggot”, beat her, and made her feel like she did something wrong. Next thing you know Alex was stuck on a plane back to her birth country… with nothing… and with no one on the other end to care for her. Alex had extended family there but none of them wanted the responsibility of raising her after her father was accused of sexually assaulting her so Alex had no choice but to raise herself. She was often homeless, fending for herself. She was unfamiliar with the country and culture in many ways from being raised in the U.S.. She somehow managed to go to school and, despite being sexually assaulted by several other people who “tried to help”, she got good grades and started winning literary awards for her writing. She realized she had a passion and love for creating and capturing moments on paper; she was a storyteller!
At just 20 years old, Alex founded her first production company. First gaining experience in the music video industry working with artists like Rihanna, Future and lots of other celebrities before venturing into film and television, Alex became the first filmmaker in her country to have her work distributed worldwide. Since film making in her country is almost nonexistent, she wanted to come back to the U.S. to pursue her dream. During the process of looking into furthering her education in the U.S. she quickly realized that she was not actually a U.S. citizen. Her grandmother had never filed her paperwork or application for citizenship when she was a child and now she was over 18.
She spoke with the U.S. Embassy and found out that she could petition fairly easily if she got her grandmother to provide the paperwork showing her adoption and eligibility for citizenship. However, her grandmother refused to participate and cut her off completely from the family (still for being gay). Now on her own, and with proof of eligibility unattainable, Alex applied for a student visa to continue her studies. She came to the U.S, went to film school, fell in love and got married. Coincidentally, through the marriage, she qualified for a conditional green card for which the conditions could be removed after two years. So, following all protocol, she filed for the conditions to be removed just before the end of her two years. Unfortunately, Alex ran into unlucky timing.
Just after her paperwork was submitted for what should have been a fairly straight-forward petition to remove her conditions, and now with a failing marriage, our lovely country voted for Trump. Almost immediately the government processing for most immigration-related requests came to a halt. Without her valid green card she also was stripped of her work permit. This was not made clear to her as she was legally allowed to remain in the country while her case was pending. So for a few months Alex continued working and tried to live life despite the stress and anxiety of unknown future due to her immigration status.
Now, two years after Trump was elected, Alex is STILL WAITING for her case to be processed. It has cost her tens of thousands of dollars in court and lawyer fees and, because for a short time two years ago she worked without a valid permit, they have frozen her bank accounts and access to all of her money until her paperwork is processed. She has been forced to work under the table in order to live and eat and had to turn down incredible work opportunities that could have propelled her into a household name. She has to keep a low profile and cannot receive a paycheck or credits for her work so she is between a rock and hard place.
This is where you come in. In December, she FINALLY received word from the courts that her file is being processed and she needs to submit an obscene amount of paperwork in 40 days or her entire case is thrown out. Unfortunately, the items they are requesting require a birth certificate she does not have and divorce papers that were never processed correctly. Now she has no choice but to fly back to her birth country to try and find a birth certificate. She also has to fly to the East Coast to process the divorce papers in person. Additionally, due to her inability to legitimately work, she struggles to keep a roof over her head and food in her mouth. She has run into one problem after another and if this wasn’t bad enough, our genius leader has now shutdown the government and, in turn, caused an immigration backlog that could take years to catch up on. So now Alex is really suffering. Her court date which was scheduled for this week has been postponed, indefinitely, until further notice.
She needs help to get through this mess, both financially and legally. She doesn’t deserve this. Alex is one of the strongest, most resilient and hard working people I have ever met! She deserves to have a break in life and a chance to just enjoy everything she has worked so hard to achieve. The fact that she is even having to go through this process is because of her sexuality which is just appalling and sad. If her grandmother wasn’t so homophobic she would have had U.S. citizenship with no problem. I have no doubt that Alex will be the Spielberg of her generation. She is an incredibly talented filmmaker and storyteller and I feel absolutely honored to know her and consider her a good friend.
Please help Alex get through this incredibly challenging time. I promise the return on your investment will be huge once she is able to do what she does so well. For a young adult who has never had a family stand behind her, there is something incredibly powerful seeing how much love there is out there for her.
Please give… whether its $1 or $1000, whatever you are able is fine… it’s knowing that you’re there, that you care, and that you support her is just as healing. Please help by posting this on your social media and sharing with your colleagues. I am sickened by what she has gone through and I feel so incredibly privileged to have had the family and support I’ve had in my life; particularly when I hear stories like hers. I am supporting her as much as I have the means to do and I am counting on all of you to help with the rest. We have a donor who has offered to match the first $5,000 that we raise for her. Lets show her that Trump is NOT a reflection of Americans and how much love and support she has behind her, not to give up… and to keep fighting!
WASHINGTON POST
Trump's Shutdown Paralyzed Immigration
Thank you... with all my love,
Jenn(ie)