Help bring Nestor's family to America
Donation protected
Nestor started out as my first pro bono immigration client, and now he is family. Last November, I had the honor of representing Nestor at his asylum hearing after a few months of working on his case.
Nestor is from Southern Cameroon and a member of the Southern Cameroon National Council, a political group advocating for the independence of Southern Cameroon. Following a peaceful protest, in which he live-streamed government helicopters shooting on protesters, he was arrested, tortured, jailed without charge, and kept in deplorable conditions. He was briefly released on bond when his wife gave birth, and when he heard the government was looking for him again, he and his family fled to his childhood village. When the government tracked him there, he made the heart-wrenching decision to flee Cameroon, for the safety of him and his family, in the hopes of receiving asylum in America. He flew to Ecuador and eventually made is way to the border at Tijuana, where he applied for asylum. You can read his incredible story here: http://www.trialnewsonline.org/trialnews/march_2019/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1471585&fbclid=IwAR1Wedx_VevIVYDULoox6KU7jMJOvnLDbL0IQIU1Ehtwr4ylbTpe6qFq25I#articleId1471585
Following his hearing, he was released the same day. It being a few days from Thanksgiving, and having no where to go, he came to stay with us, and joined our family for Thanksgiving. He quickly became an adopted member of our family:
When I asked him what he wanted to do most, he said "try pizza, and go see snow."
Nestor is now settled in Virginia, working at a hotel, and living with his brother, who was granted a diversity visa many years ago. As part of his asylum benefits, he can petition the government to bring his wife, Laura, and three children, Dibiase, Priya, and Lesanne-Parish, to America. He is working with an immigration attorney in Virginia and the government has received and is processing the petition.
We anticipate/are hopeful that his family will receive approval sometime in the next few months. I want to make sure that everything is ready to go as soon as that happens. The situation in Cameroon has devolved into civil war and it's important we get Laura and the kids to safety as soon as possible. The first thing we need to do in anticipation of them coming to America is get Laura and the kids passports. This is not an easy task, as the government is not necessarily willing to issue passports to Southern Cameroonians, but it can be done. I also want to have enough money to immediately purchase tickets to fly to Virginia as soon as their petition is granted.
Nestor is terribly worried for the safety of his family. He hasn't seen them since March 2018. Every time I would visit him in the detention center, he would say that he was doing fine, but was so worried about his family. As the situation in Cameroon gets worse, he continues to worry. I want to do everything I can to help him, and I need your help.
I think we can do that for $6,500. If there is any excess, I would give it to Nestor to help his family start their new life in America.
Even a small donation of $5 will be extremely appreciated and valued. Nestor and his family have been through so much. He is one of the most resilient, loving, and admirable people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. And I hope to one day soon meet Laura, Dibiase, Priya, and Lesanne-Parish.
Thank you so much.
Matt
Nestor is from Southern Cameroon and a member of the Southern Cameroon National Council, a political group advocating for the independence of Southern Cameroon. Following a peaceful protest, in which he live-streamed government helicopters shooting on protesters, he was arrested, tortured, jailed without charge, and kept in deplorable conditions. He was briefly released on bond when his wife gave birth, and when he heard the government was looking for him again, he and his family fled to his childhood village. When the government tracked him there, he made the heart-wrenching decision to flee Cameroon, for the safety of him and his family, in the hopes of receiving asylum in America. He flew to Ecuador and eventually made is way to the border at Tijuana, where he applied for asylum. You can read his incredible story here: http://www.trialnewsonline.org/trialnews/march_2019/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1471585&fbclid=IwAR1Wedx_VevIVYDULoox6KU7jMJOvnLDbL0IQIU1Ehtwr4ylbTpe6qFq25I#articleId1471585
Following his hearing, he was released the same day. It being a few days from Thanksgiving, and having no where to go, he came to stay with us, and joined our family for Thanksgiving. He quickly became an adopted member of our family:
When I asked him what he wanted to do most, he said "try pizza, and go see snow." Nestor is now settled in Virginia, working at a hotel, and living with his brother, who was granted a diversity visa many years ago. As part of his asylum benefits, he can petition the government to bring his wife, Laura, and three children, Dibiase, Priya, and Lesanne-Parish, to America. He is working with an immigration attorney in Virginia and the government has received and is processing the petition.
We anticipate/are hopeful that his family will receive approval sometime in the next few months. I want to make sure that everything is ready to go as soon as that happens. The situation in Cameroon has devolved into civil war and it's important we get Laura and the kids to safety as soon as possible. The first thing we need to do in anticipation of them coming to America is get Laura and the kids passports. This is not an easy task, as the government is not necessarily willing to issue passports to Southern Cameroonians, but it can be done. I also want to have enough money to immediately purchase tickets to fly to Virginia as soon as their petition is granted.
Nestor is terribly worried for the safety of his family. He hasn't seen them since March 2018. Every time I would visit him in the detention center, he would say that he was doing fine, but was so worried about his family. As the situation in Cameroon gets worse, he continues to worry. I want to do everything I can to help him, and I need your help.
I think we can do that for $6,500. If there is any excess, I would give it to Nestor to help his family start their new life in America.
Even a small donation of $5 will be extremely appreciated and valued. Nestor and his family have been through so much. He is one of the most resilient, loving, and admirable people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. And I hope to one day soon meet Laura, Dibiase, Priya, and Lesanne-Parish.
Thank you so much.
Matt
Organizer
Matt Wurdeman
Organizer
Olympia, WA
