My name is Barbara Facey. I married Howard Facey in 1997. I immediately filed an immigration petition for Howard, but didn't hear anything for six years. Last summer, a lawyer advised Howard to check on his paperwork at Federal Plaza. Immigration officers there told him to return the next Monday for work authorization. When he did, he was detained and shipped to Jamaica based on a 1995 deportation order from Alaska. Howard never saw a judge.

Howard called home from JFK airport at 6 a.m. to say that he was being deported. My heart sank, but I did not have the time to break down. I had to get our three kids ready for school, and rush to work at a local drugstore. Letisha, Kristina, and Christopher ask for their dad everyday. Their grades are dropping, and the school counselor says they are depressed. Childcare is really hard. When a family friend who was supposed to get Christopher from school was late a few times, the principal threatened to call Children's Services. With all this pressure, I don't have the time to properly treat my heart condition.

Life has turned upside down since our husbands were taken away. Our husbands are not a threat to anyone. They used to help with everything: pick up the kids from school; take them to the library, the park, McDonald's. It is so hard to raise kids as single mothers, but you have to push yourself for them. We're both terrified of people saying we are bad parents and taking our babies away. All our personal ambitions -- to get better jobs, make real careers -- are out the window while we just try to make it. Our husbands cannot help. In detention, you make one dollar a day for full-time work. Back home in the Caribbean, no one will hire a US deportee.

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Statements from Howard and Georgiana Facey
(Read on their behalf, in front of New York Federal Plaza on September 21, 2003)

Howard Facey, married to US citizen Georgiana Facey and the father of four American-born children, went to Federal Plaza to pick up his work authorization. He had come in and out of that building several times this year. At his last visit he was detained and swiftly deported to Jamaica. Yesterday Georgiana flew to Jamaica to give him clothes and to drop off their youngest child Christopher. Over the phone this morning, the couple provides the following statements:

Howard

I went to Federal Plaza to pick up my work forms. When I went before ' a few months ago ' they told me to just come back and things would be ready. The forms were ready, but the officers would not give them to me. They told me I had some error years ago. I did not really know what they were talking about. But they shackled my hands and feet, and put a chain around my waist. Then they sent me over to a jail for a few days, and then to the airport. I felt so awful. I couldn't believe it.

I'm happy to see my son. He's jumping all over me. My wife and I are happy to see each other. I miss her so much. Even though I'm not locked up, it feels like prison. I worry about time I used to spend with kids. We spent precious time together. I don't want my kids to grow up without a father. Georgiana's visit is so short. I don't know when I will see her again. I also miss my church activities. I play drums and bass, and sing in choir ' every single Sunday. That's how I met my wife: I was invited to play at her church.

Right now I am just trying to stay focused, and keep my spirits high. But I long so much to go home. I long to be with my girls ' my kids, I'm talking about! Hopefully we won't be apart too long.

Georgiana

As soon as we saw Howard at the airport, Christopher ran to him. He was so happy, saying 'daddy, daddy,' over again. Back in New York I would ask Christopher if he wants to go to the park, and he would start crying and say, 'I want to go to Jamaica to see my daddy.'

I'm grateful my husband is alive and healthy. But part of me feels like he's dead. One day he is home with us, the next day he is deported. I found out he was being put on a plane at 6 in the morning. I couldn't believe it - how quickly everything happened. And I am a US citizen! That morning I thought I would have a heart attack. But I didn't have the time to break down. I went to work at Duane Reade. I have to work so we don't end up homeless as well.

I leave here tomorrow morning. My baby and my husband can't come with me. I'll miss them so much. But we have no choice. Without Howard we can't afford a babysitter. I'll take care of our older girls in New York while Howard and Christopher stay here.

I pray that we can bring them back soon. When this first happened, I felt defeated. I did not know what to do. But now I am ready to fight. On Wednesday we are going to our Congressman Ed Towns to ask for help. We are also going to our Senators. We vote them into office to protect our families. Hopefully our Congressman and Senators can help reunite my family soon.