Joe & Mei
Country of Origin: China
Currently Living in: Brooklyn, NY
On May 9, 2007, two of our families were the first in New York to take sanctuary in a nationwide New Sanctuary Movement. One of them is the family of Joe and Mei.
Joe and Mei, the parents of two U.S born toddlers, are asylum-seekers who value freedom of religion and the chance to contribute to their adopted country. They fear returning to China because Mei would likely be imprisoned and sterilized under China’s Population and Family Planning Law. Their deportation case hangs over their head. They worry every single day that if they are detained, their children will go into foster care. Joe and his wife are struggling to remain in the United States to give their children a chance at the freedom, peace and justice that all families deserve. Mei is caring for the children, while Joe is a busboy in New York, working seven days a week to support the family. He hopes to be a business owner himself one day. Three Lutheran churches in Brooklyn, Good Shepherd, Holy Spirit and the Healing Center of Trinity Church are offering sanctuary to Joe and his family.
Following is the statement that Joe read at the launch of the New Sanctuary Movement at St. Paul of the Apostle Church:
The immigration system is broken. It is unjust and inhumane. We do not want to be torn apart. That is why I am here today. My wife and I have been here 10 years. We work and support our family together. Our children were born here. We deserve a chance at least to stay together. To be a family.
I am here representing thousands of families with a similar situation. Lawyers tell us to hide until the law changes. They keep saying the laws are going to change any minute now. But I have been hearing those rumors for years. I am standing here today, even though I am afraid, because we have to be brave. I have been fighting my case since I came into this country. I came when I was 17. I got detained. I was put in a prison for children. After I was released, my deportation case continued. I think about it every single day for the last 10 years. And no matter how hard I try, there seems to be no solution.
One day when we were driving to Vermont, police pulled us over and put my wife and me both into detention for 4 months. Our daughter was left stranded. Relatives had to come to her rescue. As parents facing deportation, we feel helpless to protect our own children. I love my wife, she is a wonderful person and beloved mother. We love our children’s smiles. We want to see them grow. We want to be in their daily life.
We can not live and be a responsible parents with so much hanging over us. What happens if we are deported? Our children will go into foster care.
I have been working in a restaurant for 10 years. I want to start my own business one day, but I can’t until this legal problem is fixed. I think of my deportation case every single day. Today I am 28. I am a young father. I want to be a good father. I try to raise my children properly. I want them to be useful, to be honorable. My daughter here – she is the oldest child. She is 2 now. I take her to the playground, even if I am tired. She has a lot of energy. She deserves the best.
We have a case pending in the federal court of appeals. We are fighting off the deportation order. China has a one-child policy. My wife and I have two children. We are afraid of what would happen to us there; if they forced my wife to sterilize herself.
For the sake of our children, we hope Americans can understand our situation, and treat us fairly.