Thread by @paolamendoza

THREAD: #FAMILIESBELONGTOGETHER

1) Tonight six people spread across the entire country came together in a matter of minutes to help a mother who had just been released from a detention center with a very sick four-year-old. This is our story.

2) I got a text from my friend Rebecca, angel #1. She told me about a woman she had met in the San Antonio airport who had just been released from a detention center w her 4 year old daughter.

3) She said “Juana” also had an 8 year old boy who she had been separated from + hadn’t spoken to in 25 days. I asked if Juana had a lawyer. She said no. I asked to be put in touch with her so I could help secure a lawyer for her.

4) Juana didn’t have a cell phone and she was on a plane to meet her cousin in Florida.
I spoke with Juana’s cousin. She filled me in on the details of her story. Juana had come to the US with her husband and her two children. As soon as they arrived they split the family up.

5) Dad and son went to one facility and mom and daughter went to another. Juana was lucky enough to stay with her daughter but her husband was separated from their eight-year-old boy. The husband was quickly deported and she has not heard from her husband since.

6) Juana had a layover in Atlanta, GA. I was coming back from the march in Tornillo and also had a layover in Atlanta GA. Sadly our layovers didn’t coincide. I would miss Juana by an hour. When we landed in ATL I found out my flight was delayed.

7) I was going to be in ATL at the same time as Juana. I had never been so happy to have a delayed flight! I was determined to talk with Juana and let her know we were going to get her a lawyer and get son back.

8) When I got to her gate I saw 4 EMT’s surrounding a little girl and a petite woman looking very frightened. I approached her and asked if she was Juana. She nodded. I quickly told her I was here to help her. Her cousin had sent me. She took my hands and said thank you.

9) The little girl had a fever, she was coughing non-stop and she had had two bloody noses on the plane. They wanted to take her to the hospital. We are now living in a time where we aren’t sure what public spaces are safe for undocumented immigrants.

10) I wasn’t sure if the hospital was safe for her or her daughter. I told the EMT’s to wait. I had to make a few calls. I called angel #2, @leedsgarcia , an immigration expert and one of the best people I know. She told me she was unsure about ATL hospitals.

11) She needed to call her people on the ground. While we waited Juana told me her daughter had had a fever for 5 days in the detention center + she was never given medicine. She said her daughter had been having nose bleeds for the past 3 days and no one did anything for her.

12) I asked my friend @sarahsophief , angel #3, to find children’s Tylenol, something to drink, food, something to comfort this little girl anything to make it a little better. Sarah sprang into action. She ran around the terminal and found everything this family needed.

13) Meanwhile @leedsgarcia + I were texting + calling back and forth. She confirmed ATL was safe for Juana as long as she stayed in the city. Alida found an incredible social worker, Marisol, angel #4, to go to the hospital where Juana was going to make sure she would be safe.

14) Once I told the EMT’s we were going to the hospital angel #4, Ebony the Delta terminal manager, sprang into action. Ebony got Juana a room in a hotel, a taxi voucher and rebooked her flight for the next day. Ebony stayed by our side the entire time.

15) I took Juana + her daughter to the ambulance on the tarmac. Juana was scared to be going to a hospital by herself but I assured her Marisol was there. I explained everything to her. I promised her she would be safe.

16) She put her daughter on the stretcher and the little girl started crying. She was crying so much she made herself throw up, her nose starting bleeding again. As a mother it was painful to watch. Juana hugged her daughter and told her...

17) ”I promise you they aren’t going to take you away from me. I am here. I am not leaving you. Mami is going to stay with you.” But she just kept on crying, and throwing up with blood coming down her nose.

18) I turned to the EMT, Angel #5, and asked if I could have his cell phone because I wasn’t going to be able to get in contact with Juana once they left. He gave me his number and told me he would call when they arrived. I gave Juana a hug and I told her...

19) “I promise you we will find your son. I promise you, you will get your son back.” She thanked me. I got off the ambulance and watched it drive away.

Juana is now in the hospital with her daughter. Marisol is by her side as they wait for a doctor.

20) Juana was able to safely get to a doctor because by the grace of God she met someone that happened to call me and I by chance I was in the same airport as she was. I happen to know one of the best immigration experts in the country.

21) Juana is just one of thousands of mothers who have been separated from their children.

What have we done…..