navywife03
04-02-2008, 12:57 AM
To whom our matter may concern,
My name is Petty Officer Third Class (Airwarfare Qualified) Fabian Briseno. I am a U.S. citizen and an Active Duty member in the United States Navy (Evidence A). I am writing to you in regards to the I-601 petition that I am filing for my wife Mrs. Patricia Garcia Briseno. I am happily married to my wife and am urging your approval of the Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility so that my wife may once again be with me here in the United States. I cannot begin to explain the amount of hardship I would endure if her return would be delayed, or worse, denied. Patricia was sent to the United States at the age of 5 involuntarily. We understand that her continued presence here has been unlawful, but we seek a fair chance at her becoming legal and being able to do so immediately. It is with true feelings that we ask for forgiveness for her unlawful status. There are many reasons this ten year ban from the United States implemented on my wife would be an extreme hardship on me.
Patricia and I met our freshman year in high school through a program known as ROTC. I didnt know that from looking at her that she would one day be the love of my life and later on be my wife. During the time we dated, I immediatley fell in love with her personality, loyalty and affection. As our relationship grew i realized that Patricia was "the one". And after two years, we decided to get married. Shortly after we were wed, I started the first step of trying to make our life better by filing the I-130. We did this entire immigration process on our own, without a lawyer and with only the support of our families. As our case advanced, we began getting more informed on what the next steps were. We soon realized what problems we were about to encounter in order to get her legal status resolved, including having to get our waiver approved. As a result we've been patiently waiting to expand our family.
I cannot fathom or even begin to envision the chance of losing her, nor can I imagine the extreme hardship it would cost me to see her having to relocate by herself to a country to which due to my active duty status I cannot follow. As an active duty Sailor there is no possible legal way for me to relocate from the base I am stationed in, let alone out of the country. I humbly ask that you consider our evidence of hardship and approve our waiver to allow Patricia to immigrate to the United States. I wish for us to be together and hopefully soon be able to fulfill our dream of buying a home and starting a family, and be able to live the American dream. Below I have listed the extreme hardships that will be caused to me if Patricia is denied admission back into the United States. I am going to explain my reasons and present evidence of these in hopes that you will appreciate the level of seriousness that each reason holds.
Extreme Hardship to Military Career
Since I am an active duty Sailor, there is currently no legal way of me being able to relocate to Mexico with Patricia. If I were to relocate with her today, I would immediately be breaking the law set forth by the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 85 which states that an active duty military member who is gone more than 30 days of unauthorized leave, has remained in a foreign country and has taken any kind of resident permit in that country will be classified a deserter. A deserter is also a person who without authority, goes or remains absent from their unit with intent to remain away from there permanently (Evidence B,C,D,E). If I choose to stay here in the United States, I’d loose my soul mate, my support, my fortitude, my wife. The person that has seen me through the toughest moments in my life and the one that keeps me going when I feel I should give up.
I currently work on EA-6B Prowler Jet Engines at NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington. I have been active duty enlisted since September 2003 and have made the US Navy my career (Evidence F). The Navy has proven to be a rewarding career, both personally and financially. Since being in the military for a little over 4 years now, i have deployed three times, each one becoming easier than the last, thanks to the love and support of my wife, Patricia (Evidence G). I have been to the Gulf twice, Iraq, and Japan ( Evidence H, I, J). I have helped support operations on both OEF and OIF (Evidence K). I am commited to my career and have solemnly sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, in doing so i have re-enlisted for an additional 4 years(Evidence L).
Being deployed in hostile places like Afghanistan and Iraq requires a lot of support and contact with family in order to maintain mental health stability (Evidence M). It would be an extreme hardship on me if I am deployed to such a hostile place and are unable to communicate with Patricia. It is hard enough to get a connection to the States, let alone a country such as Mexico. I’m a Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy and being a Non Commissioned Officer carries great responsibility (Evidence N). I trust any of my fellow shipmates with my life and know that they would do the same with me. Should I not be in a full mental capacity due to the seperation with my wife I would'nt be able to lead my shipmates with my full potential.
Financial Hardships & Complete Inability to Relocate to Mexico
Being a U.S. Citizen would cause me problems trying to find a job legally in Mexico. Being in the military for the last five years I believe that it would take some time for me to acclimate if I were to make the transition into the U.S. civilian employment system at this moment in time, but I don’t believe I would find it very comforting having to transition to the employment system of a culture I am not familiar with. I do not speak Spanish and do not know any other professional jobs other than fixing jet components. The EA-6B aircraft is not a jet that I can work on in Mexico and since english is my first language, it would be extremely difficult trying to accommodate to the culture shock which having to move to Mexico would cause on me.
As I mentioned before, the US Navy has provided me many opportunities. The current life style we enjoy is not a luxurious one by any means but it is comfortable and allows us to handle our daily needs. My monthly salary is currently $3244 (Evidence ) however my bills which include: Rent, Car Payment, 2 credit cards, groceries, car insurance, kay jewelers, direct tv, phone, 3 loans and Gasoline come to a total of $2629 (Evidence ) This means that we have roughly about $615 per month for miscellaneous expenses. I am currently working on getting promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class; this means that I would receive a slightly bigger paycheck. We don’t have much money left over for miscellaneous expenses like dinner and a movie but we are able to handle it. Wikipidia shows that the mean annual income in Mexico is $10,800. My basic pay along with my housing allowance means that I am currently making roughly about $39,000 a year
As I am the only source of income for our household, adjusting Patricia's immigration status has been financially stressful on me. I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars at a time to pay the immigration fees, NVC fees, and Visa fees. Having good financial management along with the moderate income I receive from my military service we have been able to make it through with our bills, rent, and all of the immigration fees. If my wife has to move to Mexico I would have to worry about having to support her with (clothing, food, and shelter). Please keep in mind that I would have to do this along with covering the expenses which we currently have here in the United States. Due to the fact that Mexico has a underemployment rate of 25% which causes 40% of its population to live below the poverty level (Evidence ) any employment she would obtain wouldn’t be much help as facts indicate it wouldn’t be a good paying job. Another hurdle that I would have to face is the fact that my military pay is based on rank and therefore it’s a fixed pay rate. I would not be able to go up to my boss and request a pay increase in order to meet the new financial requirements I would be facing. My current pay is currently enough to get us by comfortably, I don’t see a foreseeable way in which I would be able to afford supporting both of us when we are located in different countries. Even worse would be the situation if I were to relocate with her as it would be extremely difficult for us to meet our current financial requirements even if we were both to have a job in a country with such a high percentage of underemployment. I am afraid that should any of this occur I will not be able to pay for my financial responsibilities which would have a catastrophic effect on my credit record and eventually lead me to bankruptcy. This would be a hardship which would linger over me for the rest of my life and cause me an immense amount of financial hardship.
Loss of Educational Opportunities
In America I have the possibility to continue my education, something I would have to give up if forced to relocate to Mexico. The opportunities for education in the United States are massive and I plan to take full advantage of that. In Mexico there would be no way for me to continue my education, I would not be able to afford going to school, and I do not have any common knowledge of the language or the mathematical system. I graduated from High School in Victoria, Texas, and would love to be able to give back to my community. I feel as though it would benefit me as well as my community if I were allowed to return to the U.S with my wife so that we could further our education.
The United States Navy has provided one of the biggest opportunities for me to continue my education and try to obtain a college degree by providing me with the Montgomery G. I. Bill. The US Navy offers 100% tuition assistance up to $4000 a year to its active duty members. Should the opportunity not arise during your active duty time due to deployments or any type of mission responsibilities, the Montgomery GI Bill will pay for your education after you complete your contractual commitments. If I leave the US Navy and relocate to Mexico in an illegal manner I will loose all of the educational/federal benefits granted to me by having served in the United States Navy. I would never have the possibility in Mexico to be able to work full time and still afford to go to school at night as jobs don’t offer that type of opportunity like the US Navy does. And by leaving the U.S. in an illegal manner, I would forfeit my right to use the Montgomery G. I. Bill. There are so many educational opportunities in this country which I will not be able to obtain in Mexico.
Health & Safety Considerations
At this current moment in time i have no immense physical health problems. Physical fitness is paramount in the United States Navy. We are required to take two physical fitness tests per year (Evidence ) at which time we are also evaluated on our height/weight standard. Our height/weight standards in the United States Navy are strictly enforced and anybody not being able to make it within the standards will be directed to attend an alternate physical training which is led by our Physical fitness Officer. This program requires you to do rigid physical training so that you may return to the standards of physical fitness the US Navy is well known for. Personnel put into this course are given negative performance marks on their evaluation reports, and after three, the U. S. Navy is then forced to discharge the personnel due to fat content. I feel that if patty were to be banned, i would slowly but surely fall out of my standards and would be forced to participate in these alternate physical training courses, causing my performance evalution to decrease and causing my perfect military career to go down hill. And, worst case scenario, force me to be discharged from the Navy. If i were to move to Mexico, i would also put myself at a higher risk of contracting Diabetes, since it is common in Mexican and Hispanic cultures. Eating all of the fried foods, high in cholesterol and salt content would also give me a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
It is imperative that I maintain my mental health as there exist many things which would be affected should I not be able to operate at 100% of my mental capacity. Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (Evidence ) indicates that at least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year. Some of the causes which they say create this out of balance in the neurotransmitter chemicals which the brain uses to communicate include: Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, a financial problem, or any stressful change in life patterns. It is believed that any of the above reasons may trigger a depressive episode in vulnerable individuals. Their research states that men may turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed or become frustrated, discouraged, angry, and irritable. I don’t know what the effect will be on my mental stability should my wife not be allowed to be reunited with me but after researching depression at the National Institute of Mental Health I believe that having her taken away from me will surely make me vulnerable to depression. Some of the consequences of depression stated in the research make me worry as they could potentially put my career and my life at risk. Recurring to some of the things that the research indicates men turn to in the face of depression like drugs and alcohol is something that would have an irreparable effect on my military career. Not allowing my wife to return to the United States could very well put me in a category as an individual vulnerable to depression.
Knowing that Mexico has a high crime rate and a high rate of kidnappings creates much concern for me. If I were to relocate to Mexico, I would suffer constant worry over mine and my wife’s safety. The U.S. consular sheet (Evidence ) states that kidnappings in Mexico continue at an alarming rate. U.S. citizens, as I am, are prime targets for robbery and kidnapping. It would be very stressful living in a country knowing that I am a prime target for such a common crime. It causes me great agony knowing that my wife and I could be exposed to such unsafe environments should we relocate to Mexico. We wouldnt comfortably be able to fulfill our daily needs. The department of State notes that car robbery is very common and often violent in Mexico. I know we wouldnt be safe taking public transportation either because the U.S. Department of State also warns U.S. Citizens not to take public transportation which would take away both of our possibilities of comfortably commuting around. It is also stated that several U.S. Citizens have even died while in police custody. One cannot even feel safe when the police are around. The constant fear for my life would even include police officers should I ever be detained, men who in my country, have sworn to uphold the law.
Family Ties & Future Children
Family is an important part of any individual’s life, my family is more then an important part of my life, along with my wife they play a vital role in helping me whenever there is a situation in which I need their support. My family has been with us throughout this whole process and they are praying that it can be resolved soon. The hardships which my family and I will endure if Patricia is not allowed to return can be devastating. I cannot envision my life being so out of touch with the people who I love as much as I love my wife.
Due to my wife’s legal status we have put off having children. It is the dream of any couple to be able to have children, we are no different. We understand however that it is better to resolve the current situation before we decide to bring a human being into the world. I have tried my best to set us up for success for when we decide to embark on the journey of parenthood, even with being the only source of income I have made some sacrifices so that when that time comes we are 100% ready. My current worry right now is the fact that if we were to get pregnant there is a possibility that we would not be able to provide our child with the proper upbringing. If Patricia is not allowed to return to the United States and we decide to have children, the medical coverage to which her and our future children are entitled to through the military will be denied. This could have tremendous repercussion on the health stability of both my wife and our future children.
As a child of an American Citizen my future children will also be American citizens, but it would be a great hardship for them should they have to grow up in a country like Mexico as I would like for them to learn English, U.S. History, and U.S. culture. I want them to learn the pledge of allegiance, and learn about the sacrifices Americans made at Pearl Harbor. I would like for them to learn the values and enjoy the freedoms I so proudly serve for. This is something which cannot be provided to them in Mexico because none of it is relevant to that country. It is the will of every parent to want the best for their children when it comes to values and education and I know that this is something which none of my children will be able to enjoy should they have to grow up in Mexico.
Conclusion
From the moment I met my wife in high school she wanted nothing but to help me, she was kind and sweet. I quickly fell in love with her. A lot of people criticized us for getting married at the young age of 18 and 20. We both knew we were in love and continue to fall in love. This May will be 7 years since we've been in each others life and this July we will celebrate 5 years since we united in marriage. I can't imagine my life with out her I feel as though life itself would loose its meaning. I plead with you that you reconsider and allow my wife to return to the United States with me. You see she is not only my wife, she's my life, my inspiration, my rock, my support, I could not of prayed for a better life partner. In the 7 years she's been in my life she's made me a better person. I used to be irresponsible, making poor decisions and getting in trouble. She's taught me so much about life, she's taught me that in life you reap what you sow, that my decisions affect those most important around me, but most importantly she's taught me empathy. My wife has a very strong faith in God and now my faith is stronger than ever. Prior to her coming into my life I didn't really believe in God, I only came to him when I needed him. Now I talk to him when things are good as well as bad. I now know that if I speak to God he listens and the lord answers prayers. I ask you to please give my family an opportunity at life in the greatest country in the world. In light of the extreme hardships I would face and the fact that I have a marriage based on mutual love and life goals, I respectfully ask you to please waive the 10 year ban so that we may return to America together and continue our life and marriage. In allowing my wife to return, America will gain a great, responsible, generous, hard working, intelligent, educated, tax paying and law abiding person. Most importantly America will gain someone who loves and respects the country. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
My name is Petty Officer Third Class (Airwarfare Qualified) Fabian Briseno. I am a U.S. citizen and an Active Duty member in the United States Navy (Evidence A). I am writing to you in regards to the I-601 petition that I am filing for my wife Mrs. Patricia Garcia Briseno. I am happily married to my wife and am urging your approval of the Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility so that my wife may once again be with me here in the United States. I cannot begin to explain the amount of hardship I would endure if her return would be delayed, or worse, denied. Patricia was sent to the United States at the age of 5 involuntarily. We understand that her continued presence here has been unlawful, but we seek a fair chance at her becoming legal and being able to do so immediately. It is with true feelings that we ask for forgiveness for her unlawful status. There are many reasons this ten year ban from the United States implemented on my wife would be an extreme hardship on me.
Patricia and I met our freshman year in high school through a program known as ROTC. I didnt know that from looking at her that she would one day be the love of my life and later on be my wife. During the time we dated, I immediatley fell in love with her personality, loyalty and affection. As our relationship grew i realized that Patricia was "the one". And after two years, we decided to get married. Shortly after we were wed, I started the first step of trying to make our life better by filing the I-130. We did this entire immigration process on our own, without a lawyer and with only the support of our families. As our case advanced, we began getting more informed on what the next steps were. We soon realized what problems we were about to encounter in order to get her legal status resolved, including having to get our waiver approved. As a result we've been patiently waiting to expand our family.
I cannot fathom or even begin to envision the chance of losing her, nor can I imagine the extreme hardship it would cost me to see her having to relocate by herself to a country to which due to my active duty status I cannot follow. As an active duty Sailor there is no possible legal way for me to relocate from the base I am stationed in, let alone out of the country. I humbly ask that you consider our evidence of hardship and approve our waiver to allow Patricia to immigrate to the United States. I wish for us to be together and hopefully soon be able to fulfill our dream of buying a home and starting a family, and be able to live the American dream. Below I have listed the extreme hardships that will be caused to me if Patricia is denied admission back into the United States. I am going to explain my reasons and present evidence of these in hopes that you will appreciate the level of seriousness that each reason holds.
Extreme Hardship to Military Career
Since I am an active duty Sailor, there is currently no legal way of me being able to relocate to Mexico with Patricia. If I were to relocate with her today, I would immediately be breaking the law set forth by the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 85 which states that an active duty military member who is gone more than 30 days of unauthorized leave, has remained in a foreign country and has taken any kind of resident permit in that country will be classified a deserter. A deserter is also a person who without authority, goes or remains absent from their unit with intent to remain away from there permanently (Evidence B,C,D,E). If I choose to stay here in the United States, I’d loose my soul mate, my support, my fortitude, my wife. The person that has seen me through the toughest moments in my life and the one that keeps me going when I feel I should give up.
I currently work on EA-6B Prowler Jet Engines at NAS Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington. I have been active duty enlisted since September 2003 and have made the US Navy my career (Evidence F). The Navy has proven to be a rewarding career, both personally and financially. Since being in the military for a little over 4 years now, i have deployed three times, each one becoming easier than the last, thanks to the love and support of my wife, Patricia (Evidence G). I have been to the Gulf twice, Iraq, and Japan ( Evidence H, I, J). I have helped support operations on both OEF and OIF (Evidence K). I am commited to my career and have solemnly sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, in doing so i have re-enlisted for an additional 4 years(Evidence L).
Being deployed in hostile places like Afghanistan and Iraq requires a lot of support and contact with family in order to maintain mental health stability (Evidence M). It would be an extreme hardship on me if I am deployed to such a hostile place and are unable to communicate with Patricia. It is hard enough to get a connection to the States, let alone a country such as Mexico. I’m a Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy and being a Non Commissioned Officer carries great responsibility (Evidence N). I trust any of my fellow shipmates with my life and know that they would do the same with me. Should I not be in a full mental capacity due to the seperation with my wife I would'nt be able to lead my shipmates with my full potential.
Financial Hardships & Complete Inability to Relocate to Mexico
Being a U.S. Citizen would cause me problems trying to find a job legally in Mexico. Being in the military for the last five years I believe that it would take some time for me to acclimate if I were to make the transition into the U.S. civilian employment system at this moment in time, but I don’t believe I would find it very comforting having to transition to the employment system of a culture I am not familiar with. I do not speak Spanish and do not know any other professional jobs other than fixing jet components. The EA-6B aircraft is not a jet that I can work on in Mexico and since english is my first language, it would be extremely difficult trying to accommodate to the culture shock which having to move to Mexico would cause on me.
As I mentioned before, the US Navy has provided me many opportunities. The current life style we enjoy is not a luxurious one by any means but it is comfortable and allows us to handle our daily needs. My monthly salary is currently $3244 (Evidence ) however my bills which include: Rent, Car Payment, 2 credit cards, groceries, car insurance, kay jewelers, direct tv, phone, 3 loans and Gasoline come to a total of $2629 (Evidence ) This means that we have roughly about $615 per month for miscellaneous expenses. I am currently working on getting promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class; this means that I would receive a slightly bigger paycheck. We don’t have much money left over for miscellaneous expenses like dinner and a movie but we are able to handle it. Wikipidia shows that the mean annual income in Mexico is $10,800. My basic pay along with my housing allowance means that I am currently making roughly about $39,000 a year
As I am the only source of income for our household, adjusting Patricia's immigration status has been financially stressful on me. I’ve spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars at a time to pay the immigration fees, NVC fees, and Visa fees. Having good financial management along with the moderate income I receive from my military service we have been able to make it through with our bills, rent, and all of the immigration fees. If my wife has to move to Mexico I would have to worry about having to support her with (clothing, food, and shelter). Please keep in mind that I would have to do this along with covering the expenses which we currently have here in the United States. Due to the fact that Mexico has a underemployment rate of 25% which causes 40% of its population to live below the poverty level (Evidence ) any employment she would obtain wouldn’t be much help as facts indicate it wouldn’t be a good paying job. Another hurdle that I would have to face is the fact that my military pay is based on rank and therefore it’s a fixed pay rate. I would not be able to go up to my boss and request a pay increase in order to meet the new financial requirements I would be facing. My current pay is currently enough to get us by comfortably, I don’t see a foreseeable way in which I would be able to afford supporting both of us when we are located in different countries. Even worse would be the situation if I were to relocate with her as it would be extremely difficult for us to meet our current financial requirements even if we were both to have a job in a country with such a high percentage of underemployment. I am afraid that should any of this occur I will not be able to pay for my financial responsibilities which would have a catastrophic effect on my credit record and eventually lead me to bankruptcy. This would be a hardship which would linger over me for the rest of my life and cause me an immense amount of financial hardship.
Loss of Educational Opportunities
In America I have the possibility to continue my education, something I would have to give up if forced to relocate to Mexico. The opportunities for education in the United States are massive and I plan to take full advantage of that. In Mexico there would be no way for me to continue my education, I would not be able to afford going to school, and I do not have any common knowledge of the language or the mathematical system. I graduated from High School in Victoria, Texas, and would love to be able to give back to my community. I feel as though it would benefit me as well as my community if I were allowed to return to the U.S with my wife so that we could further our education.
The United States Navy has provided one of the biggest opportunities for me to continue my education and try to obtain a college degree by providing me with the Montgomery G. I. Bill. The US Navy offers 100% tuition assistance up to $4000 a year to its active duty members. Should the opportunity not arise during your active duty time due to deployments or any type of mission responsibilities, the Montgomery GI Bill will pay for your education after you complete your contractual commitments. If I leave the US Navy and relocate to Mexico in an illegal manner I will loose all of the educational/federal benefits granted to me by having served in the United States Navy. I would never have the possibility in Mexico to be able to work full time and still afford to go to school at night as jobs don’t offer that type of opportunity like the US Navy does. And by leaving the U.S. in an illegal manner, I would forfeit my right to use the Montgomery G. I. Bill. There are so many educational opportunities in this country which I will not be able to obtain in Mexico.
Health & Safety Considerations
At this current moment in time i have no immense physical health problems. Physical fitness is paramount in the United States Navy. We are required to take two physical fitness tests per year (Evidence ) at which time we are also evaluated on our height/weight standard. Our height/weight standards in the United States Navy are strictly enforced and anybody not being able to make it within the standards will be directed to attend an alternate physical training which is led by our Physical fitness Officer. This program requires you to do rigid physical training so that you may return to the standards of physical fitness the US Navy is well known for. Personnel put into this course are given negative performance marks on their evaluation reports, and after three, the U. S. Navy is then forced to discharge the personnel due to fat content. I feel that if patty were to be banned, i would slowly but surely fall out of my standards and would be forced to participate in these alternate physical training courses, causing my performance evalution to decrease and causing my perfect military career to go down hill. And, worst case scenario, force me to be discharged from the Navy. If i were to move to Mexico, i would also put myself at a higher risk of contracting Diabetes, since it is common in Mexican and Hispanic cultures. Eating all of the fried foods, high in cholesterol and salt content would also give me a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.
It is imperative that I maintain my mental health as there exist many things which would be affected should I not be able to operate at 100% of my mental capacity. Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (Evidence ) indicates that at least six million men in the United States suffer from a depressive disorder every year. Some of the causes which they say create this out of balance in the neurotransmitter chemicals which the brain uses to communicate include: Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, a financial problem, or any stressful change in life patterns. It is believed that any of the above reasons may trigger a depressive episode in vulnerable individuals. Their research states that men may turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed or become frustrated, discouraged, angry, and irritable. I don’t know what the effect will be on my mental stability should my wife not be allowed to be reunited with me but after researching depression at the National Institute of Mental Health I believe that having her taken away from me will surely make me vulnerable to depression. Some of the consequences of depression stated in the research make me worry as they could potentially put my career and my life at risk. Recurring to some of the things that the research indicates men turn to in the face of depression like drugs and alcohol is something that would have an irreparable effect on my military career. Not allowing my wife to return to the United States could very well put me in a category as an individual vulnerable to depression.
Knowing that Mexico has a high crime rate and a high rate of kidnappings creates much concern for me. If I were to relocate to Mexico, I would suffer constant worry over mine and my wife’s safety. The U.S. consular sheet (Evidence ) states that kidnappings in Mexico continue at an alarming rate. U.S. citizens, as I am, are prime targets for robbery and kidnapping. It would be very stressful living in a country knowing that I am a prime target for such a common crime. It causes me great agony knowing that my wife and I could be exposed to such unsafe environments should we relocate to Mexico. We wouldnt comfortably be able to fulfill our daily needs. The department of State notes that car robbery is very common and often violent in Mexico. I know we wouldnt be safe taking public transportation either because the U.S. Department of State also warns U.S. Citizens not to take public transportation which would take away both of our possibilities of comfortably commuting around. It is also stated that several U.S. Citizens have even died while in police custody. One cannot even feel safe when the police are around. The constant fear for my life would even include police officers should I ever be detained, men who in my country, have sworn to uphold the law.
Family Ties & Future Children
Family is an important part of any individual’s life, my family is more then an important part of my life, along with my wife they play a vital role in helping me whenever there is a situation in which I need their support. My family has been with us throughout this whole process and they are praying that it can be resolved soon. The hardships which my family and I will endure if Patricia is not allowed to return can be devastating. I cannot envision my life being so out of touch with the people who I love as much as I love my wife.
Due to my wife’s legal status we have put off having children. It is the dream of any couple to be able to have children, we are no different. We understand however that it is better to resolve the current situation before we decide to bring a human being into the world. I have tried my best to set us up for success for when we decide to embark on the journey of parenthood, even with being the only source of income I have made some sacrifices so that when that time comes we are 100% ready. My current worry right now is the fact that if we were to get pregnant there is a possibility that we would not be able to provide our child with the proper upbringing. If Patricia is not allowed to return to the United States and we decide to have children, the medical coverage to which her and our future children are entitled to through the military will be denied. This could have tremendous repercussion on the health stability of both my wife and our future children.
As a child of an American Citizen my future children will also be American citizens, but it would be a great hardship for them should they have to grow up in a country like Mexico as I would like for them to learn English, U.S. History, and U.S. culture. I want them to learn the pledge of allegiance, and learn about the sacrifices Americans made at Pearl Harbor. I would like for them to learn the values and enjoy the freedoms I so proudly serve for. This is something which cannot be provided to them in Mexico because none of it is relevant to that country. It is the will of every parent to want the best for their children when it comes to values and education and I know that this is something which none of my children will be able to enjoy should they have to grow up in Mexico.
Conclusion
From the moment I met my wife in high school she wanted nothing but to help me, she was kind and sweet. I quickly fell in love with her. A lot of people criticized us for getting married at the young age of 18 and 20. We both knew we were in love and continue to fall in love. This May will be 7 years since we've been in each others life and this July we will celebrate 5 years since we united in marriage. I can't imagine my life with out her I feel as though life itself would loose its meaning. I plead with you that you reconsider and allow my wife to return to the United States with me. You see she is not only my wife, she's my life, my inspiration, my rock, my support, I could not of prayed for a better life partner. In the 7 years she's been in my life she's made me a better person. I used to be irresponsible, making poor decisions and getting in trouble. She's taught me so much about life, she's taught me that in life you reap what you sow, that my decisions affect those most important around me, but most importantly she's taught me empathy. My wife has a very strong faith in God and now my faith is stronger than ever. Prior to her coming into my life I didn't really believe in God, I only came to him when I needed him. Now I talk to him when things are good as well as bad. I now know that if I speak to God he listens and the lord answers prayers. I ask you to please give my family an opportunity at life in the greatest country in the world. In light of the extreme hardships I would face and the fact that I have a marriage based on mutual love and life goals, I respectfully ask you to please waive the 10 year ban so that we may return to America together and continue our life and marriage. In allowing my wife to return, America will gain a great, responsible, generous, hard working, intelligent, educated, tax paying and law abiding person. Most importantly America will gain someone who loves and respects the country. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,