mamitoceci
05-16-2008, 03:21 AM
To whom it may concern:
I am writing this letter in regards to the I 601 document I have filed for my husband HUBBYA. Coutino Velazquez. He came to this country to escape the poverty in his own country and provide for his grandmother who is an invalid. HUBBYhas an extreme love for his family and friends, and is willing to make sacrifices to help anyone in need. As my husband and the father of my children, he truly impresses me with his selfless acts and care for others. I am terrified of the thought of being separated from him because the I601 is not approved. The extreme hardships we would endure if I had to relocate my whole family to Mexico are equally terrifying.
Our Family Background
I met HUBBYin January of 2005. He came in to Nissen Staffing
(a temporary agency where I was working as a recruiter) looking for a job. We both knew it was love at first sight. I didn’t know such a thing existed until I met him. I denied his initial requests for a date because I did not want to mix my professional and private life. After an extremely hard day, he popped into my office and asked me out on a date one more time. I could not say no. So we went out to a 24 hour restaurant and ended talking the whole night. We were inseparable ever since. We got engaged in April and married May 5, 2005. We have one beautiful daughter Daughter Jazmin Coutino, born 5/22/06. We are also expecting our second child September 13, 2008. We also have my stepson, and Rafael’s son (a US citizen) in our custody from Monday - Saturday.
When I took my marriage vows, I made the commitment to be with my husband through thick and thin and rich and poor. I value these vows. If my husband’s waiver is not approved I will be forced to leave my family, my job, my home and my country to be with my husband.
Extreme Hardships regarding extended family
My grandmother, Grandma was diagnosed last year with Diverticulosis (exhibit A) Breast Cancer (Exhibit B). Last year she also had double knee replacement surgery(Exhibit C).
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
My grandmother received chemotherapy treatments for her breast cancer for 3 months. During this time, I would drive her to her weekly chemo treatments. If her cancer returns, I worry that she will not have anyone to take care of her or drive her to her appointments. Currently my grandma relies upon me to drive her to all her doctor appointments as well as her do all of her grocery shopping, and picking up her medicines.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, Diverticulitis is swelling (inflammation) of an abnormal pouch (diverticulum) in the intestinal wall. These pouches are usually found in the large intestine (colon). The presence of the pouches themselves is called diverticulosis.
While my grandmother was getting double knee replacement surgery, she had a severe flare up of diverticulosis. She had to have surgery, but her large intestine was so infected, they had to give her a Colostomy.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, Colostomy is a surgical procedure that brings the end of the large intestine through the abdominal wall. Stools moving through the intestine drain into a bag attached to the abdomen. The procedure is usually done after bowel resections or injuries and it may be temporary or permanent.
My grandmother relies on me and my husband HUBBYon the weekends. We are currently taking care of her every weekend. She has a live-in aid Monday - Friday, but Saturday and Sunday we go to take care of her. She has a colostomy bag which needs emptying on a daily basis. She also needs assistance bathing herself, getting out of bed, walking, cooking her meals, cleaning, and almost all daily activities. (Exhibit D) HUBBYhas been helping me with these duties as he has experience taking care of his invalid grandmother. I am very concerned that if I relocate to Mexico to be with my husband there will be no one to look after my grandmother. My grandmother has three sons. Two of those sons live in either New York or New Jersey. My father her only son that lives close to her ( She lives in Northbrook, IL and my father lives in Rockford, Illinois.) My father is recovering from bile duct cancer (Exhibit E) and is not able to assist my grandmother. Lately due to my progressing pregnancy I have been less able to care for my grandmother. HUBBYhas had to help me lift out of the bed, off her chair, and even off the toilet when she has to urinate. I can’t bare the thought of her suffering alone. I am afraid that if I chose to stay in Mexico to keep my family together that my grandmother will suffer grave consequences. If neither HUBBYor I am around to take care of my grandmother, I know that my grandmother will suffer, and I will feel awful knowing I have let her down.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health:
Bile duct cancer or Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant (cancerous) growth in one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.
Sadly the prognosis for Bile Duct cancer is grim.
“Complete tumor removal allows 30% to 40% of patients to survive for at least 5 years, with the possibility of a complete cure. If the tumor cannot be completely removed, cure is generally not possible. In this situation, with treatment, about half of patients live a year, and about half live longer.”
When my father was sick with cancer, he was told by his doctors he had a 20% chance of living another 5 years. His diagnosis was later changed from prostate cancer to bile duct cancer in the liver. My dad stayed with me, Rafael, Daughter and Stepson while he was going through his chemotherapy at the University Hospital. I know there is always the chance that his cancer will come back, and if my husband and children are in Mexico, I worry that I will miss out on being in my fathers life, and not be able to help him.
My parents Hilene and Dad are very active parts of my life. Both of my parents spend substantial time with both Daughter and Stepson. (Exhibit F and G) We have a very close relationship. They have been an essential part of our lives. My parents and Daughter and Stepson would all suffer if HUBBYwas not able to return to our home, and our family was forced to relocate to Mexico. My mother and I talk on a daily basis, and should we have to relocate to Mexico I am sure I would not be able to afford that. My father has spent much time with both grandchildren taking care of them during the day, and spending time with then when he lived with us. They call their grandfather Grandpa Joe. Their faces light up when they see each other.
My mother would suffer an extreme financial hardship if we were forced to relocate to Mexico. She bought the house Rafael, Daughter, Stepson and I currently live in. However I make the monthly mortgage payments. Should my family relocate to Mexico, I will not be able to make the monthly mortgage payments, and our home will likely be foreclosed. (exhibit H)
Moving to Mexico and my Religion
My family is Jewish. I am a Jew. (Exhibit I) My daughter Daughter was given a Hebrew name during her Jewish baby naming ceremony. We attend Temple Emmanuel on a regular basis. After extensive research, I have concluded that there are very few Jewish Temples in Mexico. There are none in the state of Chiapas (where I would live) or Oaxaca, the closest state to where I would live. I would not have the opportunity to participate in weekly Sabbath celebrations at my temple. My soon to be child would not be able to have the proper baby naming ceremony.
Probably the worst part would be I would not be able to provide my children with the Hebrew schooling they need to become Bat Mitzvahs. A coming of age ceremony for all Jewish children when they turn thirteen. It is important to start Hebrew school education at 7 years old. Daughter would be twelve and the new baby would be ten when we would all be able to come back. This would too late for them to start learning Hebrew. Besides the Hebrew schooling, they would also not have the opportunity to learn about Judaism. One of the most important parts of Judaism is continue teach Judaism to your children. I would be devastated if my children were not raised to be Jews.
Mexico is a Roman Catholic country, and there are few Jews in the country. My husband’s family is Roman Catholic, and they are already pressuring us to have our children baptized in the Catholic Church. I am afraid being exposed only the Catholicism and Christianity, they will never embrace their Jewish Heritage.
According to The CIA, there are 109,955,400 people living in Mexico. According to the Jewish People Planning Institute, there was only 40,000 Jews living in Mexico in 2005. That is less than ½ of 1 per cent. This will make it hard for me and my children to be part of a strong Jewish Community. (Exhibit J and K)
Health Concerns
I am currently pregnant with my second child. Should I move to Mexico I will not receive adequate prenatal care, or be able to afford the cost of delivery. If I move to Mexico, I would have little access to quality doctors. My family would be staying in the unincorporated mountain town of Nueva Palestina. This is where my husband’s family is. This is a remote village about 2 hours or 80 Kilometers from the nearest Hospital in the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez. There are no OB/GYN doctors in Nueva Palastina, and it would be near impossible for me to receive the same prenatal care I am receiving in the United States. (Exhibit L Page 7) Not long after my first child was born I developed severe post partum depression (Exhibit M) (Exhibit N). According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Post Partum Depression is a more serious condition that affects 8-20% of women after pregnancy, especially the first 4 weeks. It is necessary to seek medical attention to treat post partum depression.
It was very hard for me to stop crying, to sleep and most importantly to fully care for my newborn. My husband was my saving grace. He was my constant support system. I needed both the support of my doctor and my husband to get through that very trying time. My OB/GYN Dr. Julie Dejong has already expressed concern that the Post Partum Depression will come back with my second child. Without the help of HUBBYI am afraid the post partum depression will be debilitating.
I have had asthma all of my life. It is aggravated by humidity, stress, and dust. I am afraid the humid climate in Chiapas Mexico, the part of Mexico my husband’s family lives will aggravate my condition. I am also concerned that either the stress of being away from my husband in the United States or being away from my natal family in Mexico will aggravate my condition. (Exhibit O) According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Asthma is caused by inflammation of airways. Triggers include stress.
In 2007, I went to Mexico with my daughter for about 10 days. During that time I developed extreme gastrointestinal problems. When I came back to the United States I had stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea for several months after I came back. I am afraid my gastrointestinal problems would reoccur if I lived in Mexico. (Exhibit P) (Exhibit L Page 7) The water quality is very poor in Mexico, and I worry I will inadvertently ingest poor quality water which will lead to another incident of severe diarrhea.
Safety if my family moves to Mexico
The first time I went to Mexico in 2007, my husband’s family accompanied me every where I went. At first I thought it was because they were being nice, but when I returned home my husband said it was because they were worried about me being kidnapped because I am an American Citizen. I am afraid about constantly worrying about me and my children being kidnapped in Mexico. Per the consular information sheet regarding Kidnapping
Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates.* So-called express kidnappings, an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for the release of an individual, have occurred in almost all the large cities in Mexico and appear to target not only the wealthy, but also the middle class.* U.S. businesses with offices in Mexico or concerned U.S. citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. consulate to discuss precautions they should (Exhibit S, Page 3)
I am aware that the southern State of Chiapas is the most dangerous state in all of Chiapas. Per the Consular Information Sheet regarding Chiapas:
Chiapas: The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens traveling to the southern state of Chiapas remain cautious at all times.* Armed rebels and armed civilian groups are present in some areas of the state, and there is often no effective law enforcement or police protection.* Violent criminal gang activity along the state’s southern border – mostly aimed at illegal migrants – continues to be a concern.* U.S. citizens traveling to Chiapas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for further security information prior to traveling to the region. (Exhibit S page 2)
Extreme Financial Hardships
I am currently working as an Administrative Assistant for Lake Valley Camp. I make $40,000 and am barely able to provide for my family with this income. I could make this amount in Mexico.
With my income, I pay the bills and my husband pays for childcare, or he himself takes care of the children. With him gone, I will undoubtedly fall behind on the bills, or mortgage so I can pay for childcare. If I relocate my family to Mexico because my husband is not allowed to come back to this country I will have to leave my job, and put myself in an extreme financial hardship. Because I am not fluent in Spanish, I will not be able to find suitable employment. I also will not have the proper visa to work in Mexico. This is a time consuming process that I will not be able to afford.
According the to Consular Information Sheet on Mexico, Mexico has a 3.7 unemployment, and a up to 25% unemployment rate in Mexico. Mexico also has a 40% poverty rate.
I currently have student loan debts of over $25,000. I will not be able to make the payments if I am forced to relocate to Mexico.
Extreme Hardship to our children
My daughter has an extremely close relationship with Rafael. He was her primary caregiver for much of her life while I worked there were many months that he stayed home with her. To this day she cries when he leaves the house, and jumps for joy when he returns. They have had a close relationship since she was born.
My second child is due in September, and it pains me to think that is a strong possibility my newborn baby will not have the same opportunity to bond with HUBBYas Daughter had. If HUBBYis not able to have the same bonding time with the new baby as he had with Daughter the new baby will not form a close bond with the Rafael. (Exhibit A)
Stepson, (Exhibit B) my stepson lives with us the majority of the week. His mother is a single mother with another child from a different father, and is currently pregnant as well. I have raised Stepson since he was 4 months old. He lives with us 6 days out of the week. Rafael, Daughter and I are his family. I call him my son, in my office my picture of Stepson is right next to my picture of Daughter. He has always called me Mommy. His Mother has said that if HUBBYis in Mexico, she will no longer allow Stepson to live with me in Oconomowoc. She will also not let Stepson come to Mexico. (Exhibit )Stepson is not biologically my son, but I can not imagine my life with out him. If Rafael’s petition is denied, I will be forced to chose between my husband, and a little boy who calls me Mommy. He will lose two of his 3 parents and his little sister. That guilt will tear me apart.
Educational Concerns with moving to Mexico for Children
We live in a community with a very low crime rate. If we move to Mexico I am concerned of the high crime rate and potential kidnapping in Chiapas where my husband’s family lives. I am afraid that if were living in Chiapas we would be especially vulnerable to kidnapping attempts as Americans.
My children are in the Oconomowoc School District and would go to Park Lawn, a Blue Ribbon School. (exhibit ) They would also go to Oconomowoc High School, which has a graduation rate of over 95%. (Exhibit D) Education is one of the most important opportunities for our children. If we were in Mexico I fear they will not acquire the English skills necessary to be successful later in their educational life.
Conclusion
I am aware that every day many people apply for Waivers. However I sincerely hope you will look favorably at our family, and grant this waiver request. So many people will be affected if HUBBYis unable to return the our wonderful country, myself, my daughter Daughter, my stepson Stepson, my unborn child, my Grandmother, Grandma, my parents Dad and Dad, By allowing HUBBYto enter this country, the United States will be gaining a hardworking, respectable, caring, selfless resident.
I am writing this letter in regards to the I 601 document I have filed for my husband HUBBYA. Coutino Velazquez. He came to this country to escape the poverty in his own country and provide for his grandmother who is an invalid. HUBBYhas an extreme love for his family and friends, and is willing to make sacrifices to help anyone in need. As my husband and the father of my children, he truly impresses me with his selfless acts and care for others. I am terrified of the thought of being separated from him because the I601 is not approved. The extreme hardships we would endure if I had to relocate my whole family to Mexico are equally terrifying.
Our Family Background
I met HUBBYin January of 2005. He came in to Nissen Staffing
(a temporary agency where I was working as a recruiter) looking for a job. We both knew it was love at first sight. I didn’t know such a thing existed until I met him. I denied his initial requests for a date because I did not want to mix my professional and private life. After an extremely hard day, he popped into my office and asked me out on a date one more time. I could not say no. So we went out to a 24 hour restaurant and ended talking the whole night. We were inseparable ever since. We got engaged in April and married May 5, 2005. We have one beautiful daughter Daughter Jazmin Coutino, born 5/22/06. We are also expecting our second child September 13, 2008. We also have my stepson, and Rafael’s son (a US citizen) in our custody from Monday - Saturday.
When I took my marriage vows, I made the commitment to be with my husband through thick and thin and rich and poor. I value these vows. If my husband’s waiver is not approved I will be forced to leave my family, my job, my home and my country to be with my husband.
Extreme Hardships regarding extended family
My grandmother, Grandma was diagnosed last year with Diverticulosis (exhibit A) Breast Cancer (Exhibit B). Last year she also had double knee replacement surgery(Exhibit C).
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast.
My grandmother received chemotherapy treatments for her breast cancer for 3 months. During this time, I would drive her to her weekly chemo treatments. If her cancer returns, I worry that she will not have anyone to take care of her or drive her to her appointments. Currently my grandma relies upon me to drive her to all her doctor appointments as well as her do all of her grocery shopping, and picking up her medicines.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, Diverticulitis is swelling (inflammation) of an abnormal pouch (diverticulum) in the intestinal wall. These pouches are usually found in the large intestine (colon). The presence of the pouches themselves is called diverticulosis.
While my grandmother was getting double knee replacement surgery, she had a severe flare up of diverticulosis. She had to have surgery, but her large intestine was so infected, they had to give her a Colostomy.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, Colostomy is a surgical procedure that brings the end of the large intestine through the abdominal wall. Stools moving through the intestine drain into a bag attached to the abdomen. The procedure is usually done after bowel resections or injuries and it may be temporary or permanent.
My grandmother relies on me and my husband HUBBYon the weekends. We are currently taking care of her every weekend. She has a live-in aid Monday - Friday, but Saturday and Sunday we go to take care of her. She has a colostomy bag which needs emptying on a daily basis. She also needs assistance bathing herself, getting out of bed, walking, cooking her meals, cleaning, and almost all daily activities. (Exhibit D) HUBBYhas been helping me with these duties as he has experience taking care of his invalid grandmother. I am very concerned that if I relocate to Mexico to be with my husband there will be no one to look after my grandmother. My grandmother has three sons. Two of those sons live in either New York or New Jersey. My father her only son that lives close to her ( She lives in Northbrook, IL and my father lives in Rockford, Illinois.) My father is recovering from bile duct cancer (Exhibit E) and is not able to assist my grandmother. Lately due to my progressing pregnancy I have been less able to care for my grandmother. HUBBYhas had to help me lift out of the bed, off her chair, and even off the toilet when she has to urinate. I can’t bare the thought of her suffering alone. I am afraid that if I chose to stay in Mexico to keep my family together that my grandmother will suffer grave consequences. If neither HUBBYor I am around to take care of my grandmother, I know that my grandmother will suffer, and I will feel awful knowing I have let her down.
According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health:
Bile duct cancer or Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant (cancerous) growth in one of the ducts that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine.
Sadly the prognosis for Bile Duct cancer is grim.
“Complete tumor removal allows 30% to 40% of patients to survive for at least 5 years, with the possibility of a complete cure. If the tumor cannot be completely removed, cure is generally not possible. In this situation, with treatment, about half of patients live a year, and about half live longer.”
When my father was sick with cancer, he was told by his doctors he had a 20% chance of living another 5 years. His diagnosis was later changed from prostate cancer to bile duct cancer in the liver. My dad stayed with me, Rafael, Daughter and Stepson while he was going through his chemotherapy at the University Hospital. I know there is always the chance that his cancer will come back, and if my husband and children are in Mexico, I worry that I will miss out on being in my fathers life, and not be able to help him.
My parents Hilene and Dad are very active parts of my life. Both of my parents spend substantial time with both Daughter and Stepson. (Exhibit F and G) We have a very close relationship. They have been an essential part of our lives. My parents and Daughter and Stepson would all suffer if HUBBYwas not able to return to our home, and our family was forced to relocate to Mexico. My mother and I talk on a daily basis, and should we have to relocate to Mexico I am sure I would not be able to afford that. My father has spent much time with both grandchildren taking care of them during the day, and spending time with then when he lived with us. They call their grandfather Grandpa Joe. Their faces light up when they see each other.
My mother would suffer an extreme financial hardship if we were forced to relocate to Mexico. She bought the house Rafael, Daughter, Stepson and I currently live in. However I make the monthly mortgage payments. Should my family relocate to Mexico, I will not be able to make the monthly mortgage payments, and our home will likely be foreclosed. (exhibit H)
Moving to Mexico and my Religion
My family is Jewish. I am a Jew. (Exhibit I) My daughter Daughter was given a Hebrew name during her Jewish baby naming ceremony. We attend Temple Emmanuel on a regular basis. After extensive research, I have concluded that there are very few Jewish Temples in Mexico. There are none in the state of Chiapas (where I would live) or Oaxaca, the closest state to where I would live. I would not have the opportunity to participate in weekly Sabbath celebrations at my temple. My soon to be child would not be able to have the proper baby naming ceremony.
Probably the worst part would be I would not be able to provide my children with the Hebrew schooling they need to become Bat Mitzvahs. A coming of age ceremony for all Jewish children when they turn thirteen. It is important to start Hebrew school education at 7 years old. Daughter would be twelve and the new baby would be ten when we would all be able to come back. This would too late for them to start learning Hebrew. Besides the Hebrew schooling, they would also not have the opportunity to learn about Judaism. One of the most important parts of Judaism is continue teach Judaism to your children. I would be devastated if my children were not raised to be Jews.
Mexico is a Roman Catholic country, and there are few Jews in the country. My husband’s family is Roman Catholic, and they are already pressuring us to have our children baptized in the Catholic Church. I am afraid being exposed only the Catholicism and Christianity, they will never embrace their Jewish Heritage.
According to The CIA, there are 109,955,400 people living in Mexico. According to the Jewish People Planning Institute, there was only 40,000 Jews living in Mexico in 2005. That is less than ½ of 1 per cent. This will make it hard for me and my children to be part of a strong Jewish Community. (Exhibit J and K)
Health Concerns
I am currently pregnant with my second child. Should I move to Mexico I will not receive adequate prenatal care, or be able to afford the cost of delivery. If I move to Mexico, I would have little access to quality doctors. My family would be staying in the unincorporated mountain town of Nueva Palestina. This is where my husband’s family is. This is a remote village about 2 hours or 80 Kilometers from the nearest Hospital in the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez. There are no OB/GYN doctors in Nueva Palastina, and it would be near impossible for me to receive the same prenatal care I am receiving in the United States. (Exhibit L Page 7) Not long after my first child was born I developed severe post partum depression (Exhibit M) (Exhibit N). According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Post Partum Depression is a more serious condition that affects 8-20% of women after pregnancy, especially the first 4 weeks. It is necessary to seek medical attention to treat post partum depression.
It was very hard for me to stop crying, to sleep and most importantly to fully care for my newborn. My husband was my saving grace. He was my constant support system. I needed both the support of my doctor and my husband to get through that very trying time. My OB/GYN Dr. Julie Dejong has already expressed concern that the Post Partum Depression will come back with my second child. Without the help of HUBBYI am afraid the post partum depression will be debilitating.
I have had asthma all of my life. It is aggravated by humidity, stress, and dust. I am afraid the humid climate in Chiapas Mexico, the part of Mexico my husband’s family lives will aggravate my condition. I am also concerned that either the stress of being away from my husband in the United States or being away from my natal family in Mexico will aggravate my condition. (Exhibit O) According to the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health,
Asthma is caused by inflammation of airways. Triggers include stress.
In 2007, I went to Mexico with my daughter for about 10 days. During that time I developed extreme gastrointestinal problems. When I came back to the United States I had stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea for several months after I came back. I am afraid my gastrointestinal problems would reoccur if I lived in Mexico. (Exhibit P) (Exhibit L Page 7) The water quality is very poor in Mexico, and I worry I will inadvertently ingest poor quality water which will lead to another incident of severe diarrhea.
Safety if my family moves to Mexico
The first time I went to Mexico in 2007, my husband’s family accompanied me every where I went. At first I thought it was because they were being nice, but when I returned home my husband said it was because they were worried about me being kidnapped because I am an American Citizen. I am afraid about constantly worrying about me and my children being kidnapped in Mexico. Per the consular information sheet regarding Kidnapping
Kidnapping, including the kidnapping of non-Mexicans, continues at alarming rates.* So-called express kidnappings, an attempt to get quick cash in exchange for the release of an individual, have occurred in almost all the large cities in Mexico and appear to target not only the wealthy, but also the middle class.* U.S. businesses with offices in Mexico or concerned U.S. citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. consulate to discuss precautions they should (Exhibit S, Page 3)
I am aware that the southern State of Chiapas is the most dangerous state in all of Chiapas. Per the Consular Information Sheet regarding Chiapas:
Chiapas: The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens traveling to the southern state of Chiapas remain cautious at all times.* Armed rebels and armed civilian groups are present in some areas of the state, and there is often no effective law enforcement or police protection.* Violent criminal gang activity along the state’s southern border – mostly aimed at illegal migrants – continues to be a concern.* U.S. citizens traveling to Chiapas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for further security information prior to traveling to the region. (Exhibit S page 2)
Extreme Financial Hardships
I am currently working as an Administrative Assistant for Lake Valley Camp. I make $40,000 and am barely able to provide for my family with this income. I could make this amount in Mexico.
With my income, I pay the bills and my husband pays for childcare, or he himself takes care of the children. With him gone, I will undoubtedly fall behind on the bills, or mortgage so I can pay for childcare. If I relocate my family to Mexico because my husband is not allowed to come back to this country I will have to leave my job, and put myself in an extreme financial hardship. Because I am not fluent in Spanish, I will not be able to find suitable employment. I also will not have the proper visa to work in Mexico. This is a time consuming process that I will not be able to afford.
According the to Consular Information Sheet on Mexico, Mexico has a 3.7 unemployment, and a up to 25% unemployment rate in Mexico. Mexico also has a 40% poverty rate.
I currently have student loan debts of over $25,000. I will not be able to make the payments if I am forced to relocate to Mexico.
Extreme Hardship to our children
My daughter has an extremely close relationship with Rafael. He was her primary caregiver for much of her life while I worked there were many months that he stayed home with her. To this day she cries when he leaves the house, and jumps for joy when he returns. They have had a close relationship since she was born.
My second child is due in September, and it pains me to think that is a strong possibility my newborn baby will not have the same opportunity to bond with HUBBYas Daughter had. If HUBBYis not able to have the same bonding time with the new baby as he had with Daughter the new baby will not form a close bond with the Rafael. (Exhibit A)
Stepson, (Exhibit B) my stepson lives with us the majority of the week. His mother is a single mother with another child from a different father, and is currently pregnant as well. I have raised Stepson since he was 4 months old. He lives with us 6 days out of the week. Rafael, Daughter and I are his family. I call him my son, in my office my picture of Stepson is right next to my picture of Daughter. He has always called me Mommy. His Mother has said that if HUBBYis in Mexico, she will no longer allow Stepson to live with me in Oconomowoc. She will also not let Stepson come to Mexico. (Exhibit )Stepson is not biologically my son, but I can not imagine my life with out him. If Rafael’s petition is denied, I will be forced to chose between my husband, and a little boy who calls me Mommy. He will lose two of his 3 parents and his little sister. That guilt will tear me apart.
Educational Concerns with moving to Mexico for Children
We live in a community with a very low crime rate. If we move to Mexico I am concerned of the high crime rate and potential kidnapping in Chiapas where my husband’s family lives. I am afraid that if were living in Chiapas we would be especially vulnerable to kidnapping attempts as Americans.
My children are in the Oconomowoc School District and would go to Park Lawn, a Blue Ribbon School. (exhibit ) They would also go to Oconomowoc High School, which has a graduation rate of over 95%. (Exhibit D) Education is one of the most important opportunities for our children. If we were in Mexico I fear they will not acquire the English skills necessary to be successful later in their educational life.
Conclusion
I am aware that every day many people apply for Waivers. However I sincerely hope you will look favorably at our family, and grant this waiver request. So many people will be affected if HUBBYis unable to return the our wonderful country, myself, my daughter Daughter, my stepson Stepson, my unborn child, my Grandmother, Grandma, my parents Dad and Dad, By allowing HUBBYto enter this country, the United States will be gaining a hardworking, respectable, caring, selfless resident.