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Yessenia Ruano has lived in America for 14 years having fled gang violence in El Salvador. Her brother was killed along with several friends and she had been threatened with death. She has two daughters born here and has a valid work visa and is employed as a bilingual kindergarten aide in Milwaukee public schools.
Over the years she has reported for her appointments renewing her work visas. She has applied for T and U visas that protect trafficking victims from deportation. But no decisions on these visas has been forthcoming. Ms. Ruano and her children have now been told by ICE to carry out her own deportation on a June 3 flight.
Mr.President, on May 12, a group of 59 white Afrikaners began arriving in our country. Your administration is offering resettlement support, a pathway to citizenship, furnished housing and they will also be eligible for government benefits.
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Why must a woman and her children who have followed all of the rules, paid taxes, worked full time and committed no crimes, escaping violence in her home country now be told she and her daughters must return to that country. Yet white Afrikaners who also might be facing violence are welcomed with open arms and provided the red carpet treatment.
Why do you offer the opportunity to some to find a better life in this country but reject that same opportunity to remain in this country to those who have made America better by their presence here?
Mr. President, unclench your fist and open your arms to those already here who deserve the privilege to remain.
– Hanson, of Elkhorn, is a member of the Walworth County Democratic Party.
