"They got their self-deportation credit so that they could get their money."
This, right here, is one of the most disgusting things I've read today, and it's only 11 am. I don't say that to minimize the physical, emotional, and psychological pain and horror of Rafael's experience. I say it to point out how capitalism has always, ALWAYS been a system of white supremacy / narcissism. It's vile.
I hope Rafael and the rest of his family are safe now, and have been able to begin healing.
I have spoken to “Sasha” since she told me this story. She’s been to visit “Miguel” (her finance) and Rafael and their family in Mexico several times. They are healing. And, they are unable to find work that provides for the whole family as they did when they were in the states.
Oh, it breaks my heart to hear that. Do you happen to know if anything is being done to support the people who’ve been kidnapped / trafficked back to their original countries? Like a fundraiser or anything?
I really hope there is something happening to that effect. I know that fundraising is not a permanent solution, but whole families and communities shouldn't have to suffer because of an incompetent, megalomaniacal chaos demon and his sycophants.
TeriLeigh, the boarding pass becomes a fragile form of protection: Sasha can cross the checkpoint, accompany Rafael, and use the ordinary privileges of travel to keep him from facing the airport alone. The cold glass, quivering foot, Carhartt jackets, and goodbye reduced to a shoulder-shrug and wave hold the scene inside the body long after the gate closes. The imaginary ring she touches after his final text feels like a quiet promise that enforced distance will never become abandonment. Thank you for preserving the fierce, unfinished love of someone who stayed beside Rafael as far as she was permitted to go.
when “Sasha” told me this story I found myself with my jaw agape for most of the time. I kept thinking of myself at 25, and would I have had the courage to do what she did? I hope so.
Thank you for reading them and sharing them and commenting @Heidi White. This whole process has been a phenomenal experience in growing all my skills. My writing is so much better, and my heart is huger because of this. I am just in awe of these women and how they have loved their way through all of this. and then I realize that I am ONE of them!
Thank you for sharing these stories, Teri. This is so sad, so terrifying, so cruel. How brave and loving she is. What brave and loving women you highlight every day. Thank you.
I’m so excited for this book to be finished and for people to get the full experience. Sasha is a very special character, and she has several stories in the book. To read them all at once is quite a character study…and then to read all the womn together and see the collective of what MN WOMN are doing is phenomenal! I’m blown away every day as I write these.
"They got their self-deportation credit so that they could get their money."
This, right here, is one of the most disgusting things I've read today, and it's only 11 am. I don't say that to minimize the physical, emotional, and psychological pain and horror of Rafael's experience. I say it to point out how capitalism has always, ALWAYS been a system of white supremacy / narcissism. It's vile.
I hope Rafael and the rest of his family are safe now, and have been able to begin healing.
I have spoken to “Sasha” since she told me this story. She’s been to visit “Miguel” (her finance) and Rafael and their family in Mexico several times. They are healing. And, they are unable to find work that provides for the whole family as they did when they were in the states.
Oh, it breaks my heart to hear that. Do you happen to know if anything is being done to support the people who’ve been kidnapped / trafficked back to their original countries? Like a fundraiser or anything?
I have not heard about anything like that. I’ll pay closer attention now though.
I really hope there is something happening to that effect. I know that fundraising is not a permanent solution, but whole families and communities shouldn't have to suffer because of an incompetent, megalomaniacal chaos demon and his sycophants.
TeriLeigh, the boarding pass becomes a fragile form of protection: Sasha can cross the checkpoint, accompany Rafael, and use the ordinary privileges of travel to keep him from facing the airport alone. The cold glass, quivering foot, Carhartt jackets, and goodbye reduced to a shoulder-shrug and wave hold the scene inside the body long after the gate closes. The imaginary ring she touches after his final text feels like a quiet promise that enforced distance will never become abandonment. Thank you for preserving the fierce, unfinished love of someone who stayed beside Rafael as far as she was permitted to go.
when “Sasha” told me this story I found myself with my jaw agape for most of the time. I kept thinking of myself at 25, and would I have had the courage to do what she did? I hope so.
So good to see your wonderful pieces.
Teri, thank you for loving fiercely. For showing what it means to give a shit. For shining your light on humanity. Sending love and light, friend.
Thank you for reading them and sharing them and commenting @Heidi White. This whole process has been a phenomenal experience in growing all my skills. My writing is so much better, and my heart is huger because of this. I am just in awe of these women and how they have loved their way through all of this. and then I realize that I am ONE of them!
So heartbreaking, TeriLeigh. Thank for sharing these stories. It's so necessary. You are a gift—as are all of these humans you share.
Sasha is a special one. She put herself between immigrants and ICE on so many occasions. She is now engaged to a man who was deported back to Mexico.
Thank you.
Bettina, this was a hard one to write. thanks for reading it and loving it.
Thank you for sharing these stories, Teri. This is so sad, so terrifying, so cruel. How brave and loving she is. What brave and loving women you highlight every day. Thank you.
I’m so excited for this book to be finished and for people to get the full experience. Sasha is a very special character, and she has several stories in the book. To read them all at once is quite a character study…and then to read all the womn together and see the collective of what MN WOMN are doing is phenomenal! I’m blown away every day as I write these.