The call from Norma Duckworth, Interfaith Coordinator of Voces de la Frontera, came 12 hours beforehand. Yessenia Ruano, a mother of nine-year-old twins, educator and immigrant member of our community for 14 years had been called into the ICE office. This mother had committed no crime. She had shown up to every ICE check-in. She had worn a wrist GPS monitor until the skin had grown raw. When she walked into that office, she might not ever return but her worries were not about herself. What about her children? What about her students? How could she explain this to them?
When Norma asked if FUSM would accompany her to the ICE office and to bear witness, I said “Yes.” UUs show up! Soon the press, the common council and Gwen Moore joined our call for decency, kindness and common sense.
Ms. Ruano came back out from the ICE office. She attended her students’ graduation and her daughters finished their school year. Ms. Ruano and her daughters self-deported with some autonomy and dignity.
Milwaukee’s loss highlights the current struggle. FUSM is proud to support, both logistically and financially, VDLF’s Interfaith Coordinator Norma Duckworth and the struggle to keep families together.
To get involved with Voces de la Frontera’s work to defend immigrant families, visit vdlf.org or reach out to Norma Duckworth, norma@vdlf.org.
Michael Pointer Mace, Immigration Solidarity & Action