John Hathaway is fundraising
Help refugees Marina & Sofia get asylum in US
My name is Claire; my partner John and I are writing this to ask your support for very dear friends of ours who are seeking asylum from violence in their home country in Central America. Thank you so much for reading their story, contributing, and sharing.
In April 2022, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas began an ongoing political stunt. He began taking migrants from border detention facilities, placing them on buses bound for DC, and dropping them off at Union Station with no food, supplies, or support systems in place. Mutual aid communities in DC sprang into action and, to date, have received over 150 buses carrying over 6000 migrants from border facilities in Texas and now Arizona. The mutual aid network has been a true welcoming presence, providing all levels of humanitarian support including food, clothing, short and long term shelter, social work services, and much more.
Marina and her four-year-old daughter Sofia arrived at our home in the first week of this busing, where they would stay with John and I for the next several months. Marina and Sofia left their home country due to direct threat of violence from their government. Marina was forced to leave her middle-school aged son, her parents, and siblings in her country as she and Sofia journeyed to America. They traveled almost 3 weeks by bus from their home country to the US southern border, sleeping on the street and barely eating most of the way. When they arrived at the border, Marina swam across the Rio Grande with her daughter on her back, and they were immediately apprehended by ICE agents. They were placed in a room commonly known as a “hielera” or “icebox,” detention facilities infamous for being freezing cold. They spent 24 hours in a hielera packed so tightly that it was standing room only, and were provided nothing but water. They were then handed a piece of paper, whisked onto a bus, and two days later were dropped off in DC. When they arrived at our home, Sofia had lice, which we believe she contracted at the CBP detention facility.
Marina and Sofia were a joy to have around from the moment they arrived. Marina is thoughtful, kind, and an amazing cook. Sofia is happy, bright, super adorable, and a total goofball. They became part of our family immediately. Though John and I have struggled to navigate tremendously complex medical, educational, and legal systems with Marina and Sofia as they fight for their family’s safety, we have made great progress together. Sofia started preschool this fall and loves it. Marina is taking English classes full-time and working tirelessly on her asylum case.
We are fundraising on behalf of Marina for the amount of $30,000 to help get her family on its feet. This will provide them with:
- $10,000 to continue Marina’s asylum case and begin one for her son
- $10,000 reimbursement to John and me for legal bills already paid
- $10,000 to cover apartment deposit and rent for several months, daily living expenses, emergency savings, and money to send to their family in their home country.
Donations are tax-deductible. This fundraiser is sponsored by Welcome Refugees, a project of the International Women's Democracy Center. IWDC is a 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization established in 1995 with a mission to strengthen women's global leadership. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
Thank you so much for your consideration. Marina, Sofia, John, and I are more grateful than we could ever express. John and I are so fortunate and happy to be a support system for this family as they navigate their new lives. We hope you will feel some of our joy by supporting them as well.
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