Bring Jenny and Ottie Home

Jenny and Ottie, my Mom and Stepmom, are a bi-national lesbian couple who desire nothing more than to be allowed to live in the U.S. and care for my American grandmother. Eight years ago, Mom and Ottie moved from The Netherlands to Delaware but, due to a misunderstanding of the complicated immigration laws, Ottie received a denial for permanent U.S. residency, was deported, and given a ten year bar from re-entering the U.S.  Maybe if the Defense of Marriage Act had been declared unconstitutional at that time their relationship would have been legally recognized and this nightmare would not have happened. But it has and now the only way we can hope to be reunited is through the help of expert legal advice.  Watch the video interview of Jenny and Ottie recorded before they were deported.   http://www.domaproject.org/category/jenny-ottie

We need your help so we can hire a lawyer who can increase the odds that we will be together again. If you can donate only a small amount or simply will send this information on to all your friends, family, and other contacts please know that we appreciate your help and caring so much!

If you have met my Mom and Stepmom you know they are the sweetest, most loving couple. Their deepest wish is to be here in Delaware with me and the rest of my Mom’s family so they may help care for my Mom-mom. In 2005 my uncle, Jenny’s brother, died after a long struggle with Leukemia and that was when both my Mom and Ottie knew it was time to move to Delaware to help my grandparents.  They sold their belongings and said “goodbye” to their Dutch family and friends.  My Pop-pop and Mom-mom were so happy to have them here. Soon they both had jobs caring for the elderly.  They began saving to buy a small house of their own.  It was then that U.S. Immigrations contacted Ottie, and said her application was denied, and deported her back to the Netherlands. As heartbreaking as it was to leave, Mom knew she had to return with Ottie.  Just two years later my Pop-pop passed away from lung cancer further intensifying their desire to be in Delaware. They have gotten married in The Netherlands since then. With the recent changes in marriage equality, the climate is right for Mom and Ottie to pursue the move back to Delaware.  However, without good legal advice (and sadly, even with it) there is a chance that U.S. Immigrations will not approve their request.
I am asking for some help to cover the cost of attorney’s fees.  We hate asking for help but because the Dutch economy has been so awful, Mom has only worked part-time with short contracts.  Your donation could make it possible for Mom and Ottie to be where they truly want to be, spending precious time with family here in Delaware.  Their love story is so touching that they are featured in two books: First Comes Love (Barbara Proud, 2014 )  and Amor and Exile  (Nathaniel Hoffman & Nicole Salgado, 2013). They were on the front page of the News Journal on November 16, 2009, and they are on several gay rights websites.  See their 2009 interview here
http://www.domaproject.org/category/jenny-ottie

Please help re-unite this loving couple with their American family. Since the fight for their return to the U.S. includes legal costs that are daunting, please consider a donation to help my mom and Ottie!

Thank you so much!