Diversifying and growing your population is a real challenge, especially in rural Iowa. But in Jefferson and the rest of the county, we’re determined to do it well – and do it right.
I'm not surprised they left and don't want locals to know where they are. What were they supposed to do after being told they would not be able to work in your community, probably would have trouble obtaining documentation, and should not be driving?
This is a sad story overall. While your good neighbors pulled together to offer assistance and compassion, it seems somewhat judgmental to say the family should have stayed with no realistic opportunities for legal employment, basically accepting permanent “welfare” from residents. The loss of human dignity is significant.
Our wonderful friend who came to the US by walking from the Guatemalan border to the US Mexico border by himself almost 20 years ago when he was 15 years old FINALLY got a green card after saving like crazy from work he could get to pay an immigration attorney over $10,000. He has a work ethic unparalleled. This is a completely broken system.
What a sensitively written story. The Juarez family and their sudden departure in the middle of cooking and eating is a story of fear in a strange country where they could easily be deported in spite of the herculean efforts your community members provided to help them feel safe and cared for. One can see this happening over and over again for many families like theirs. It seems like a no-brainer to provide work permits so communities like Jefferson can get the workers they need. Why can't we help them gain legitimacy when it is to our benefit as well as theirs--a win-win situation? Why isn't it a no brainer that our DACA residents could, with the snap of a vote, become citizens when they are, for the most part, productive citizens. Thanks for telling this story. May it help all readers, including me, elect the people who will help us get this done.
Chuck, After spending two months a half mile from the border your story doesn't surprise me. It is disheartening that they don't unstained that everyone had their best interest at heart. Can I urge you to become their voice at the State and Federal levels. The average citizen in Iowa doesn't get listened to, I've tired and each time my voice got swept under the rug. Your voice would have a greater impact where it counts. I made it a point to speak with as many Latino's as possible while we were in Texas and the things that I came away with from each conversation was, they want a better life for their family, they aren't looking for a government handout but want the opportunity to earn a better life. Our for path for legal immigration doesn't fit the need of employment requirements in the US. They, we, need a logical voice of reason. The whole process needs to be stream lined to make the process easier not harder but yet done in the proper manner.
Congratulations for the efforts you are making to attract new residents who will surely enrich your community in a variety of ways.
Although I live in Iowa, I am writing from Mexico, much of which I am familiar with and where I have many friends and acquaintances. I speak and understand Spanish very well, and perhaps more importantly, have some understanding of Latino, and particularly, Mexican culture. In Iowa I have spoken with many Latino immigrants, the majority of them undocumented, and have listened to many stories of painful struggle and gritty determination.
It's hard to say why the Juárez-Morales family left Jefferson, and one of the reasons is that it takes time to build a relationship of confidence and trust, and perhaps three weeks just isn't enough to do so before telling someone they "can't" drive or work, when we all know that there are many undocumented immigrants who do so. I also think that it's not your place to tell another adult what they may or may not do - but you _can_ inform them of the risks they are taking and the possible consequences.
A final thought: while it is certainly helpful to have the involvement of someone with Carlos Argüello's origins and background, let's recognize that the experience of someone who worked for years in international business in no way resembles that of José Juárez, and I am almost sure that he and his wife were aware of socioeconomic gulf that separated them.
I encourage you to continue and believe that with some time and experience you'll obtain results that will be very pleasing to you and the Jefferson community. Please don't give up! I write all this with respect and admiration, which I hope is evident.
The anti-immigration hysteria is a racket, nothing more. Certain monied interests, including many agribusinesses in Iowa, WANT brown, Spanish-speaking people to be afraid, be very afraid that their illegal status will lead to deportation, family separation and other persecution. They want to make it as difficult as possible to attain legal residency and citizenship. Why? Because a legal resident or a citizen can (somewhat) safely assert their legal rights to be paid minimum wage, to limitations of their work hours, to (somewhat) safe working conditions, to compliance with child labor laws, to something that sort of resembles economic justice. Terrified workers are slaves. And that's exactly what too many employers want -- terrified, permanent slaves.
I realize the paranora about "foreigners" that has made this such a failed way to get people into the country that truly want to be here and be stable. I would probably be classified as one of those "libtard" folks who are not afraid of people who are black, brown, yellow or red being neighbors and fellow citizens of Iowa, on the other hand, I try and treat people as equal and not as something stuck on the bottom of my boot. Many in Iowa have never gotten past the State line and fear anyone they can't talk with in their language or who appears to be different in anyway; that has to stop. The State Government has to stop projecting this as normal and understand we only have one planet and we are all in it together.
Thanks for sharing this story. If employers in Iowa (and other states) truly want to hire more workers, they need to talk to their elected officials in Washington.
Thanks for putting the Juarez family's and Jefferson's story out there! While it did not end the way we had hoped for, it has provided us an opportunity to learn and be better prepared for the next family who shows up in Greene County. I have thought about the Juarez family since they left and think we probably overwhelmed them with our efforts to make them feel welcomed and wanted. Our hearts were in the right place but maybe we pushed too hard and too fast. We know more now than we did 3 months ago and we have experienced how messed up our immigration policies are! Chuck, thanks for all of the effort you put in to try and help Jose and Maria and their kids.
Chuck-- We know the Lepe family branch who operate the Casa de Oro in Red Oak......I am sure they have many similar tales they could relate. However they would be reluctant for fear of causing legal trouble for those struggling. The problems are rampant, with language barriers, the expert immigration legal help far off (read Omaha or Des Moines at least), and the immigration system itself being so arcane. Most lawyers do not understand it.....
I'm not surprised they left and don't want locals to know where they are. What were they supposed to do after being told they would not be able to work in your community, probably would have trouble obtaining documentation, and should not be driving?
This is a sad story overall. While your good neighbors pulled together to offer assistance and compassion, it seems somewhat judgmental to say the family should have stayed with no realistic opportunities for legal employment, basically accepting permanent “welfare” from residents. The loss of human dignity is significant.
Our wonderful friend who came to the US by walking from the Guatemalan border to the US Mexico border by himself almost 20 years ago when he was 15 years old FINALLY got a green card after saving like crazy from work he could get to pay an immigration attorney over $10,000. He has a work ethic unparalleled. This is a completely broken system.
What a sensitively written story. The Juarez family and their sudden departure in the middle of cooking and eating is a story of fear in a strange country where they could easily be deported in spite of the herculean efforts your community members provided to help them feel safe and cared for. One can see this happening over and over again for many families like theirs. It seems like a no-brainer to provide work permits so communities like Jefferson can get the workers they need. Why can't we help them gain legitimacy when it is to our benefit as well as theirs--a win-win situation? Why isn't it a no brainer that our DACA residents could, with the snap of a vote, become citizens when they are, for the most part, productive citizens. Thanks for telling this story. May it help all readers, including me, elect the people who will help us get this done.
Chuck, After spending two months a half mile from the border your story doesn't surprise me. It is disheartening that they don't unstained that everyone had their best interest at heart. Can I urge you to become their voice at the State and Federal levels. The average citizen in Iowa doesn't get listened to, I've tired and each time my voice got swept under the rug. Your voice would have a greater impact where it counts. I made it a point to speak with as many Latino's as possible while we were in Texas and the things that I came away with from each conversation was, they want a better life for their family, they aren't looking for a government handout but want the opportunity to earn a better life. Our for path for legal immigration doesn't fit the need of employment requirements in the US. They, we, need a logical voice of reason. The whole process needs to be stream lined to make the process easier not harder but yet done in the proper manner.
Congratulations for the efforts you are making to attract new residents who will surely enrich your community in a variety of ways.
Although I live in Iowa, I am writing from Mexico, much of which I am familiar with and where I have many friends and acquaintances. I speak and understand Spanish very well, and perhaps more importantly, have some understanding of Latino, and particularly, Mexican culture. In Iowa I have spoken with many Latino immigrants, the majority of them undocumented, and have listened to many stories of painful struggle and gritty determination.
It's hard to say why the Juárez-Morales family left Jefferson, and one of the reasons is that it takes time to build a relationship of confidence and trust, and perhaps three weeks just isn't enough to do so before telling someone they "can't" drive or work, when we all know that there are many undocumented immigrants who do so. I also think that it's not your place to tell another adult what they may or may not do - but you _can_ inform them of the risks they are taking and the possible consequences.
A final thought: while it is certainly helpful to have the involvement of someone with Carlos Argüello's origins and background, let's recognize that the experience of someone who worked for years in international business in no way resembles that of José Juárez, and I am almost sure that he and his wife were aware of socioeconomic gulf that separated them.
I encourage you to continue and believe that with some time and experience you'll obtain results that will be very pleasing to you and the Jefferson community. Please don't give up! I write all this with respect and admiration, which I hope is evident.
The anti-immigration hysteria is a racket, nothing more. Certain monied interests, including many agribusinesses in Iowa, WANT brown, Spanish-speaking people to be afraid, be very afraid that their illegal status will lead to deportation, family separation and other persecution. They want to make it as difficult as possible to attain legal residency and citizenship. Why? Because a legal resident or a citizen can (somewhat) safely assert their legal rights to be paid minimum wage, to limitations of their work hours, to (somewhat) safe working conditions, to compliance with child labor laws, to something that sort of resembles economic justice. Terrified workers are slaves. And that's exactly what too many employers want -- terrified, permanent slaves.
I agree with Susie Oleson. A lot of improvements are needed for our system of immigration.
I realize the paranora about "foreigners" that has made this such a failed way to get people into the country that truly want to be here and be stable. I would probably be classified as one of those "libtard" folks who are not afraid of people who are black, brown, yellow or red being neighbors and fellow citizens of Iowa, on the other hand, I try and treat people as equal and not as something stuck on the bottom of my boot. Many in Iowa have never gotten past the State line and fear anyone they can't talk with in their language or who appears to be different in anyway; that has to stop. The State Government has to stop projecting this as normal and understand we only have one planet and we are all in it together.
Thanks for sharing this story. If employers in Iowa (and other states) truly want to hire more workers, they need to talk to their elected officials in Washington.
Thanks for putting the Juarez family's and Jefferson's story out there! While it did not end the way we had hoped for, it has provided us an opportunity to learn and be better prepared for the next family who shows up in Greene County. I have thought about the Juarez family since they left and think we probably overwhelmed them with our efforts to make them feel welcomed and wanted. Our hearts were in the right place but maybe we pushed too hard and too fast. We know more now than we did 3 months ago and we have experienced how messed up our immigration policies are! Chuck, thanks for all of the effort you put in to try and help Jose and Maria and their kids.
Chuck-- We know the Lepe family branch who operate the Casa de Oro in Red Oak......I am sure they have many similar tales they could relate. However they would be reluctant for fear of causing legal trouble for those struggling. The problems are rampant, with language barriers, the expert immigration legal help far off (read Omaha or Des Moines at least), and the immigration system itself being so arcane. Most lawyers do not understand it.....
This account of the Juarez family sounds like fleeing to me. What else but great fear would motivate such action?
Frightening to say the least.
Very relevant to us in Kossuth County as we are struggling to welcome our "new neighbors" and are unsure who/what/how to do this. We'll be in touch...
Thanks for sharing.