The Diaz family, split by deportation, finds it difficult
A family torn apart struggles to survive
The Diaz family, split by deportation, finds it difficult
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
ESMERALDA BERMUDEZ
The Oregonian
Irma Diaz lives with the consequences of a 13-year-old decision to join her husband in the United States by illegally crossing the border with her two young children.
Two months ago, the 40-year-old and those children -- now young adults -- were deported to their native Guatemala. They left Irma's husband, Luis Diaz, and 12-year-old daughter, Jennifer, at their long-time home in Beaverton, where strong community support has all but faded along with their hopes for a pardon.
With 22-year-old Luis Jr. and 20-year-old Monica, Irma arrived Oct. 11 in Escuintla, a grimy world of poverty and danger. Children in saggy diapers toddle where mangy dogs traipse. Within the course of three nights soon after their return, the family came within yards of three killings and one hit-and-run.
They quickly found work at Hannah's Hope, an orphanage run by an Oregonian in Guatemala City. But they quit after two weeks because the area where they were living, the city's notorious Zone 1, was too dangerous.
"At night when we'd come home from work, and in the early morning, we'd walk past drunks, drug dealers and transvestites, and on the buses men would stick to us," Irma says. "I couldn't continue to expose Monica to those things."
Accustomed to having her husband make all decisions, Irma has become the head of the household in Guatemala.
She now helps her father at his bike repair shop, where most days only one or two customers drop by. Eventually, she would like to open a small diner where she can set up two or three tables and sell a few meals a day.
Luis Jr., who used to spend his time in Oregon working, attending community college classes and being with friends, has taken on the responsibilities of both father and husband in rural Guatemala. Today, he looks for work in Escuintla and nearby cities. Once, with contacts he found through the orphanage, he was paid to translate for U.S. couples looking to adopt Guatemalan children.
And Monica, whose charisma carried her as the Diazes' public voice in Oregon -- organizing rallies, delivering speeches, contacting legislators, writing to President Bush -- has all but given up.
She spends most days in the small brick house without running water that the family is buying in Escuintla -- some days in pajamas, mostly watching television -- afraid of going outside. Her aunt gave her a dog as a companion.
"I don't want to work. I don't want to go to school," she said, adding that she wants to return to Beaverton. "I know I have to move on, but I don't know how." Hoping for a policy change
The Diazes returned to Guatemala after losing a decadelong battle for political asylum, and overnight, their suburban Beaverton life ended and their family split.
Luis Diaz, 45, remains in the United States awaiting an appeal of his political asylum petition, which was rejected in May. His case is expected to be addressed next year and it's unlikely he will be allowed to stay, said Tilman Hasche, the family's attorney. If Luis also is returned to Guatemala, Jennifer, a U.S.-born citizen, will accompany him.
Luis hopes Congress will change federal immigration policy next year and allow the return of his wife and two older children.
Immigration is expected to be a hot topic on Capitol Hill with Democrats in the Senate and House majorities, but debates are bound to delay any agreement. And even if changes benefit the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, it's questionable whether anything would allow the Diazes back in the country. "No joy in this house"
In their Beaverton mobile home, the soft-spoken landscaper who traveled illegally from Guatemala in 1990 leads a quiet existence with his daughter.
"She has me and I have her, but it still doesn't feel good," Luis said. "There's no joy in this house. Only silence."
Nightly, they use calling cards to talk with family in Escuintla.
In early November, there was an outpouring of community support for the family after The Oregonian told their story. The Jenny Diaz Reunite My Family Foundation was formed with a mission of bringing the family back together in Oregon. A Web Site -- www.reunitejenny.com -- was launched, and after several weekend meetings, two small rallies were held in downtown Portland.
But donations were never collected, and efforts have faded with the holiday season. Hasche said he hopes supporters will come together again early next year.
For now, Luis is helping his wife and kids by using the $12,000 he collected from selling their double-wide mobile home. The two have moved into a smaller mobile home, which may be donated by the park where they live.
Irma said losing the house was painful. It took many years to pay it off, and now the money from the sale could be spent in a year or two covering living expenses in Guatemala.
"There are days when I don't want to think about the future," Irma said. "I can only live by the day. (Back in Beaverton) we were almost done seeing Monica and Luis fly out on their own, but now that's all in the past."
Esmeralda Bermudez: 503-221-4388; ebermudez@news.oregonian.com
©2006 The Oregonian
The Diaz family, split by deportation, finds it difficult
How sad. They sneak into a country, get free medical, free education for the kids and then the US born child was like winning the lottery. Now they get food stamps, a monthly stipend and all that goes with it. No wonder they are so sad. They are hoping to return to this "free country" so they can get everything free and carry on their marches and bring their crime. All, at a cost to law abiding citizens. It's discraceful. Hopefully, Washington has done it's homework and sees the destruction illegal immigration brings to the citizens of this country.