Joy
04-03-2002, 03:58 AM
You know guys, as I was reading through, I realized that I never did an introduction of myself and Juan. Most of you know by now our situation, but for those of you that are new, here is our story.
I met Juan December 1999. The thing that attracted me most to him is his smile. He has such a great smile. He was on parole at that time. He had been driving with a friend from California to Kansas City with a "gift" for some friends. Well, the gift ended up with the police and Juan landed in prison. He was at a minimum security prison in Winfield, Kansas. The chaplain there showed him Jesus Christ and took him under his wing. He talked his church into sponsoring Juan when he got out. They did and Juan moved in with the Chaplain and his family until he was able to get a job and on his feet. We worked at the same place together, that is how we met.
Juan is from Cuba. He originally came here in 1980 with all the other Mariel Cubans. Unfortunately, like many others, he got into some trouble in 1984 and did time on drug charges. Then, in 1993, while on parole in Texas, he was caught with a weapon. INS deported him on that charge and told him he couldn't come back into the country for at least one year. As soon as Juan landed in Cuba, he was immediately taken to prison.He had originally been in prison in 1980 (serving a 3 year sentence) when Castro let all of the "criminals" out and come to American. he was one of those "criminals". He was in prison for staging a protest against Castro. So, when he was deported back, they were going to charge him again on the same charges. He was let out on bond while awaiting trial. Of course, he wasn't going to wait around and go back to prison there in Cuba. So, before his year was up, he and some friends got into a raft in the middle of the night and headed back to the US. He was picked up by the coast guard and sent to Guatanamo Bay. There, he gave them a false name and birthdate. INS did not connect who he was, even though they took fingerprints and everything, they let him back into the country.
When he was arrested in 1996 on drug charges again, his fingerprints showed who he originally was, but no one paid attention to it. Both names (his legal name and his allias name) were listed on his record. When it was time to get out, INS didn't even bother to recognize him. He got out, we met, he got off of parole, we married and then last summer he got into a little bit of trouble and for some reason, INS was on him within 24 hours and put a hold on him. He has been in detention since.
He was ordered deported on October 25th, 2001 but since US does not have relations with Cuba he cannot be repatriated. INS is supposed to decide within 90 days if they can be repatriated. If not, they have to decide to hold him or let him out. Mandatory Detention is supposed to be illegal now. Each person gets a review where INS determines if they are a danger to society or a flight risk. If not, they have to release them on supervised parole. If they feel he is a danger to society, then they hold him and once a year he gets a review to see if he has tried to rehabilitate himself.
So, that is where we are. His review started Feb. 1st and we were told it takes 2 to 3 months for an answer. We are in our 3rd month waiting. Juan has a brother that is in State Prison in Texas and another brother that is in Federal Prison in Arizona. I had never been introduced to the prison system until I met Juan. Never even gave it a thought. I was one of those people who thought that if they broke the law, then they deserved to be where they are at. Besides, they have it easy. No responsibilities, 3 meals a day, watching TV all day and just having fun. Ok, ok, I know you all are laughing by now. Boy has my views been changed drastically.
Well, that is my story. Sorry it is so long, but you needed to understand all the details so you know why he is where he is.
Joy
Here is a picture of my baby.
I met Juan December 1999. The thing that attracted me most to him is his smile. He has such a great smile. He was on parole at that time. He had been driving with a friend from California to Kansas City with a "gift" for some friends. Well, the gift ended up with the police and Juan landed in prison. He was at a minimum security prison in Winfield, Kansas. The chaplain there showed him Jesus Christ and took him under his wing. He talked his church into sponsoring Juan when he got out. They did and Juan moved in with the Chaplain and his family until he was able to get a job and on his feet. We worked at the same place together, that is how we met.
Juan is from Cuba. He originally came here in 1980 with all the other Mariel Cubans. Unfortunately, like many others, he got into some trouble in 1984 and did time on drug charges. Then, in 1993, while on parole in Texas, he was caught with a weapon. INS deported him on that charge and told him he couldn't come back into the country for at least one year. As soon as Juan landed in Cuba, he was immediately taken to prison.He had originally been in prison in 1980 (serving a 3 year sentence) when Castro let all of the "criminals" out and come to American. he was one of those "criminals". He was in prison for staging a protest against Castro. So, when he was deported back, they were going to charge him again on the same charges. He was let out on bond while awaiting trial. Of course, he wasn't going to wait around and go back to prison there in Cuba. So, before his year was up, he and some friends got into a raft in the middle of the night and headed back to the US. He was picked up by the coast guard and sent to Guatanamo Bay. There, he gave them a false name and birthdate. INS did not connect who he was, even though they took fingerprints and everything, they let him back into the country.
When he was arrested in 1996 on drug charges again, his fingerprints showed who he originally was, but no one paid attention to it. Both names (his legal name and his allias name) were listed on his record. When it was time to get out, INS didn't even bother to recognize him. He got out, we met, he got off of parole, we married and then last summer he got into a little bit of trouble and for some reason, INS was on him within 24 hours and put a hold on him. He has been in detention since.
He was ordered deported on October 25th, 2001 but since US does not have relations with Cuba he cannot be repatriated. INS is supposed to decide within 90 days if they can be repatriated. If not, they have to decide to hold him or let him out. Mandatory Detention is supposed to be illegal now. Each person gets a review where INS determines if they are a danger to society or a flight risk. If not, they have to release them on supervised parole. If they feel he is a danger to society, then they hold him and once a year he gets a review to see if he has tried to rehabilitate himself.
So, that is where we are. His review started Feb. 1st and we were told it takes 2 to 3 months for an answer. We are in our 3rd month waiting. Juan has a brother that is in State Prison in Texas and another brother that is in Federal Prison in Arizona. I had never been introduced to the prison system until I met Juan. Never even gave it a thought. I was one of those people who thought that if they broke the law, then they deserved to be where they are at. Besides, they have it easy. No responsibilities, 3 meals a day, watching TV all day and just having fun. Ok, ok, I know you all are laughing by now. Boy has my views been changed drastically.
Well, that is my story. Sorry it is so long, but you needed to understand all the details so you know why he is where he is.
Joy
Here is a picture of my baby.