Counting My Blessings: Due Process

This week one of my friends was detained by the department of Immigration and Naturalization Services. He's in the United States legally and has all the proper paperwork. He had applied for permanent residency status, so when INS sent a letter saying he needed to come to a case review he was excited. However, his case review appointment quickly turned into an arrest. He's been in jail for 7 nights now, and is worried sick about his family. He hasn't been allowed to meet with his lawyer--a judge has to be petitioned for that to happen. We were hoping he would get out on bond this week, but a judge has to be petitioned for that as well. Unfortunately my friend was moved to a facility in another state today, so the bond paperwork has to be filed with a different judge now. The situation is so very frustrating because Immigration does not operate on the rules we are accustomed to. Apparently non-citizens do not have the same rights.

Tonight I'm beyond grateful for my right to due process and all the other rights I have as a citizen of this nation. But I'm also livid that my non-citizen friends are not allowed the same amount of dignity and respect.

More from Haiti

There were about 35 people staying at the guest house the week I was in Haiti. Some of them wrote about their experiences, and I'd like to share it with you. If you have the time check out what my new friends thought about their time in Haiti.

Lexi is a 16 year old high school student with a passion for living her life with purpose.

Matt was in Haiti for the first time, and took time to write about the details.

Beth answered my Facebook plea for people to join me in Haiti. She wrote some awesome posts about our experiences there. I copied her posts and put them on my blog so you can read them.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7

I Surrender All

Post-quake Haiti

Gramothe (pronounced Gruh-mott)

From the guest house balcony

Zoomed in a little closer

The church, waiting room, and clinic
The original church can't even be seen from the guest house anymore. The other buildings are blocking it.
The first church building was too small within a year, so they built a new one. The original building is still being used, just not in a traditional manner.

Back in Indiana

I'm sitting at home. It's weird to be here, knowing the rest of the team is still in Haiti. They are touring the village and meeting the people of Gramothe, and honestly, I just want to be there with them.

In an effort to soothe my aching heart, I'll post some more pictures.

Around the Guest House