Faith over fear

Sleepless nights and looking over one’s shoulders are common reactions by undocumented immigrants. Photo: Unsplash

The FilAm Editorial

Dennis B (not his name) is facing a trifecta of misery: house in foreclosure, mother recovering from cancer, and possible deportation to the Philippines if Donald Trump moves ahead with plans to send to their countries of origin 11 million undocumented  immigrants.

When The FilAm called, the former caregiver was bubbly as always and sounded upbeat and positive. He tried to sound positive and make jokes, a common Filipino trait exhibited by those who are usually feeling anxious and on edge.

Staying positive, he said his house in New Jersey has a number of interested buyers, and his mother’s cancer appears to be in remission. The deportation remains up in the air, but his Faith is stronger than Donald Trump, he said. “Alam ko, God is in control. The Bible says kings and leaders are nothing. It’s God who allows everything.”

Dennis came to the U.S. in 2010 and lived with his mother in the Garden State. He had no legal status, but it did not bother him at the time because he was younger, had a job, and lived with his mom in her comfortable three-bedroom home.

Circumstances have changed when his mom was diagnosed with a type of rare cancer that required extended hospitalization. Her income from the mall is greatly reduced as she works only two times a week. As for Dennis, an accident at work sidelined him when he tried to save an elderly patient from falling off his wheelchair. That’s when mother and son decided to sell their home to pay the bills.

The looming deportation is giving Dennis sleepless nights. During the campaign, he thought it was all bluff and bluster from the presidential candidate because he seemed to enjoy the game of shock and awe. But recent news of raids in Chicago and the seafood depot in New Jersey made it all real for Dennis.

Although he lives far from the seafood depot in Newark, the fact that ICE agents are now crawling in his state has added to his anxiety. He wondered: How will they do it? Will they go door to door? Will they send us to detention or send us straight to a military plane?

While he has come around to the idea of possibly going home to his siblings, his U.S. citizen mom is adamant on staying in the country. Dennis thinks he would have to stay to look after her because of her age.

“I wouldn’t say I’m fearful, but maybe concerned,” he said, sharing with The FilAm how he feels.

When he leaves the house, he says he makes sure to always look around and behind his back. He stays home most days except when there are urgent errands like grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy for his mom’s medicine, and attending Sunday mass. Yes, he has never missed a Sunday communion with the Lord.

“I don’t watch the news much,” he said. “It upsets me.”

He said being sent home forcibly is something that may or may not happen but whatever it is, “I’m ready,” he said.



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