The Raid

Appendix Resources  1. Family Preparedness and Emergency Planning Appleseed Network Manual: This comprehensive guide helps immigrant families develop plans to address financial and family issues, such as child custody, in the event of emergencies like deportation. Childrenthriveaction.org Women’s Refugee Commission Resources: A series of guides focusing on parental rights, family separation due to immigration, and child welfare, aimed at families facing deportation.  Clasp.org  2. Know Your Rights and Rapid Response American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Provides an overview of immigrants rights in various scenarios, including interactions with immigration officials during traffic stops, home visits, and arrests near the border. Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): Offers a toolkit with resources for advocates and community members, including Know Your Rights information, red cards, family preparedness plans, and training materials to support community presentati...

Real-Life Cases of Family Separation The story of Becky Hernandez reflects the real and ongoing struggles faced by many families due to immigration enforcement policies in the United States. Below are some real-life cases and facts that highlight the impact of these policies: 1. Ms. L v. ICE In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Ms. L, a Congolese mother who was separated from her seven-year-old daughter after seeking asylum at the U.S. border. They were detained separately for months before being reunited. This case led to a federal judge ordering the reunification of separated families and highlighted the traumatic effects of such separations.  2. C.M. et al. v. United States In 2019, five asylum-seeking mothers and their children filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government after being forcibly separated under the “zero tolerance” policy. The children, some as young as five, were taken from their mothers, causi...

  Chapter 15: Looking Ahead Years passed. Becky was no longer a scared little girl clutching her diary. She was Becky Hernandez, a high school senior, sitting in the front row of her immigration law class at Fair Lawn High School. Her notebook was open, her pen tapping against the pages as she listened to her teacher discuss legal cases—cases just like hers. She had been accepted to Rutgers University, where she planned to study law and political science. Her dream was no longer just words in a diary. It was real. A Visit to Mr. Alvarez On a warm afternoon, Becky walked into a familiar office. Mr. Alvarez looked up from his desk and smiled. “There’s my future lawyer.” Becky grinned. “More like almost future lawyer.” She sat down across from him. “I just wanted to say thank you. You helped me find my voice. And now, I want to do what you do.” Mr. Alvarez leaned back, nodding. “You already are, Becky. You already are.” Flashback to the Diary That night, Becky pulled out an old, worn ...

  Chapter 14: A New Purpose Becky sat in Mr. Alvarez’s office again, but this time, she wasn’t just there to listen. She had a notebook open, taking notes. She had questions. And she wanted answers. “Becky,” Mr. Alvarez said, smiling at her, “you ask more questions than most law students I know.” Becky blushed. “I just… I want to understand. I want to help.” Her parents smiled at her proudly. Her father squeezed her shoulder. “You already are, mi amor.” Researching the Law That night, Becky sat at the kitchen table with her diary open, but instead of writing about her feelings, she was writing laws. She had searched online for how to become a lawyer and found out she would need to go to college, then law school. That was a long way away, but she didn’t care. She had a plan now. “Dear Diary, I used to think lawyers were just people who talked in court. But now I know they do so much more. They fight for families like mine. They don’t just follow the law—they try to change it. I want...

  Chapter 13: A New Beginning The house felt different now. Becky sat at the kitchen table, watching her mother pour coffee and her father help Nico with his breakfast. It had been three days since they had come home. Three days of hugs that lasted forever. Three days of waking up and not feeling afraid. But the fight wasn’t over. Her parents still had a legal case ahead of them. They still had to go to hearings, check-ins, and meetings with their lawyer. Becky knew that. But for now, they were together. And that was enough. The Community Comes Together That Sunday, Becky and her family went to church for the first time since the raid. When they walked inside, everyone turned. For a moment, Becky thought people would just stare. Then, the priest smiled. And people started clapping. Her mother gasped. Becky’s father put a hand on her shoulder, his eyes wet. One by one, people came up to them. Hugging them. Saying, “Welcome home.” “We signed your petition,” one woman said. “We prayed...