Letter from AJ and Gwin Pratt

Hello Friends,

We want to share an important story and an update during this dangerous time in our country. There is so much bombarding us daily. Many of you have offered financial help and mutual aid. We are so grateful.

More than 2 years ago, Erin and her child met a family at the local playground. Erin speaks Spanish, so she connected with the two parents and their young children. Our grandchild happily played with them. At the time, ICE was not present. For over 6 years, this family worked, paid their bills, and lived happily within walking distance of the local parks and library. The 5-year-old joyfully attended the local school.

Then the ICE surge came, not only in the cities but also in the suburbs.

The father, who had been gainfully employed and proudly supporting his family, lost his job when ICE swept through his workplace.

That was when Erin was contacted by the family, who humbly and desperately asked for help. Soon, they fell behind on rent, food, utilities, and the car payment. We started a GoFundMe and engaged with the Immigrant Defense Fund, VEEP, and other resources. We quickly found that these organizations were overwhelmed.

Karen Larson’s church gave generously; Bill Chadwick held a fundraiser for VEEP; and a Long Lake resident launched another GoFundMe. Food shelves and the child’s school have also helped.

A generous St. Luker covered legal expenses for them to obtain work permits and Social Security. We secured a pro bono lawyer to support the mother in obtaining a special visa and asylum. We have not yet secured help for the father.

ICE is now returning to the area. Friends and family have been detained and deported. Agents were again at the church next door to their apartment. The school-age child is terrified she will get off the bus to find her parents gone. We have secured legal documents for a friend to serve as their children’s guardian if this were to happen. The whole family is terrified. We have been their neighbors and friends, so we are terrified as well.

Friends, we are now at the place where the German people once were. Do we stand by, or stand up?

It seems to us that the first need is a place to hide. They need to pay their bills. They wish to work and are willing to do hard, menial tasks. The father is proud and distressed that he has not been able to continue to provide financially for his family.

Though it may seem logical to us to provide a safe place to hide, from their perspective it is less stressful to shelter in place in their apartment. To do so, they need help paying their bills and a safe place to work.

With gratitude and hope,
AJ and Gwin Pratt