To the editor:

 “Who is my neighbor?” This is a poignant question of faith. Jesus beckons us with his answer. A very dear Hispanic woman is suffering the following trauma. Please hear her within your heart through Jesus’ eyes of compassion:

“Although I am a citizen (for decades), my husband is not (they met in MN as teenagers). He has been in the naturalization process for over 6 years, but it is too slow… Although we couldn’t afford it, we took a big gamble and spent $2,500 applying for his work permit. The permit was denied…and we didn’t get the money back.  I work as much as I can, but right now my company (food production) is cutting back, so I can only get 48 hours.” My husband has severe health problems. With the conditions in ICE, I fear he wouldn’t survive detention and deportation.  He is extremely anxious and hiding in the house. I can’t share my own fear with him because it would only make him suffer more. When my adult children call me and ask why I am crying, I have to lie and tell them I have been watching a sad show. 

I can’t sleep at all during the night… If my husband is detained and sent back to his home country, I don’t know what I would do. My kids and grandchildren are here. The only friends I know are here…I don’t know what to do!  I am just glad my grandkids look white…” Her well-being and life are being torn apart. And her family could literally get torn apart by the ICE surge. Wasn’t this designed to keep us all safe? Please reread this prayerfully, as if you were the “I” …tearfully trembling through the night, powerless… 

Roger Lindholm

New Ulm