By Gary Screaton Page
(This is another in a series of articles by Dr. Gary Screaton Page that Niagara At Large is posting about some of the immigrants and refugees who have come to Canada to begin a new life after some often unimaginably brutal experiences they have suffered through in their countries of origin. In these posts, based on stories Dr. Page has learned from helping newcomers to the country in his border town of Fort Erie, Ontario, names have either been changed or last names have been omitted to protect individuals and their families and friends from any repercussions in their native lands.)
The students’ protest was over. Her cousin languished in an Ethiopian jail, arrested for being a part of the demonstration. Other protestors had gone missing altogether.
Gary Screaton Page
Meanwhile Hiwot, fearful that she, too, might be arrested struggled over what to do. She had only been visiting with her cousin when she decided to join him and the other students’ protesting Meles Zenawi’s attempts to divide the country by tribal groups to specific regions thus breaking up families of mixed tribal blood and separating, in many cases, children from parents.
With her cousin in prison Hiwot knew the police would also be looking for other protesters including her. Fortunately, she was not of the same region from which most of the student protestors had come. She would not be under suspicion if she sought an exit visa to leave the country. Hiwot did just that. She got a flight to theUnited Stateswhere she sought political asylum.
During the years she was trying to work through the American legal system to gain a safe haven Hiwot met the man she would marry. Together they had three children. While raising their family, husband and wife persisted together in the legal battle to gain Hiwot’s protection and avoid her deportation back toEthiopiawhere she faced certain imprisonment for her part in the protests so many years ago now.
Legal bills mounted as one lawyer after another dropped the ball. On the death or her fifth attorney Hiwot ran into a bureaucratic brick wall. While all her legal documents were unavailable to her in the office of her dead attorney, who had not advised them of her change of address,U.S.immigration officials sent a notice of appearance to Hiwot for her to attend a hearing regarding her status.
Almost four years past when, while she was still unaware of the notice to her former address, U.S. officials came to Hiwot’s home demanding to know why she had not appeared at her hearing. That she had never received the notice because of her change of address not being forwarded by her attorney was to the government irrelevant. She was ordered deported along with her three children. Her husband, being a naturalized American could, of course stay. While she could have left the children behind doing so was not an option for Hiwot. Her husband was fully involved in operating the trucking business that was supporting their family. He was not able to raise three young children on his own.
The situation left her with few options.Ethiopiameant prison and she would lose her children. Staying in theU.S.was now impossible. Leaving the children, all American citizens, was not a viable option in her circumstances either. So Hiwot took the only avenue she felt she could take and still keep her children and herself safe. She headed toCanadawhere she again sought refuge. Her husband remained behind to seek entry through the same channels open to all Americans wishing to come to our country.
Hiwot, along with her children, crossed the border and claimed refugee status. During her many months of waiting for a hearing her husband came to visit. The visit was welcome but much too brief and he had to return to theUnited States. While working there he ran into more financial trouble. The heavy debt load for the five lawyers they had work on her application for asylum, the overwhelming stress of his separation from the family, and the added loss of his truck – the source of his livelihood – took a great toll on his health and he passed away. Hiwot and the children were alone.
Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but it does pass. With the help of her Canadian legal counsel, and the support of friends and Matthew House in Fort Erie, her hearing inTorontofinally came. The process was grueling and very stressful for the family. After several hours of legal discourse the decision came down. Her refugee status was affirmed. Hiwot was rightly deemed “a person in need of protection.” She and her children could stay!
Presently, Hiwot is preparing to attend college in the fall. With the encouragement and support of her faith community, she is a valuable contributing member of our community. Her children are doing well in school and she has shown herself to be an exemplary mother. We are truly fortunate to have such a good neighbour.
Dr. Gary Screaton Page is the author of ‘Being the Parent YOU Want to Be: 12 Communication Skills for Effective Parenting’. He is a Chaplain with the Niagara Regional Police Service and he has provided counselling and other assistance to many newcomers to this region of Canada. Gassilde’s story is adapted from the book Gassilde written by her son, Jean d’Or Nkezabhizi. Contact Gary at drgary@cogeco.ca.
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