How Long is Too Long?

by Heather Ruark

Last month we asked our Facebook followers to post anonymous responses to some of the things that run through their minds as US citizens with spouses with immigration problems. A screenshot of the post is below. 

My name is Melanie Bieri and I am a United States citizen. On October 25, 2018, I received a phone call that would change my life forever. My husband, Nestor, was pulled over for a traffic stop. He is undocumented and was deported once before in 2009. He left that morning and now almost eight months have gone by since our family has been together. He has missed so many holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and milestones that it brings tears to my eyes.

Late in 2006 two American citizens named Nicole and Heather moved to México. Both women were in their late twenties at the time. They didn’t know each other yet, but they had a lot in common. For one, they were both moving for the same reason and not entirely of their own choice. The pair finally ended up meeting years later when Nicole published her memoir Amor and Exile: True Stories of Love Across America’s Borders, co-authored with journalist Nathaniel Hoffman of Define American. Heather came across the book on Amazon and reached out to Nicole when she saw she was living in the same state in México.