THE STORY OF A REFUGEE FAMILY // LA HISTORIA DE UNA FAMILIA DE REFUGIADOS

Queridos amigos,

SIREN tiene innumerables historias para compartir de familias que buscan una vida mejor en los Estados Unidos. Esta es la historia de Leila, Farid y Setareh - ciudadanos iraníes que tuvieron que huir de su país porque el gobierno los atrapó asistiendo a una iglesia clandestina. En Irán, es ilegal que un musulmán cambie su religión y la ley de la Sharia exige que las personas que han cambiado su religión sean ejecutadas. Incluso cuando los individuos que cambian de religión no son ejecutados, a menudo se los mantiene en condiciones abominables durante largos periodos de tiempo y son torturados por el estado tanto como una forma de castigo.

Cuando Leila, Farid y Setareh supieron que sus vidas estaban en peligro y estaban siendo  perseguidas por las autoridades iraníes, esta familia no tuvo más remedio que pagarle a un contrabandista para que saliera de Irán a través de Turquía. Desde allí, se dirigieron a Sudáfrica, Brasil y México. La familia planeaba mudarse a Canadá para solicitar asilo, pero fueron detenidos en México bajo sospecha de que sus pasaportes eran falsos.

Leila, Farid y Setareh fueron detenidos durante meses en México en condiciones verdaderamente deplorables mientras esperaban su caso de asilo. Pasaron meses y meses antes de que dos de ellos pudieran llegar a los Estados Unidos. Finalmente, encontraron a SIREN para ayudarlos con su caso de asilo. Hoy dos de la familia han ganado sus casos de asilo. Tan pronto como sea posible, SIREN solicitará al esposo que permanece en México para que también pueda obtener asilo aquí.

Este es un ejemplo de las terribles circunstancias que enfrentan los refugiados cuando huyen de la violencia y la persecución, así como el papel que desempeña SIREN en nuestra comunidad. Los invitamos a unirse a nosotros para salvar vidas a través de un Regalo de Caridad Hoy.

¡Gracias por su generosidad y apoyo durante estas vacaciones!


Con amor y justicia,

Maricela Gutiérrez

Directora Ejecutiva

Dear Friends,

SIREN has countless stories to share of families seeking a better life in the United States. This is the story of Leila, Farid, and Setareh - Iranian nationals who had to flee their country because the government caught them attending an underground church there. In Iran, it is illegal for a Muslim to change their religion and Sharia law calls for individuals who are found to have changed their religion to be executed. Even when individuals who change their religion are not executed, they are often held in abhorrent conditions for long periods of time and tortured by the state both as a form of punishment.

When Leila, Farid, and Setareh learned that their lives were in danger and that they were being persecuted by Iranian authorities, this family had no choice, but to pay a smuggler to get them out of Iran through Turkey. From there, they made their way to South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico. The family was planning on moving forward to Canada to apply for asylum but they were stopped in Mexico and detained under suspicion that their passports were fake.

Leila, Farid, and Setareh were detained for months in Mexico in truly deplorable conditions while they waited out their asylum case. Months and months passed before two of them could make their way to the United States. Eventually, they were referred to SIREN to assist them with their asylum case. Today two of them have won their asylum cases; as soon as it is feasible, SIREN will petition for the husband who remains in Mexico so that he can win asylum here as well.

This is one example of the dire circumstances that refugees face as they flee from violence and persecution, as well as the role that SIREN plays in our community. We invite you to join us in saving lives through aCharitable Gift Today.

Thank you for your generosity and support during this holiday season!


With love and justice,

Maricela Gutiérrez,

Executive Director