Urgent Help Needed - Okili Nguebari detained by ICE in AZ

[Sabrina]

URGENT HELP NEEDED ~ PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY<o:p></o:p>
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For those who don’t know: Okili Nguebari, beloved friend of many communities for the past 27 ½ years, beloved husband of an American wife for 21 ½ years, father of two American children ages 21 and 17, business owner, non profit founder of The United Africa Club, home owner, and tax payer, was picked up by the Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE unit on Monday April 20, 2009 in front of his home by six ICE officers traveling from SF in 3 unmarked cars (talk about waist of tax dollars). He was picked up for a 23 year old outstanding order of deportation from an over stay of Visa.


For the past 21 years his American wife and he have been trying to make him legal, including an Amnesty Applicatioin period that was denied after pending for 15 years w/ temp. legal status. 3 weeks prior to his being picked up they had just met with an Immigration attorney and were set to start new appeals on his case, now that Obama is in office. They were saving money and waiting till June when they expected a family financial gift. That night of April 20, after being picked up, he was whisked away straight to the Eloy, AZ Detention Facility (south east of Tucson in the mid of hot dessert) where he is currently being held with a final order of Deportation. It is imperative to “stay” this order, for if he is deported he will be barred from the country for 10 years before a waiver application can even be considered.


To fight the case we will initially need about $5000 which will increase easily to $10,000 - $20, 000 + - so we are going VERY Public.<o:p></o:p>
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From Sabrina, his Wife: (this is lengthy, but necessary to fill you in)<o:p></o:p>
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Hello my friends,<o:p></o:p>
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Sorry it is so late at night. I know a few of you were waiting for this, and I keep doing last minute things for tomorrow, answering this and that. And now this is taking longer because it is time I start writing more concisely about this. First off, I should really start by saying thank you, thank you for all of the outpouring of support and love I am receiving. Several people have come forward to offer the financial support I so urgently need right here in the beginning, including some already fundraising in their homes or dance classes (i.e. Michele Jensen, Victoria Strowbridge), and coming straight to my home to give me a check (too many to list). Other good friends and family in other communities too, have financial support they are about to send me that they’ve raised. Everyone is so appreciated. <o:p></o:p>
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UPDATES<o:p></o:p>
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I wanted to update everyone how things are with what’s happening with Okili’s fight right now. <o:p></o:p>
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TODAY – April 29, 2009 <o:p></o:p>
Today at 11:00 AM I go to the Atty. we decided on to write a check for the retainer of $2500 and sign documents so she can just get started. I know the money is coming but so far, as of today I’ve received just $1600. I just hope that the check I write does not bounce because I don't think it'll look good right in the beginning to ask her to wait to cash on Monday. <o:p></o:p>
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If anyone has said they were going to give us some money but has not yet had a chance, I hate to rush you, but please try to do something during your lunch break tomorrow as I will be so much more relieved when I know it’s all covered. <o:p></o:p>
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STILL URGENT<o:p></o:p>
We need to stop deportation so that he is not banned from this country. When the first papers are filed by the lawyer, once she is retained, that stops the immediate removal, and we can more easily fight from there.<o:p></o:p>
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MONEY<o:p></o:p>
You can deposit into almost any Credit Union with a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Service</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> (i.e. bank w/ tellers, etc), does not matter which Company. Here is a link that you can see exactly where a Credit Union is in your neighborhood or town (Does not matter the Company). When you get to the main page just enter city state or Zip code on the left hand side, and directly below that select CU Service Centers Only. Here's the web: <o:p></o:p>
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https://www.cuswirl.com/locations/index.htm (https://www.cuswirl.com/locations/index.htm). <o:p></o:p>
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Make any check Payable to either Sabrina Krauss or Henri Nguebari (Okili's official name)<o:p></o:p>
Deposit to Account # #448076<o:p></o:p>
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Please DO NOT make check out to "Okili Legal Fund". I thought I could set this up but it required a fictitious business name filing, etc. I got a couple of these and they are kind of hard to cash. I end up having to write his name in and crossing off legal fund and initialing for you (not really kosher).<o:p></o:p>
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If someone prefers to actually send a check via snail mail, I decided not to put my home address out here because I don’t want it to get way out on the web. We do expect to go as public as possible with this. So please mail it with a note listing Account # 448076 and one of our names above to:<o:p></o:p>
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REDWOOD CREDIT UNION<o:p></o:p>
P.O. Box <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">P.O. Box 6104</st1:street>
<st1:city w:st="on">Santa Rosa</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">CA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">95406</st1:postalcode></st1:address><o:p></o:p>
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WRITE to DIANNE FEINSTEIN<o:p></o:p>
NOTE: We have another immigrant friend with a complicated immigration case who was helped successfully by Dianne Feinstein. We want to urge people to write a letter to Diane Feinstein and Fax or mail it to her. <o:p></o:p>
HERE ARE SOME TALKING POINTS:<o:p></o:p>
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Tell her Henri Roger Nguebari arrived here in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> 27 ½ years ago on an F1 Student Visa (Dec. 15, 1981). Today he has not left the country accept for once when his mother died and he was paroled to leave legally under the pending Amnesty Application. Tell her it is wrong that Henri Roger Nguebari is being separated from his American Wife of 22 years, and two American born children ages 17 and 21. The family built a life here; he was the protector and provider, they owned a home together, he founded an African cultural non profit Org. here (The United Africa Club), he started a business here with his wife, and filed his income taxes for every year of his 27 ½ years residing here and making a living. Tell her he is being held in Eloy <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:state> detention facility, A# 26370867, and is being unfairly set for deportation after being stone walled to become legal for 21 years, including the 15 year pending Amnesty application. We want a humanitarian bill to unify this family legally, as it is wrong to punish this whole family for his denial of amnesty or for his overstay of a student F1 Visa over 25 years ago. Sign it with your full name and address.<o:p></o:p>
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Mail:<o:p></o:p>
Senator Dianne Feinstein<o:p></o:p>
<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">One Post Street, Ste. 2450</st1:address></st1:street><o:p></o:p>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">CA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">94104</st1:postalcode></st1:place><o:p></o:p>
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Or <o:p></o:p>
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Fax:<o:p></o:p>
(415) 393-0710<o:p></o:p>
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A Note about Amnesty:<o:p></o:p>
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-I just found out that the Amnesty Program Okili filed for back in 1986 in which he was denied and then he appealed and then was denied again in the year 2000 with no option to reopen; NOW has a way to reopen it. The Northwest Immigration Rights Project, et al Vs. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> Citizenship and Immigration Amnesty Class Action Settlement of 2008 pertains to Okili’s Amnesty case. They had this settlement in Sept. 2008 that says that Feb 1 2009 – Jan. 31, 2010 people who were denied that Amnesty may actually have the chance to reopen it again. I will let you know after I speak with the lawyer tomorrow what she says. You can Google the Settlement and find a lot out about it if you’d like.<o:p></o:p>
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FUNDRAISERS<o:p></o:p>
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There are several people I starting to organize about fundraising. Please let me know if you have a special skill for organizing events, or have special connections, have a donation for a raffle, are an entertainer, etc. We are trying to get donations for event locations, and many things could transpire. No Possibilities or ideas turned away. Looks like some folks may organize various things in their communities.
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<st1:placename w:st="on">Sebastopol</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Community Center</st1:placetype>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sonoma</st1:place></st1:city> county<o:p></o:p>
Currently people have reserved the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sebastopol</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Community Center</st1:placetype></st1:place> on Sat. May 16. They have not been able to offer the center for free, but are able to give a reduced rate of $500. They also need a $500 deposit that will be returned. If anyone has a better connection with the Community Center for less money or if you can front the money please step forward. It is hard to get people to come up with this money up front, when we are so desperately trying to raise the legal funds that will continue to climb, we know.
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BEER REQUEST<o:p></o:p>
As many of you may know, Okili was an often frequenter of many pubs, probably a top customer for some. He regularly frequented places like The Russian River Brewing Company, The Sweet Spot, and The Toad in The Hole in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa Rosa</st1:place></st1:city>; also he was quite well known at The Ace in the Hole in Graton but this was a longer drive from home. I was thinking we should ask one of these pubs, maybe especially RRV Brewing Co since they make Beer, to donate a Keg or so of Beer to the Community Center Event. Any ideas?
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DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY<o:p></o:p>
As many people know, I’ve had a lot of experience with events, but this time I must definitely relinquish responsibility. Though I will probably have my fingers in a lot, I know I really can’t handle it all by myself. Please step forward with any coordinating skills you may have, as there are a lot of people ready to help and need to be put together.
This is a community effort, I can’t do it alone.<o:p></o:p>
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Andrea Karolle, is trying to coordinate the current loosely knit group of people who’ve expressed an interest to volunteer with coordination of fundraising events / or the event.
Her email is: [email protected] ([email protected]). We also need someone to coordinate musicians/ entertainers.
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As of yet, there is no certain person in control of anything, just lots of people wanting to work together. I’m visualizing people delegating into their natural rolls in this play of justice through collective communications and reception of one another’s various gifts of love and expertise they bring ~ to help manifest Okili’s Freedom. There are so many amazing people who all want to help; and, Okili, me, and the kids (Abanya and Olembe) welcome and appreciate them all. We just need help getting organized!
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READY TO GO PUBLIC WITH THIS<o:p></o:p>
-Mary Moore invited me to be interviewed at KBBF - 89.1, Sat. May 2 on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">VOICES</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">DE</st1:state></st1:place> MUJERES at about 1:30 PM. For about 20 min.<o:p></o:p>
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Yes, we are ready to go public. Tell Waccobb (have not been able to yet – maybe I’ll post this) tell the news, Press Democrat (need to contact Dan Taylor, he and Okili would enjoy a beer together from time to time, 7 on your side, Bohemian, KPFA, KBBF, anything else? I need help with this too. Thanks!
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OKILI AND FAMILY<o:p></o:p>
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Okili’s Condition and Sprits<o:p></o:p>
The good news is that Okili is getting a bit of a health work out over there. In the past he’s had a bit of high blood pressure, and now he’s exercising regularly, (A LOT more than here home), gets no beer, and now his blood pressure has actually gone down! The only thing he says is the food situation sucks. Breakfast is at 5:00AM, which he misses because he says it’s total junk. He eats lunch at Noon, and dinner at 4:00Pm . By 8:00 Pm he’s quite hungry and they go to bed at 10:15 Pm. Most people are eating things they purchase in some Canteen place at about 8:00, but Okili needs money on the books for that. He’s been borrowing from people their food they’ve purchased, and he’s feeling a little ashamed not to have his own money on the books. This money on the books also helps him make needed collect phone calls (ridiculous charges: $3.50 for 1^st minute, .45 each additional, and only 15 min allowed per call). If you’d like to put money on his books go to (this can be found on line and paid through credit card):
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<st1:place w:st="on">Western Union</st1:place> Quick Collect<o:p></o:p>
Pay To Corrections Corp. of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p>
State: TN<o:p></o:p>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Code</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> Trust CCA<o:p></o:p>
Senders Account # is: 1346006Nguebari<o:p></o:p>
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Okili’s wife and childrens’ Condition and Spirits<o:p></o:p>
When Okili was first picked up by the ICE last Monday, we spent pretty much a full week morning and night on the phone, on the computer quite stressed, crying and trying to stay strong and grounded. I, Sabrina was pretty much not able to focus on my wine sales job. It was too hard to focus on selling wine with a smile on my face while there is so much at hand to urgently take care of. I’ve been and still am exhausted; and just now, that we have a plan to hopefully stop the deportation in time, I feel slight relief, but not till it’s done. Today for the first time since Monday April 20, ’09 I sat down for two hours to try to work In the wine job (not easy, but a MUST).
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The kids too have been upset, but strong. Abanya’s also got a lot going on in her life with trying to move out of a house, and maybe here home for a while as she’s transitioning. Olembe has been quite strong, but has also been effected when all these people ask him so many questions about his Dad “ why was he illegal, why was your Dad picked up”, etc. I told him to just tell people to ask me. All he needs is love and support. It’s quite disturbing, as a kid, to think your Dad may never come back here again, even if you can go there (it’s far away, another culture and language).
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WE want to go to <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Congo</st1:country-region></st1:place>, but not under these conditions of forced family separation.
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Love,
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Sabrina


Please Email Sabrina here on Wacco for further info.

[Shekeyna]

To whom it may concern,
I am honored to know Okili and Sabrina as friends and neighbors. This good loving family centers around music and community. It is a travesty of justice that Mr. Nguebari was stolen from the streets near his home to be torn away from his family and friends. He is a contributing member of society and has the right to be reunited with his family and granted citizenship.
Respectfully,
Shekeyna M. Black

["Mad" Miles]

I've known Okili for at least eight years. He's one of the best guys around. The United Africa Club (North Bay) Music & Dance Festival was the best annual dance party in the county. (Even better than Harmony Fest!) Until financial issues prevented Sabrina and Okili from continuing to organize it. He is a sweetheart and a true mensch.

When I learned of his detention, I forwarded Sabrina's email to everyone I could think of who might care enough to do even the littlest something to help. While traveling in Louisiana and Texas last week and this, I continued to forward messages and yesterday I donated more money than I ever have before in my life to his legal defense. I also sent a little "some, some" to his trust account so he can get the essentials he needs from the canteen while in prison. Because make no mistake, this father, husband, bon vivant, businessman, cultural representative, and musical artist, is IN PRISON! Where he shouldn't be if there were true justice in this world.

He is my friend, Sabrina is my friend, his kids are great and I consider his son and daughter to also be my friends. We all need him back ASAP. I'm attuned to a little of what he must be suffering because of where I work as a teacher. Many of my students probably deserve to be in prison. Okili absolutely does not.

Please help him in any way you can. If we allow his deportation, a family, a life and our community will be irreparably damaged.

More information will be forthcoming about a benefit for his legal defense, and to support their family. Write that letter to Senator Feinstein. Write a letter to the editor of the Press Democrat. Sabrina will be talking on KBBF and Okili's plight should be announced from the stage at today's May 1 march.

It's time to rally our political and moral will to reverse this state crime!!!!

Your really, truly,

"Mad" Miles

(in this case my "Mad" part of my nomme de keyboard is not cute, this is no joke and it means enraged, appalled, saddened, frightened, shocked and engaged even more than ever)

:burngrnbounce:

[Sabrina]

Hey all, a little update correction: The fundraiser is changed from May 16, to Friday May 22, '09. The Community Center made a mistake as to the fact that they'd already booked the 16th, so now we've confirmed May 22 (this is for sure ) Still help is needed, and still trying to desperately retain the right lawyer! Now we realize we need someone in Arizona and not a immigration mill where they just process the easy cases. His is a bit complicated. I am exhausted from trying to get through secretary's that all need to hear the whole long story before they transfer me to someone who knows if they can or cannot help.

[Shekeyna]

Thank you for the message.
Keep the FAITH!
Justice will prevail.
See you on May 22
Long Live the MUSIC!
:Yinyangv::heart::Yinyangv:

Hey all, a little update correction: The fundraiser is changed from May 16, to Friday May 22, '09. The Community Center made a mistake as to the fact that they'd already booked the 16th, so now we've confirmed May 22 (this is for sure ) Still help is needed, and still trying to desperately retain the right lawyer! Now we realize we need someone in Arizona and not a immigration mill where they just process the easy cases. His is a bit complicated. I am exhausted from trying to get through secretary's that all need to hear the whole long story before they transfer me to someone who knows if they can or cannot help.

[nicofrog]

URGENT HELP NEEDED ~ PLEASE RESPOND AS THOUGH IT WAS A FAMILY MEMBER

This is an OUTRAGE
I am re posting this article because of the obvious political and racial
profiling by Homeland"Security" right here in our backyards.
In case folks do not understand,I want to remind us that the Country
Zaire ,or "the Belgian Congo" as it used to be called,is very important to
the Nero-Con ultra right that tries to control the entire world.
Anyone organizing communication of any kind between people of a different nationality are considered a threat.Zaire is where the chemical
is mined that All cell phones are dependent on it is a very rare mineral and there has been constant war funded entirely by evil empire considerations
ever since the ridiculous gadget was invented. anyone organizing anything African is already a problem to these wimps. There are thousands of
undocumented immigrants living and working all around us, I'm not saying they should be harassed( I'm sure the industry that uses them would not have it.) WE should take Note and be concerned when a dear friend is swept away on a stupid technicality when others are not mentioned.
Many Congolese who are here are avoiding a war torn colony that has been oppressed for decades,possibly centuries . It is critical for the oppressing culture to control, and harass these people.If you are not fighting for the rights of the oppressed,you are inadvertently colluding with the oppressor.This is also true in the case of Native American issues.
Nico


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For those who don’t know: Okili Nguebari, beloved friend of many communities for the past 27 ½ years, beloved husband of an American wife for 21 ½ years, father of two American children ages 21 and 17, business owner, non profit founder of The United Africa Club, home owner, and tax payer, was picked up by the Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE unit on Monday April 20, 2009 in front of his home by six ICE officers traveling from SF in 3 unmarked cars (talk about waist of tax dollars). He was picked up for a 23 year old outstanding order of deportation from an over stay of Visa.
...

[Sabrina]

Another quick update: Kris Freewoman has come forward as the main coordinator for the FREE OKILI Sebastopol Community Center fundraising event on May 22. She will be coordinating other areas of leadership and delegating responsibility. Thank you so much Kris! Her email is: [email protected] and her phone number is: 707-363-0546.


Hey all, a little update correction: The fundraiser is changed from May 16, to Friday May 22, '09. The Community Center made a mistake as to the fact that they'd already booked the 16th, so now we've confirmed May 22 (this is for sure ) Still help is needed, and still trying to desperately retain the right lawyer! Now we realize we need someone in Arizona and not a immigration mill where they just process the easy cases. His is a bit complicated. I am exhausted from trying to get through secretary's that all need to hear the whole long story before they transfer me to someone who knows if they can or cannot help.

[Dynamique]

If he's been legally married to an American citizen for over 7 years, isn't he automatically a citizen? Or has that been changed?

Also, did anyone notice that he's apparently being held in a private prison (Corrections Corp. of America), and his family/friends need to send money so he can get some decent chow? Gee, there's a racket.

[Sabrina]

Hi dynamique,

Actually I've never heard of anyone automatically becoming a citizen after 7 years of being married to an American citizen, they always have to apply for legalization; and I've spokne with tons of lawyers over 22 years. In our case we were blocked from "applying" for his legalization through our legal marriage because of a complication prior (25 years ago) that left him with "poor merit" , unable to apply through our marriage unless we first left the country for 2 to 5 years and then i could try to apply for him after that. Immigration laws are some of the coldest set in stone laws that exist, and most of us Americans have no clue because we "never" deal with immigration laws unless we know or become closely involved with someone who is an immigrant who shares their story.

And, yes it's true the food sucks. They only give them canned fruits and vegetables, and evidently "fresh" roasted chicken. An employee there said that they stopped giving the fresh fruits and veggies due to the inmates making alcohol from it (!! - they could do that with the canned stuff too if they wanted to, i think). Basically they get breakfast at 5 Am which he said sucks, like junky pastrys and coffee, then lunch at 12, and dinner at 4 PM! Then they go to bed at 10:15 Pm, so often they are starving around 8, and so if you've purchased other junk food in their cantina you can eat it. If anyone is curious about Correction Corporations human comodities business, you can look them up and read all about partnering with them and investor relations: CCA (https://www.correctionscorp.com/). It's like a "stepford" Prison (i.e. the stepford wives).


If he's been legally married to an American citizen for over 7 years, isn't he automatically a citizen? Or has that been changed?

Also, did anyone notice that he's apparently being held in a private prison (Corrections Corp. of America), and his family/friends need to send money so he can get some decent chow? Gee, there's a racket.

[Scott McKeown]

Please. This is not a "racket." Okili and Sabrina have been active members of the community for many years. Many people know them, and also Sabrina's mother Farida, who all live here locally. I've known Okili for six years, starting when the United Africa Club helped with the production of the Harmony Festival's Saturday night dance party in 2003. Okili is a great man who has done many things for our community. It's a complete outrage that he has been torn away from his family like this.


If he's been legally married to an American citizen for over 7 years, isn't he automatically a citizen? Or has that been changed?

Also, did anyone notice that he's apparently being held in a private prison (Corrections Corp. of America), and his family/friends need to send money so he can get some decent chow? Gee, there's a racket.

[Barry]

And Okili did a stint as the drummer for one of my all-time favorite groups, Pele Juju (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8CuZ-VTEr0)!
An OUTRAGE, indeed!


Please. This is not a "racket." Okili and Sabrina have been active members of the community for many years. Many people know them, and also Sabrina's mother Farida, who all live here locally. I've known Okili for six years, starting when the United Africa Club helped with the production of the Harmony Festival's Saturday night dance party in 2003. Okili is a great man who has done many things for our community. It's a complete outrage that he has been torn away from his family like this.

[Sabrina]

<style></style>NOTE: For those who don’t know: Okili Nguebari, beloved friend of the many communities for the past 27 ½ years, beloved husband of an American wife for 21 ½ years, father of two American children ages 21 and 17, business owner, non profit founder of The United Africa Club, home owner, and tax payer, was picked up by the Dept. of Homeland Security, ICE unit on Monday April 20, 2009 in front of his home by six ICE officers traveling from SF in 3 unmarked cars (talk about waist of tax dollars). He was picked up for a 23 year old outstanding order of deportation from an over stay of Visa. For the past 21 years his American wife and he have been trying to make him legal. 3 weeks prior to his being picked up they had just met with an Immigration attorney and were set to start new appeals on his case, now that Obama is in office. They were saving money and waiting till June when they expected a family financial gift. That night of April 20, after being picked up, he was whisked away straight to the Eloy, AZ Detention Facility (south east of Tucson in the mid of hot dessert) where he is currently being held with a final order of Deportation. It is imperative to “stay” this order, for if he is deported he will be barred from the country for 10 years before a waiver application can even be considered.

As of 5/6/09 - Here is an update on the Situation with my husband Okili Nguebari.

I finally heard back from the attorney we decided to use who is in Eloy, AZ. and have sent him his detainer. In this situation, it is imperative, whether Lawyers can be a rip off or not, to get a Lawyer to help us file the necessary papers to stop his deportation.
Background
Only Lawyers are allowed into the detention facility with no restrictions. If he is deported he will be barred from the country for 10 years, an impossible and horrific separation and stress on our family and community.

It appears that Okili fits into Class Cii of Supreme Court Class Action Ruling, NORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT, ET AL (PLAINTIFFS) VS. U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, ET AL. (DEFENDANTS) which is allowing a one year window (Feb. 1, 2009 - Jan 31, 2010) for people who were denied the Amnesty of 1986 /87 to actually reopen the case on the very grounds he was initially denied it. The Class Action ruling also requires that the Class member not be deported while opening up these cases. I've spoken to a few lawyers on this including the Seattle based authors of the suit, Gibbs, Hausten, Pauw (www.ghp-law.com (https://www.ghp-law.com/)) who indicated that Okili does qualify as a class member, based on what I told them of his case (believe me, I have read EVERYTHING through and through.

Once his case is reopened we will have good reason to get him out on bond, then we should be able to move the case back to SF where we will need to continue the case with probably another attorney, including waving some of his other poor merit issues from 25 years ago prior to our marriage, so that we will be free to finally apply for him simultaneously through our marriage (the I-130). The initial cost for the Attorney in AZ will be $3000, which we have now (we have a little over $5000 so far, thank you to everyone's donations!). We do not know how expensive the case can get, due to the unknown nature of appeals, etc. Maybe we can get some others to help lower the cost who are from helpful organizations, etc., and I am also hopeful that I will hear back from Dianne Feinstein's office soon. But we cannot be too sure of any of this future stuff yet.

What's Happening Today, 5/6/09
I've deposited the Attorney's retainer of $1500 of which he will need the other $1500 in a few days or so ($3000). They are supposed to be faxing me documents to sign today, and preparing documents for Okili to sign when they meet with him at 1:00 PM. Also they will be filing the necessary waiver of deportation today, with good cause to reopen his case which is his membership to the class action suit. We have no idea of appeals happening, but we are confident this is a pretty clear good reasoning to open his files. Once those papers are actually filed with ICE I will feel great relief that the deportation will be stopped in its tracks for the time being.
Thank You
Thank you for everyone's advise and recommendations for lawyers, agencies, people who can help, etc. thus far. If I've not been able to utilize some of these venues yet, though they may still play an integral part in the future, once we get him out and back to fight this in CA. Several of the recommendations I've received have already played a very important roll in helping me to make the final decisions I've made as to regards the route we are currently taking. Also, thank you SO much for all of the calls and emails for concern about this, and the highly needed donations for money that have come through.

Also, a special thanks to my friends Paul Lavender and Erin Anderson, whom I did not get a chance to thank yet - who were right there the first weekend after the ICE kidnapping took place, providing the food for an outstanding dinner that they cooked and served (IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF OKILI) to about 15 people who came to my house concerned and offering support. Also a huge thankyou to Michelle Jensen and Carl (sorry don't have his last name!) who opened there home the next day for people to come and offer their support. They provided also a wonderful BBQ for folks. It was VERY nice of them.

I also want to make a very special thank you to all of the people who've been helping and donating money. Here's a partial list of big helpers both physically, morally, and financially; eventually I'll print a list of all names collected (please no preference given to names listed first, just as they come to mind, and this is not all). Thanks to Kris freewoman, Andrea Karolle, Miles Mendenhall, Deb Dobish, Devin Nganga, Delphine (Inga President), Lokoko Kitenza, Victor and Cathy Tetteh, Yao Hihette, Ernest, Victor Hall, Victoria Strowbridge, Mary Moore, Emmanuel Nado, Penny Nichols, Chanda Zanga, Nancy and Thomas Boukaka, Farida Fox, Erin Anderson, Noelle Marshall and Chris, Michelle Jensen, Mapanda Mwela, Fungula, Robin Krauss, Lex Krauss, Amadou Camara, Gideon Bendele, Miejo, and many many more that I will eventually try to list everyone in another email when time permits.

THIS IS NOT OVER YET
Although I am relieved to have finally made the decisions we've made, and finally able to take some timely action, please keep us at the front of your minds and be watching and ready to help with what may happen next. I still feel there are great unknowns and still really need to feel the communities support behind me at my back.

Our FAMILIES HEALTH
OKili is nervous about getting something filed, but other than that he's in good spirits and not being mistreated in the facility other than being served the most bland tasteless food you can imagine. Once the deportation is stayed, he says he doesn't mind staying in his little detox environment there if he has to for a little while before we can actually get him out.

I have been unable to work in my job much for the last 12 business days due to needing to be on the phone / email nearly non stop to get something done with the right decision, and timely. Thanks to many friends, I've been reminded to stop to eat, taken out to eat, cooked for, and invited over to eat. It's been hard to focus on eating or take a walk on occasion but I must. Once the papers are all signed today, I will be able to focus on work again. Also I've had to try to stay as strong as I can for my kids (which unfortunately they've seen me break down a few times in all this).

My kids are worried, especially it's effected my 17 year old boy Olembe. Sometimes his stomach just does not feel good over all this. And, he's too old to keep it all private from him - yet he's still young enough to feel a lot of stress with worrying about if he's going to need to move to France and away from his life here to be with his Dad, or knowing how expensive it is to visit back and forth. He starts saying things like, "Mom, I've got to get a job", and I'm trying to tell him not to worry, he's a kid, it's all going to work out, go to school, etc.

FUNDRAISING EVENT - Friday, May 22, 2009
I don't know if there have been any other events planned in the bay area w/ Fua Dia Congo, (who'd indicated they wanted to help -especially due to the fact that Okili completely loved the Malonga family like his own - those kids, Mushi Kongo, Kiazi, and Lingusu - he would do anything in his power to help them if he could). And, I've not had the time to do any organizing myself, and some are protecting me from the added stress, so not sure all that's going on.

But I do know, that there is still help needed for the event planned on May 22. The people who are helping seem to be taking quite a load onto their shoulders, and I believe do need others to delegate things to. I don't want any one to get burned out from the gracious voluntary help they are providing. If you have any extra coordinating energies, please contact Kris Freewoman ([email protected]). I know there is help needed in the areas of Food and Auction / Raffle. The areas of music line up / staging may have the most help right now, not sure, but if this is your interest and you want to check if they need help, you can also contact Victor Hall @ [email protected].

Going Public and Press
We are ready and able to go completely public with this and have already started to. I had an interview with activist Mary Moore on KBBF last Saturday, May 2, and I will be interviewing this Monday, May 11 with Emmanuel Nado on his voices of Africa Program at 4:30 PM. I believe Delphine, president of the Inga Association will be on this interview as well. Some people in the community have been trying to get other members of the printed press (newspapers) to respond and contact me for an interview. Any connections you have...let them know - I'm ready to interview.

Thanks so much, everyone...I will keep you informed,

Love, Sabrina

[kpage9]

I think the "racket" referred to below is CCA and its canteen that is practically a necessity for inmates to get enough to eat.
kathy


Please. This is not a "racket." Okili and Sabrina have been active members of the community for many years. Many people know them, and also Sabrina's mother Farida, who all live here locally. I've known Okili for six years, starting when the United Africa Club helped with the production of the Harmony Festival's Saturday night dance party in 2003. Okili is a great man who has done many things for our community. It's a complete outrage that he has been torn away from his family like this.

[Dynamique]

The "racket" I was referring to is the corporate prison and/or prison canteen that essentially forces the friends/families of those incarcerated to pay money so they can get enough food and other necessities. And yes, there has been an egregious waste of taxpayer funds in how this has been handled.

On the other hand... this Okili fellow may be a great guy and all, but he did come to this country illegally and apparently has some history/baggage that makes him not a candidate for citizenship even though (we are told) he has been legally married to an American citizen for over 10 years. Something's up.



Please. This is not a "racket." Okili and Sabrina have been active members of the community for many years. Many people know them, and also Sabrina's mother Farida, who all live here locally. I've known Okili for six years, starting when the United Africa Club helped with the production of the Harmony Festival's Saturday night dance party in 2003. Okili is a great man who has done many things for our community. It's a complete outrage that he has been torn away from his family like this.

[Sabrina]

Dynamique,

At first you sound right on defending what you meant by "racket" which is true, a waste of tax dollars, etc. - these kinds of wasteful items actually make our system somewhat untrustworthy, so I would urge you to actually read through all my posts thoroughly to see that our system has been completely unfair to us (thus wastefully untrustworthy).

But in your second part of your post, I see that you did not read my post properly at all, because my husband DID enter the country legally and there are some very rigid and inhumane laws in place that make it very difficult to apply, which I'm sure you have no idea about unless you've been closely connected somehow with an immigrant. I don't know where you get the idea there is baggage that makes him not a candidate for citizenship. He has NEVER committed a crime, and were he legal, he has been a better model citizen than most legal American citizens (founded a non profit, has run a few business', filed / paid taxes every single year, is a present father with two children, and still married (unlike many marriages in America) to me his LEGAL wife since Dec. 22, 1987 (way more than 10 years - do the math). You say, "(we are told) he's been legally married to an American". Dynamique, I am the one telling you; his wife. Would you like to see the documents? Do you have any humanitarian values, Dynamique? Do you think that my husband and my American children (born here) ages 17 and 21 should all be separated? Should we be forced to uprout our lives to leave the USA minimum 10 years if we want to stay together? Why don't you put your self in our position and see how it feels? I do not like your careless attitude, and I will speak up about it.



The "racket" I was referring to is the corporate prison and/or prison canteen that essentially forces the friends/families of those incarcerated to pay money so they can get enough food and other necessities. And yes, there has been an egregious waste of taxpayer funds in how this has been handled.

On the other hand... this Okili fellow may be a great guy and all, but he did come to this country illegally and apparently has some history/baggage that makes him not a candidate for citizenship even though (we are told) he has been legally married to an American citizen for over 10 years. Something's up.

["Mad" Miles]

but he did come to this country illegally

Dynamique,

You have not read carefully. Okili came here LEGALLY, on a student visa.

Please be careful before you slander my good friend.

If you've done half what Okili has done to improve our community, you should have the right to live anywhere in the world you choose.

Why his case has been held up has not been made public by Sabrina. I assume for reasons of privacy and legal strategy.

As she recently wrote, the immigration laws are some of the most cold-hearted and written in stone that we have.

This thread is not the place to debate immigration. It is about helping our friend and neighbor. Take your doubts and snark to another thread if that's what you want to do.

And if a debate on immigration is your interest, search this board first. The issue, in most of its permutations and combinations, has been well reviewed and debated on waccobb already.

"Mad" Miles

:burngrnbounce:

[djmama]

This is a great board for debate, which works best when participants actually know what they're talking about. Like Miles, I know this family, and find it painful to see comments inferring that there is something nefarious going on. Okili is a kind and generous man, and for him to be in prison facing deportation is an outrage. I think of him as a missionary from the Congo, here to teach - by example - how tribal peoples celebrate life and death. His presence in our community has a civilizing effect on those who choose to notice.

His wife's postings indicate that he overstayed a student visa many years ago, and that that infraction cost him his chance at citizenship - also that there is a class action suit for which he qualifies that may reverse that. But while all this is sorted out, it is crucial that he not be deported, otherwise, it could be a decade before he can return, if at all.

Regarding the point about prisoners needing to pay for basics - I know this to be true. My nephew is incarcerated in Nevada, and has to pay for clothes and bedding to keep him warm during the winter; he has an abscessed tooth and wasn't allowed to see a dentist until he had money to pay; the ACLU won a suit about the food being substandard and inadequate, but as soon as the publicity died down, the food went back to what it had been before - inedible - so he has to pay for basic nutrition.

By the way, he is innocent; so, Dynamique, before you assume that he deserves this treatment because...well, he is in prison...please consider that a) innocents go to prison every day and b) guilty or innocent, a humane society treats prisoners humanely - all of them.

[Dynamique]

Coming to this country on a student visa, which is a short-term visa and everyone knows it, and then staying after it expires and after being asked to leave is being in the country illegally. So yes, he was here legally when he stepped off the airplane, but when he stayed after the student visa expired, he became an illegal alien. That's a nit-picky point and you know it.

Nobody has the right to live anywhere in the world he or she chooses. Like it or not, that's just the way it is. All countries have borders and immigration policies/procedures for a number of reasons.

All I'm saying here is that there is more to the story than we're hearing and something smells fishy. If there were not a problem, this person would be a legal resident alien or a naturalized citizen by now and not in an immigration jail awaiting deportation.

Another eyebrow-raiser is the flotilla of ICE agents tailing him from Northern Calif. to Arizona. This is not something that any government agency would do for no reason and without authorization. It sounds like they had him under physical surveillance and possibly he had been told not to leave the area. Why?

You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to piece this together. Just because I'm skeptical and not jumping on the hand-wringing bandwagon and handing out fluffy towels to cry on does not make me heartless. The emotional drama-fest and scarcity of analytical thinking that is so pervasive on this board is seriously tiresome.

Here's another reality that you're not going to like: 98% of the time, people make their own problems. This Okili dude started digging his own pit when he stayed in the U.S. after his student visa expired and refused to leave when asked. Whether or not he's a nice guy or a great drum player or whatever does not matter. He violated our laws and he knew it.



Dynamique,

You have not read carefully. Okili came here LEGALLY, on a student visa.

Please be careful before you slander my good friend.

If you've done half what Okili has done to improve our community, you should have the right to live anywhere in the world you choose.

Why his case has been held up has not been made public by Sabrina. I assume for reasons of privacy and legal strategy.

As she recently wrote, the immigration laws are some of the most cold-hearted and written in stone that we have.

This thread is not the place to debate immigration. It is about helping our friend and neighbor. Take your doubts and snark to another thread if that's what you want to do.

And if a debate on immigration is your interest, search this board first. The issue, in most of its permutations and combinations, has been well reviewed and debated on waccobb already.

"Mad" Miles

:burngrnbounce:

[Valley Oak]

"Dynamique's" post should be taken a look at just in case it is inappropriate. The thread is regarding a fundraiser to help out a family in a desperate situation and this poster is debating that Okili's deportation is deserved. I think it needs to be made clear that if this is a community effort to urgently help a family then "debating" or defaming the situation or the family member(s) is not conducive to the effort. The criticisms undermine the effort.

Is this an urgent help campaign for a family in dire need or this another "debate" with mutual reproaches (whilst the effort is sidetracked). I think that any "debating" should be left to the attorney dealing with the authorities, the attorney that Sabrina has hired to represent her husband. We can come back later to announce what the judge said in favor or against Okili's case.

But right now, it is a campaign. This should not be a campaign held hostage to a hostile individual on the forum who feels that Okili should already be deported. The decision should be left to the courts, not to someone on this list (who is simultaneously sabotaging the community's efforts to help out Okili and his family). Kirsten's ("Dynamique") fragile, hurt ego is imposing itself on a humanitarian effort.

Thank you,

Edward

["Mad" Miles]

Another eyebrow-raiser is the flotilla of ICE agents tailing him from Northern Calif. to Arizona. This is not something that any government agency would do for no reason and without authorization. It sounds like they had him under physical surveillance and possibly he had been told not to leave the area. Why?

Dynamique,

Pace Edward/Valley Oak, who I completely agree with that you should not be allowed to highjack this thread which is about getting Okili returned to his family, friends and community,

BUT, the paragraph I've quoted above is proof positive that you are not paying attention and are grasping at straws to grind that axe you apparently hold so close and tight.

Okili was detained/arrested in Santa Rosa and shipped to a privately owned Immigration Department detention center in Arizona. The "flotilla" was the six agents in three cars who drove from San Francisco to snatch him up at his house (where he has lived openly and publicly for many years) in the Burbank Gardens neighborhood of Santa Rosa.

Casting aspersions and creating suspicious rumors based on an apparently willful misreading of what Sabrina has shared publicly, well...

(and here I am resisting saying what I really think of you based on your pattern of posts not only on this thread but on waccobb in general, you are on my ignore list, it's just that since Okili is my friend and I care deeply about his welfare and his return to us that I've opened your posts on this thread)

it would be a violation of the conscious rules of this board for me to tell you what I really think of you.

But let this suffice:

Go Away!!!

Spread your poison elsewhere!

You are not helping and your comments are destructive and hurtful to those already traumatized by this official act of idiotic misjustice.

"Mad" Miles

(And here the "Mad" means really, really pissed off!)

:burngrnbounce:

[MsTerry]

Well, what a wacco world this is.
We have so many victims in this thread.
There is of course the MadMan (without his english men,) forced to stop ignoring Dynamique and trying to divert the thread into a personal vendetta.
There is a poor foreign student who overstays his welcome for more than 20 years and is being called on it.
There is the wife, who married a foreigner and never bothered to legalize her new found love in all those years.
And then there is the community who now feels robbed from their valuable (but illegal) member
Maybe the IRS will come looking too, if he was here illegal, he musn't have been able to pay much tax either.
How about his kids? Have they lived all these years in fear that their father would be deported?
Urgent help is needed, but for whom?

[djmama]

As my former hairdresser said, "Never wrestle with a pig. You'll get all mucky, and the pig likes it."

[MsTerry]

Okili is a kind and generous man, and for him to be in prison facing deportation is an outrage.
He might be a kind man, but he has been extremely generous in overstaying his welcome.
He is in prison for breaking the law, in fact he has been breaking the law for almost 28 years.


I think of him as a missionary from the Congo, here to teach - by example - how tribal peoples celebrate life and death. His presence in our community has a civilizing effect on those who choose to notice.
Ignoring immigration law is not exactly being a great example, nor is it very civil


His wife's postings indicate that he overstayed a student visa many years ago, and that that infraction cost him his chance at citizenship - also that there is a class action suit for which he qualifies that may reverse that.
Even it was an infraction, are you implying that he wasn't aware that he was here illegally?



By the way, he is innocent; so, Dynamique, before you assume that he deserves this treatment because...well, he is in prison...please consider that a) innocents go to prison every day and b) guilty or innocent, a humane society treats prisoners humanely - all of them.
This is kind of strange, you just admitted that he was guilty of an infraction. :hmmm:
Breaking the law means you're innocent now??? :hmmm:

[Valley Oak]

This is more of the same from yet another poster (another troll) and I am very confident that the best thing to do is to create definitions and establish statuses for different campaigns.

There can be a "Regular Campaign" status and an "Official Wacco Campaign" status, publicly endorsed by the list owner or simply by the Wacco BB. A regular campaign is one that anyone can start out of their fee will. But an Official Wacco Campaign has strict rules and regulations involving the participation and protection of the moderators, which among other things, prohibits debating the issue. An Official Campaign has penalties for those who do not respect the rules (e.g. warnings and expulsions). The definitions of campaign statuses should be published ahead of time in a permanent area of the list where subscribers can go to be informed.

I very strongly recommend that a set of rules such as these be put in place as soon as possible. As the clock ticks, there is more damage being done to the campaign. Time is of the essence.

Thank you,

Edward



He might be a kind man, but he has been extremely generous in overstaying his welcome.
He is in prison for breaking the law, in fact he has been breaking the law for almost 28 years.


Ignoring immigration law is not exactly being a great example, nor is it very civil

Even it was an infraction, are you implying that he wasn't aware that he was here illegally?


This is kind of strange, you just admitted that he was guilty of an infraction. :hmmm:
Breaking the law means you're innocent now??? :hmmm:

[Sabrina]

I looked at this woman's profile and she clearly keeps her self very private as to who she is, but yet has made nearly thousands of replies, responses, posts on wacco. Her profile says her real name is Kim Kom (as in king kong) and her age is 97 - now 98 born in 1911. I would request that there be something to do to stop people like her and Dynamique (Profile says her name is Kim B. another mystery person) that clearly are not interested in what's going on in our family or the concern of the community but are only interested in hurting us, for no known reason. I know that we are very visible and they may know us in the street, but I have no idea who they are and why they have a vendetta against us. These people are obviously cowards and will not show their true faces; yet leave me feeling vulnerable with the visibility that is absolutely necessary for us to keep our family toghether.

My family is asking for help, and I think I've been as clear as possible about what's been going on with us legally and why I've not been able to make my husband legal. I should not have to waste my time arguing with people who either can't take the time to actually read my posts before they make false accusations, or they actually don't know how to comprehend English, about the stonewall reality of our situation. Probably by Monday we will have an update again of the situation, and I really appreciate all the love that has come through in far more ways than financial. But it only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole bunch, and we really don't need any bad apples thrown into the mix right now.

Sabrina


Well, what a wacco world this is.
We have so many victims in this thread.
There is of course the MadMan (without his english men,) forced to stop ignoring Dynamique and trying to divert the thread into a personal vendetta.
There is a poor foreign student who overstays his welcome for more than 20 years and is being called on it.
There is the wife, who married a foreigner and never bothered to legalize her new found love in all those years.
And then there is the community who now feels robbed from their valuable (but illegal) member
Maybe the IRS will come looking too, if he was here illegal, he musn't have been able to pay much tax either.
How about his kids? Have they lived all these years in fear that their father would be deported?
Urgent help is needed, but for whom?

[Sabrina]

I don't know you and really wonder what you have out for and against my family? You clearly have not thoroughly red my posts, and are looking for something to fight about. This is extremely hurtful to me, even though I don't know you. It really hurts to see a complete stranger so ignorant and blatantly making mean spirited statements about my posts, and you can't even address me directly. Why are you even posting things here if you don't care about our situation. There are plenty of causes in the world and we certainly can't be involved with all of them that we care about. But this is clearly a cause you don't care about unless you have a personal dislike, jealousy, upset, or something with my family personally, and I don't even know who you are. Why are you hating on us? What have we done to you? This is not a debate, it is my family getting torn apart through a BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, and you, like most Americans, know nothing about our immigration system until you get closely involved with an immigrant.

Barry, what does the ignore option do? Cut them from the thread?


He might be a kind man, but he has been extremely generous in overstaying his welcome.
He is in prison for breaking the law, in fact he has been breaking the law for almost 28 years.


Ignoring immigration law is not exactly being a great example, nor is it very civil

Even it was an infraction, are you implying that he wasn't aware that he was here illegally?


This is kind of strange, you just admitted that he was guilty of an infraction. :hmmm:
Breaking the law means you're innocent now??? :hmmm:

[MsTerry]

Sabrina
Your post clearly show why you have such a hard time with facts.
Instead of trying to find the logic in my questions, you are trying to blame me and others through a barrage of unrelated emotions for the mistakes you and your husband made.
First of all your assumption that I don't know or understand the INS is so far from the truth, that it is beyond laughable.
I know of many cases either first hand or from hearsay.
They all have the same theme.
Either you follow the rules, or you are swimming upstream.
One lie and you're out.
Getting married 22 years ago to an American was a slamdunk for a green card.
For those who overstayed their welcome, most of them had to return home for a year and re-apply from their home country.
Nothing of these facts appear in your writings, so we have to conclude that you are not telling everything there is to know...............
You mentioned Amnesty.
Amnesty from what? The Amnesty you mentioned only gives him the right to reopen his case, BUT they will apply '09 rules to his case, and those aren't as friendly as '86 rules.
I know of several people who were sent back at the airport recently because they didn't get a visa.
The only place for them to apply for a visa was AT the airport......................



I don't know you and really wonder what you have out for and against my family? You clearly have not thoroughly red my posts, and are looking for something to fight about. This is extremely hurtful to me, even though I don't know you. It really hurts to see a complete stranger so ignorant and blatantly making mean spirited statements about my posts, and you can't even address me directly. Why are you even posting things here if you don't care about our situation. There are plenty of causes in the world and we certainly can't be involved with all of them that we care about. But this is clearly a cause you don't care about unless you have a personal dislike, jealousy, upset, or something with my family personally, and I don't even know who you are. Why are you hating on us? What have we done to you? This is not a debate, it is my family getting torn apart through a BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, and you, like most Americans, know nothing about our immigration system until you get closely involved with an immigrant.

Barry, what does the ignore option do? Cut them from the thread?

[MsTerry]

Mister Provocateur wants rules???????????????
Would they apply to you too?



I very strongly recommend that a set of rules such as these be put in place as soon as possible. As the clock ticks, there is more damage being done to the campaign. Time is of the essence.

Thank you,

Edward

[Barry]

On Mother's Day?? Can't you be nice on f*cking Mother's Day?

Ok, this has gone too far. Let's set a few things straight. First, "MsTerry" (as in "Mystery", get it?) is a guy living in Sebastopol. I imagine he is pretending to be a woman to add spice and sympathy to his trolling.

in addition to the standard motivation of trolls of not having the courage to take responsibility of the many unkind, heartless and trouble-making posts just to cause trouble (and get attention), I believe MsTerry also has his own immigration concerns. I believe he is living here illegally, as well. So it's quite ironic he would choose to create so much pain about this issue.

MsTerry does have a special, let us say, talent, for looking and finding things that make people uncomfortable and defensive. Perhaps a mis-step along the way or an unfortunate circumstance. He then seeks to cause as much pain as possible with this bit of "estimated truth", rather than holding it with compassion.

MsTerry, (I won't reveal your real name at this point), stop! You have made your points, now go away. That goes for you too, Dynamique. Don't push me, MsTerry. Since you seem to be so self righteous about immigration issues and honesty, I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I contacted the INS about your status...

Sabrina, please accept my apologies for this harassment. I would have stopped it earlier but I was traveling to and visiting my recently widowed mother. Okili is a very fine man that has clearly contributed many gifts to our community. My heart goes to you in this difficult struggle and I will be happy to help.

Is there anything else you'd like share with us? What help do you need? I will help you post the flyer and promote the benefit on WaccoBB.net.

[Scott McKeown]

Barry,

Has there been any consideration of requiring true identity in order to participate on waccobb?

Personally, I'm weary of people who launch destructive and mean-spirited attacks on their fellow community members as they cower behind their anonymity. Let's see who these people really are! Or, maybe there can be a special section where the trolls can have at it with each other and leave everyone else alone.

Can we run a poll on this?

Scott


On Mother's Day?? Can't you be nice on f*cking Mother's Day?

[theindependenteye]

>Has there been any consideration of requiring true identity in order to participate on waccobb?
>Personally, I'm weary of people who launch destructive and mean-spirited attacks on their fellow community members as they cower behind their anonymity. Let's see who these people really are! Or, maybe there can be a special section where the trolls can have at it with each other and leave everyone else alone.
>Can we run a poll on this?
>Scott

I would second Scott in feeling this is worth serious consideration. There are countless forums where one can be anonymous, whether to discuss serious relationship issues or to do political raving, But this forum is, above all, about community-building in the real world, not just in cyberspace, and it's hard for me to imagine what would be lost by being asked to take full responsibility for one's posts here.

I'm sure others may have a very different take on this, so I wonder, Barry, if you could establish this as a new thread?

Peace & joy—
Conrad

[Valley Oak]

I will support this only if it is mandatory for everyone. (This is just my opinion since I don't have authority, only the owner does.)

Edward


>Has there been any consideration of requiring true identity in order to participate on waccobb?
>Personally, I'm weary of people who launch destructive and mean-spirited attacks on their fellow community members as they cower behind their anonymity. Let's see who these people really are! Or, maybe there can be a special section where the trolls can have at it with each other and leave everyone else alone.
>Can we run a poll on this?
>Scott

I would second Scott in feeling this is worth serious consideration. There are countless forums where one can be anonymous, whether to discuss serious relationship issues or to do political raving, But this forum is, above all, about community-building in the real world, not just in cyberspace, and it's hard for me to imagine what would be lost by being asked to take full responsibility for one's posts here.

I'm sure others may have a very different take on this, so I wonder, Barry, if you could establish this as a new thread?

Peace & joy—
Conrad

[MsTerry]

I will support this only if it is mandatory for everyone. (This is just my opinion since I don't have authority, only the owner does.)

Edward

I agree!
Everybody who signs up should show at least 2 pieces of photo ID and a social security number! <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom align=middle><TD></TD><!-- END TEMPLATE: editor_smilie --><!-- BEGIN TEMPLATE: editor_smilie --><TD>:thumbsup:</TD><!-- END TEMPLATE: editor_smilie --></TR><!-- END TEMPLATE: editor_smiliebox_row --><TR><TD class=smallfont colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Dynamique]

Maybe it would be better to change the terms of use to prohibit the launching of destructive and mean-spirited attacks on fellow members. You get one warning; the second violation is cause for termination of membership. This is common on many boards, and a typical clause in the terms of use/guidelines is "civility is mandatory."

There are members who have told me that they do not participate or post because they do not want to be subjected to this sort of thing. Who can blame them! What kind of "community" is that?

When Barry conducted the poll a few months ago, I felt that a "hands off" approach was best. After what has happened on this thread, it seems that stronger terms of use are needed.



Personally, I'm weary of people who launch destructive and mean-spirited attacks on their fellow community members as they cower behind their anonymity.


On Mother's Day?? Can't you be nice on f*cking Mother's Day?

[Barry]

I have started a new thread: https://www.waccobb.net/forums/general-community/52927-requiring-true-identity-post-waccobb-net.html#post89316


>Has there been any consideration of requiring true identity in order to participate on waccobb?
>Personally, I'm weary of people who launch destructive and mean-spirited attacks on their fellow community members as they cower behind their anonymity. Let's see who these people really are! Or, maybe there can be a special section where the trolls can have at it with each other and leave everyone else alone.
>Can we run a poll on this?
>Scott

I would second Scott in feeling this is worth serious consideration. There are countless forums where one can be anonymous, whether to discuss serious relationship issues or to do political raving, But this forum is, above all, about community-building in the real world, not just in cyberspace, and it's hard for me to imagine what would be lost by being asked to take full responsibility for one's posts here.

I'm sure others may have a very different take on this, so I wonder, Barry, if you could establish this as a new thread?

Peace & joy—
Conrad

[Bruce Rhodes]

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Hi Sabrina,<o:p></o:p>
Glad to see that things are coming together. I have contacted Silverhawk Entertainment, whom have agreed to do the video taping, they would be able to use their high quality equiptment and will also do interviews for people who want to correspond with Okili. I am doing the meat with my Ducky’s Que smoker/cooker. I will have enough for 200+ people, chicken, beef and pork. I will also have some African Crafts that I can donate. <st1:personname w:st="on">Bruce Rhodes</st1:personname> 396-8063<o:p></o:p>


<o:p></o:p>

[Sabrina]

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CBRUCER%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ascii-font-family:Arial; mso-hansi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:navy;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Hi Sabrina,<o:p></o:p>
Glad to see that things are coming together. I have contacted Silverhawk Entertainment, whom have agreed to do the video taping, they would be able to use their high quality equiptment and will also do interviews for people who want to correspond with Okili. I am doing the meat with my Ducky’s Que smoker/cooker. I will have enough for 200+ people, chicken, beef and pork. I will also have some African Crafts that I can donate. <st1:personname w:st="on">Bruce Rhodes</st1:personname> 396-8063<o:p></o:p>

Yes! It is really wonderful how this community has come together! I am touched to tears! The good news is that tomorrow Okili has his first hearing right there in the detention center in AZ. It's actually a bond hearing and the lawyer is also making a motion for the govnmt. to dismiss the deportation. See the events listing for my little update on that. After the Hearing I'll continue to update everyone on what happened. Thanks, Sabrina

[capttankona]

After reading the article in todays Press Democrat and seeing the following quote, "When we lost that final appeal in 2000, we sought advice from Congresswoman (Lynn) Woolsey’s office and they told us there’s nothing to do until the administration changes," Krauss said. "It was our hope that things would change and we believed in that until the day they picked him off the street."

I can only ponder that the more things Change, the more they stay the same. It also makes me very happy that my Mother, Wife and Daughter took the time to enter this wonderful nation legally, so as not be caught up in a legal morass largely of their own creation.

[cathesw]

Can someone tell me what time this event starts? I'll be taking public transportation from Santa Rosa and getting a lift home from friends in Sebastopol.

["Mad" Miles]

Can someone tell me what time this event starts? I'll be taking public transportation from Santa Rosa and getting a lift home from friends in Sebastopol.


It starts at 7:00 p.m. (Doors Open)

The requested donation is $20 and there will be opportunities to donate more for: food, drink, and silent auction items. No one will be turned away as long as they can donate something.

Click on the attached file for the event leaflet. There is also a banner ad on this website for the event. If you want to go to a support website, which also has the leaflet copy, it's here: https://okili.chipin.com (https://okili.chipin.com/)

Whatever anyone thinks about the merits of Okili's case, this will be a kick-ass party! Great music, food, drink and especially people!!!

There is a reason Okili is so well-beloved, and that is because wherever he goes and whatever he does, it is a celebration of Life and Community.

So, please come, enjoy, celebrate and support this kind and loving man.

And if you (the person reading this, not cathesw who I am replying to) show up to tell us why he deserves what he is getting... Well, at the least I for one will politely, firmly and insistently ask you to take it elsewhere.

I read the comments on the PD site. What a cesspool. Sometimes I despair....

But right now we have no time for that. We want our friend back home!!!!!!!

"Mad" Miles

:burngrnbounce:

[Sabrina]

After reading the article in todays Press Democrat and seeing the following quote, "When we lost that final appeal in 2000, we sought advice from Congresswoman (Lynn) Woolsey’s office and they told us there’s nothing to do until the administration changes," Krauss said. "It was our hope that things would change and we believed in that until the day they picked him off the street."

I can only ponder that the more things Change, the more they stay the same. It also makes me very happy that my Mother, Wife and Daughter took the time to enter this wonderful nation legally, so as not be caught up in a legal morass largely of their own creation.

Just to remind you...if you read the stuff, he did enter the country legally. Things change; he wanted to change his status and that's where it all got messed up.

[Sabrina]

It starts at 7:00 p.m. (Doors Open)

The requested donation is $20 and there will be opportunities to donate more for: food, drink, and silent auction items. No one will be turned away as long as they can donate something.

Click on the attached file for the event leaflet. There is also a banner ad on this website for the event. If you want to go to a support website, which also has the leaflet copy, it's here: https://okili.chipin.com (https://okili.chipin.com/)

Whatever anyone thinks about the merits of Okili's case, this will be a kick-ass party! Great music, food, drink and especially people!!!

There is a reason Okili is so well-beloved, and that is because wherever he goes and whatever he does, it is a celebration of Life and Community.

So, please come, enjoy, celebrate and support this kind and loving man.

And if you (the person reading this, not cathesw who I am replying to) show up to tell us why he deserves what he is getting... Well, at the least I for one will politely, firmly and insistently ask you to take it elsewhere.

I read the comments on the PD site. What a cesspool. Sometimes I despair....

But right now we have no time for that. We want our friend back home!!!!!!!

"Mad" Miles

:burngrnbounce:

Thanks for posting this Miles!

["Mad" Miles]

Hey Waccies,

Just a short note on the Benefit to/last/night. It went amazingly well. Great turnout. A very pleasurable and celebratory time was had by all, at least as far as I could tell.

Truly a community effort, and everything ran smoothly without too much central authority on anyone's part.

The Village came together to support one of our own.

Sabrina, I'm confident, will have an update soon to apprise us of recent events.

Without stealing her thunder, I will say that Okili, and us, his loved ones, have a brief respite and some time to breath.

All is not lost but we must continue to focus our efforts to return him home to his family and friends.

If only all of human society could run as smoothly and with as much enthusiasm, spirit, and cooperation as we did last night.

Free Okili!

Bring Him Home!

"Mad" Miles

:burngrnbounce: