A tribute to warrior moms in courtroom dramas

MAMA LAURA, 85, almost passed out on the witness stand. Her son Benito had been her caregiver for the last 10 years and the US Department of Homeland Security wanted him deported. All of Mama Laura’s children were in the United States. Only Benito was facing deportation proceedings.

Benito was found to have entered the United States with an assumed name and so was facing charges of fraud and misrepresentation. The petition for his residency visa filed by Mama Laura was denied.

Mama Laura suffers from diabetes and requires regular treatment. But she was there, ready to testify at Benito’s deportation hearing.

While Benito was testifying in court, Mama Laura was weeping and praying the rosary. When it was her turn to testify, she burst into tears and pleaded with the court not to deport her son. She explained that if Benito were ordered deported to the Philippines, she would go with him—even if it meant giving up her health insurance.

At the sight of his 85-year old mother weeping in the witness, Benito broke down. He also became emotional and yelled for his mom to step down from the stand, loudly castigating himself for making his mother go through such an ordeal. He expressed remorse for entering the United States with an assumed name and asked the Judge to just render a decision.

The immigration judge called for a recess to allow the parties to calm down. Later, the case proceeded and Mama Laura insisted that she continue her testimony. She said, “I cannot afford to be without my child by my side when I die. I may have my other children with me but knowing that I have one child who is alone in the Philippines will be unbearable for me. If this court orders my son deported, and since I cannot bear to live without one of my children away from me, I shall be deported with him.”

The judge eventually rendered a decision dismissing the deportation proceedings and allowing Benito the chance to stay in the United States. Two months later, Mama Laura died peacefully.

In another case of a mother-witness in court, Alma forced herself out of her hospital bed to testify on behalf of her spouse. They have been married for 10 years. Their only child, Cherry, suffers from autism.

Since Alma suffers from a debilitating disease and was given only a few months to live, she was fearful that her spouse would be sent back to the Philippines. She had herself wheeled to court. She pleaded for mercy. She asked the court not to deport her husband for the sake of their only child.

In yet another case, 89-year-old Elena went to court in a wheel chair to attend the deportation hearings of her son Johnny, 55.

Johnny was undergoing the proceedings because his wife, Sofia, had withheld her petition for him after a quarrel. They eventually reconciled and Sofia was at the hearing to push through with her petition.

Mommy Elena was not really needed at the court but she went anyway to make sure that Sofia would not fail her son. Outside the courtroom you could hear Mommy Elena was weeping and admonishing Sofia to maintain her affection for Johnny. It was her wish that before she passed away, Johnny’s immigration status would be legalized.

When physical separation of parents and children is forced through removal or deportation, the impact is severely distressing to family members, most especially to a mother. Not much convincing is required to get mothers to give whatever help is needed during these times—even if it means getting up from a hospital bed to go to court.

It is amazing to witness these warrior moms, especially those in their twilight years, who brave legal storms in order to give defense to their children. The mothers of all these immigrants in distressed situations all manifested the extent of their love for their children.

Mothers deserve our love, too. Mother’s day should not just be once a year. We should pay homage everyday to that person who matters most to us. Happy Mother’s Day to my Mommy Nor and to all the courageous mothers who have sacrificed, fought for and continue to protect their children.

(Tancinco may be reached at [email protected] or at 887 7177 or 721 1963)