Held Hostage in the Bahamas : Rediscovering Home

Held Hostage in the Bahamas is one woman's difficult struggle to obtain her permanent resident card. After living in the United States for twenty-six years, as an undocumented alien. She must now return to her country of birth to receive that sought after Permanent Resident Green Card. Things take an unexpected turn for the worse when she arrives in the Bahamas. Her privileges to return to the United States are denied by Homeland Security, She is faced with the prospect of dealing with the red tape of our immigration system. She struggled with the separation from a loving husband and three children. Disconnected from her life in New York and the financial loss of her Child Care Business, she has to endure the shame of having to depend on her family to support her for more than ten months. She takes her anger, sadness, and misfortunes and turned them into rejoicing. She moved beyond her situation to get to know the family and home she had been running away from for so long. She gained a deeper understanding of the verse in Hebrews 13:5b, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," making her more aware of how much God is in control of her life.

I heard my name called from window one and my legs began to shake because it seemed that everyone who had gone to that window, were turned down. I said a silent prayer that God would be in control and not man. I went to window number one and (Mr. Paul), an interviewer, asked for the forms that (Mrs. Scott) had given me. I gave them to him and he began to question me. "When did you leave the Bahamas ?" " July 2 nd 1978. " "Why did you not return when your student visa was up? "I had a job." "That's twenty-six years right? "You stayed illegally in the United States? "Yes." "You were working?" "Yes." He kept the questions coming. I felt that this interview was not going well. I began to sweat as he continued to question me and was on the verge of tears. "You had children while in the United States?" "Yes, I have three children born in the United States. " He kept punching information into the computer. I said to myself why is he so angry. He acts as if I had done an injustice to him by staying in the United States for twenty-six years as an undocumented alien."Wait a second." I waited as he pulled a sheet of paper out of the printer and handed it to me. It read, " Reentry to the United States was denied ." and he stamped something in my passport.THE FOREIGN SERVICEOF THEUNITED STATES OF AMERICA