July 14, 2012|By Erika Pesantes, Sun Sentinel
POMPANO BEACH — — Before their baby's birth, Julia Longwell's husband could be deported to Honduras for being in the country illegally. It's a frightening possibility for the 31-year-old mother.
Eight months pregnant and with a 2-year-old in tow, a teary-eyed Longwell stood outside the Broward Transitional Center, where her husband is detained. She tried to share her story over a bullhorn in broken Spanish.
She was too emotional to talk during the protest organized by DreamActivist Florida. The crowd applauded in support.
About 50 protesters spoke out against the detainment of loved ones who are in the country illegally, but otherwise have no criminal record. A more lenient immigration policy issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton offers illegal immigrants a chance to stay.
It allows the federal agency discretion to prosecute those who are not considered a threat.
Longwell and German Lopez Martinez married in 2009, and lawyers advised the Lake Worth couple to "live under the radar," even though Longwell is an American citizen.
Shortly after crossing the Mexican border, Martinez failed to appear in court and pay traffic tickets. He was eventually picked up by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in February, Longwell said.
"Obviously, I need my husband," she said, "It's totally overwhelming. I worry about worrying because stress is bad when you're pregnant. I have very little support."
But strangers united in the struggle against the looming deportation of family members faced the Pompano Beach detention center and chanted "Undocumented! Unafraid!"
They also held signs that said "Why is my dad being deported?" and "Detainment and deportation destroy families."
Carlos Acuña, an American citizen and native of Peru, spoke about his wife's detainment two weeks ago. ICE agents showed up at her job where she assembles electronics and took her away, he said.
She sought political asylum from President Hugo Chavez's regime in Venezuela. The couple married in 2010 and hoped to establish her legal status.
"Our future is uncertain," said Acuña, of Largo, in the Tampa Bay area. He fears his wife, Maria Leon Gonzalez, 50, is losing hope.
"I told her, 'you cannot swim an ocean and drown in the beach,'" he said. "The only thing we have is faith and hope Obama comes through with his promise."
Acuña and fellow supporters yelled with steadfast determination toward the detention center: "Free Maria! Free Maria!"
He held an enlarged portrait of himself and his wife in matching white shirts and jeans by a lake.
Vividiana Martinez, a volunteer with DreamActivist Florida, led the rally, pumped up the crowd and encouraged family members to share their stories.
The occasional honk by passing drivers punctuated protesters' pleas.