Local Haitian family facing deportation despite legal status
Marie Guerty Aristilde, her daughter and a cousin are facing deportation. The family arrived in Wooster nearly a year ago after legally immigrating from Haiti to escape gang violence and reunite with Aristilde’s two adult children and two grandchildren who live nearby.
Submitted
In the wake of a surge in deportations nationwide, a Wooster family — here legally — is now facing imminent removal from the United States. Marie Guerty Aristilde, her 17-year-old daughter Edmie, a senior at Wooster High School, and a 16-year-old cousin, Socrates, a freshman at Wooster, have been ordered to leave the country by April 24.
The family arrived nearly a year ago after legally immigrating from Haiti to escape gang violence and reunite with Aristilde’s two adult children and two grandchildren who live nearby. Socrates had planned to join his mother in New Jersey, where she is currently working on his asylum application.
“I came to this country for a better and a safer life and also to be closer to my children,” said Aristilde, who works locally, pays taxes and contributes to Social Security. “I escaped my village after gangs invaded it and took over and killed so many people. I had to leave everything I had behind.”
Local attorney, Wooster City Council member and immigration advocate Barbara Knapic sponsored the family’s move and helped facilitate their legal entry.
“It was more than a year’s process (to get them here),” Knapic said. “They are just thrilled and feel so lucky to be here, like all of our ancestors. ... They are not criminals. Despite (President Donald) Trump’s campaign promise to get rid of criminals, they are not criminals — never have been.”
Knapic said the only remaining option is to file for asylum, but even that carries no guarantees.
“They are certainly on the clock,” she said. “They are definitely in danger of being forcibly removed.”
Aristilde, she said, has nowhere to return to. Gangs have taken her home, and if deported, the family will face almost certain violence.
“They will (likely) be persecuted by gangs and conscripted,” Knapic said. “Edmie is a beautiful young lady, and I hate to think what the gangs will do to her. Socrates will surely be conscripted into the gangs.
“This should be of great concern to the community,” Knapic added, “because this is about humanity. They are immigrants, but here legally and contributing to our American economy and culture — just like every one of our ancestors, unless you are Native American.”
