Trek.pub Trekking around the net
Related Articles
On Father’s Day, Cecelia Lizotte, owner of Boston’s West African restaurant Suya Joint, faced a crisis when her brother, Paul Dama, was detained by ICE on his way to church. Dama, a Nigerian asylum seeker, had previously escaped kidnapping by Boko Haram in 2018 and came to the U.S. in 2019. He had applied for asylum and held a valid work permit, but was considered living illegally due to a violation of visa terms, according to ICE.
Lizotte, who felt a devastating sense of loss upon Dama’s detention, began to prepare for a bond and asylum hearing amid the chaos of managing her restaurant without a key employee. Fundraising efforts swiftly garnered $32,000 for his legal expenses, highlighting community support, including statements from local politicians and individuals he had helped.
Dama, who had previously struggled with legal issues—which now made him vulnerable to immigration enforcement—was losing hope as his bond hearing was denied. Lizotte, emotionally drained, found it hard to balance her responsibilities as she navigated her brother’s situation while maintaining her restaurant and caring for her family.
Despite her challenges, Lizotte clung to hope, as plans for a celebratory event—dubbed “Freedom”—if both she and Dama were able to reunite one day. The story underscores not only personal anguish but also the broader implications of immigration policies on familial ties.
Continue reading this Trek here:
He Fled Boko Haram and Helped Build an Award-Winning Restaurant. Now He’s Facing Deportation.
