As the holidays approach, many of the immigrant youth that CAIR Coalition serves are filled with mixed emotions. These children have all recently crossed the border unaccompanied by a parent or guardian. After escaping danger, abuse and abandonment in their native countries, many of these children are simply relieved to be safe. Despite what they have suffered, though, many immigrant youth carry with them the warm memories they can preserve from their childhoods - holiday traditions and cultural rituals that have meaning for them. About to spend their first Christmas in the United States, many are anticipating celebrating the holidays in detention, or with family sponsors they are meeting for the first time. Deb Searfoss, Legal Assistant for the Detained Children’s Program, asked some of the children – both detained and released – about their favorite Christmas traditions and their wishes and feelings this holiday season.
As we reflect during this time of year, CAIR Coalition staff is thankful to work with such wonderful and inspiring immigrant children. We are also thankful for all of you – our terrific friends, donors and volunteers who make our work possible. We hope you enjoy the children's thoughts and reflections as much as we did. (Each of the children's names have been changed to protect their privacy.)
What are some holiday traditions in your home country?
Geovanny (Honduras, 18 years old): We have a posada, a celebration that commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. We celebrate posada on the 24th of December by having a big party with friends and family. We prepare asado (barbeque) and set up our Christmas tree and the nativity scene with donkeys and the wise men.
Tadesse (Ethiopia, 17 years old): My family and I go to church on Christmas. We also have a big Christmas tree and make a special chicken for dinner called doro wat. It’s really good!
Ezar (Guatemala, 18 years old): On Christmas Eve, everyone in my country shoots off fireworks at midnight. We do the same thing for New Year’s Eve. My family makes chochitos, which are like Mexican tamales.
Will (Honduras, 17 years old): In my country we eat tamales and bread. My family and I put up a Christmas tree and out of barro, (clay), we make all the animals for the nativity scene. We put corn, beans, and maize and whatever crops we cultivated that year in our scene as a thank you to Jesus.
Jhana (Honduras, 17 years old): We do a family dinner and shoot fireworks all night. On the 24th of December we have a huge party in the streets of our neighborhood. My family makes tamales and we eat rosquillas de miel (honey glazed donuts), platanos with honey, and roasted chicken.
Mayreli (Honduras, 17 years old): My family has a huge party with roasted chicken and tamales; sometimes we even eat pork. We play amigo invisible (secret Santa), we dance all night and at midnight, my cousins and friends shoot off fireworks.
Glendy (Guatemala): If my family has money to celebrate Christmas, we eat tamales and shoot fireworks. On December 24th in Guatemala, everyone in my town burns their trash at midnight in honor of Jesus being born.
What is your Christmas wish?
Geovanny: I have many wishes, but my main one is to get my T-Visa. Also, I want everyone to be happy, especially my friends and family. I know it is hard during the holidays to be away from those we love.
Tadesse: A small wish I have is for clothes. My big Christmas wish is to be given the chance to go to college here in the United States- that is my one BIG wish.
Will: My wish is that God will take care of me and my family and all those around me.
Jhana: My wish would have been that my baby’s father could be with us; unfortunately he was recently deported to Honduras.
Mayreli: My wish is to have success in my studies… and to fall in love.
Elizabeth (El Salvador, 16 years old): To be reunited with my family.
Jose (Guatemala, 15 years old: I would like some clothes and shoes.
Since this is your first holiday in the United States, what are you most excited about?
Geovanny: Honestly, sometimes I am happy to be here and sometimes I am sad because I miss my friends and my family, especially my parents. Things are very different here in the United States, but I know it will be a good Christmas.
Tadesse: Presents!
Ezar: I am not that excited, I miss my mother a lot. I am sad they are not here to celebrate it with me. Christmas will be very different here. In Guatemala I got to shoot off fireworks, but I think in Maryland we are not allowed to do that.
Jhana: I am very excited that this is my first Christmas with my parents. I cannot even remember the last time I spent Christmas with them, because they came to the U.S. when I was a baby. This year, we will all spend it together as a family, have a nice dinner and give thanks for all the blessings my family has had this year (Jhana and her father were granted asylum just a few weeks ago).
Mayreli: I hope I will leave the shelter and get to be with my mother for Christmas. The last Christmas we spent together was when I was about 5 years old. I barely remember it. I cannot wait to be with her again!
Is this your first time seeing snow? Do you like it?
Geovanny: We have not had snow yet in South Carolina. It snowed a little the other day, but it didn’t stick. It is very cold and I like it when I am bundled up well!
Tadesse: I like the snow a lot; it is fun to play in!
Ezar: This is my first time in snow – I do not like it at all!
Will: I love the snow, it is so pretty! I had never seen snow before.
Jhana: This is the first time I see snow and I like it. My baby loves the snow, she loves playing in the snow!
Mayreli: This is the first time I have seen snow, I love it. It is SUPER!
Glendy: This is my first time seeing snow – it is so beautiful. I didn’t think it would feel that cold.
While we may not be able to make all of these wishes come true, we can, at the very least, ensure that all of the children we serve have access to kind, competent legal counsel to help them navigate the complexities of immigration court. For many children, this will make the difference between being forced to return home to a life threatening situation and remaining in the United States with hope for the future. Please consider making an end of year donation to CAIR Coalition to help us continue to make a difference.
Wishing you and your family Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year!
The staff of CAIR Coalition
