#ReuniteUS WhatsApp FAQs

For a video recording in English, click here.

What is the #ReuniteUS WhatsApp group?

This is a group for people who were deported from the United States, or left the United States before being deported, and want to come back to the US.

This group is mainly for people who lived in the United States before being deported. If you never lived in the United States, but were deported directly from immigration jail, there is another WhatsApp group that you can join. It is called #Freedom4US. If you want to join that group, we can get you the link.

Why are you interviewing us?

We are creating a list of people in this group and collecting basic information about you. We want to know if you have a lawyer already, because we will work with your lawyer if you have one. We also want to know more about you and your family and your background, and to see if you are willing to speak publicly about your situation.

What happens next?

We are NOT able to get lawyers for everyone who needs one. If you have a lawyer, please work with your lawyer to discuss any applications you can make to come back to the United States. 

If you are not living in a safe place, please keep trying to contact help and get to safety. We cannot help get you to a safe place. We are very sorry, but that is outside of our abilities. 

So what CAN you do?

We are based in the United States and have experience advocating for the US government to change its policies. President Biden can make some changes to allow people who were deported to come back. Other changes need to be approved by Congress.

We are creating a pressure campaign to get President Biden and Congress to change policies and allow more people who were deported to come back. 

This will not take a few months. This will take a few YEARS, or more. 

And, it will start with a few people coming back to the United States whose stories will be publicized in the media. This is how the pressure campaign works. It’s like electing a president and then electing him or her again and again. It’s how policy change happens in the US. 

How can we help ourselves get back to the United States?

To be more successful in coming back to the United States, you will do as much as you can before asking for our help. Remember that over 200 people are part of this group, and hundreds of thousands of people want to come back to the United States. You can improve your chances of coming home if you gather your papers and hire a lawyer on your own. 

We know everyone cannot do this or find someone to help them. 

Either way, you need to gather all of the papers about your immigration case. When you have them, let Maryam know. Please try very hard and ask your family in the United States to look for everything they can find. 

If you cannot find your immigration paperwork, let Maryam know. Do not call her. Send her an individual message on WhatsApp. It may take up to 4 weeks for her to respond. Please wait.

If you have a lawyer, talk to him or her about returning to the United States. If they say that they need more money to help you, contact Maryam on WhatsApp. It may take up to 4 weeks for her to respond. 

What else can we do?

The way the US system works, President Biden needs to feel pressure to allow deported people to come back. He will not do this simply because it is the correct thing to do. He is worried about his opponents criticizing him. So, he has to fear our criticisms more than those of his opponents. 

I’m so sorry, but we have to show him the pain of family separation.You have seen the families at the US southern border be allowed to return. That is because their pain was exposed to the public and the public pressured Biden to allow them to come back.

If you are willing to share your story with the public, you can record a video or audio message about your experiences and your desire to come back to the United States. 

You can be anonymous or use a fake name. The important part is to tell your story. If you are willing to share photos that is very helpful. American people feel more compassion when they see photos of other people. It helps them to see our shared humanity. Even if you send us a photo, you don’t have to use your real name. You can tell us what we can and cannot do, and we will always follow your instructions.  

The most important thing is for you and your family to be safe. Please do not do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Will I be able to come back to the United States?

The answer is up to you, us, God, and the Biden administration. 

The Biden administration has the power to say yes or no. YOU have power too. Gather your papers. Tell your story to the public. 

Our role is that we understand how the US system works. When I say  “our’ I mean me, Maryam, and the lawyers. If you have adult children who are willing to join our group and be public advocates for you, please let us know. They will be very influential to the US people if they speak out publicly. 

If you have a criminal record that involves murder, rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, major drug trafficking, some aggravated felonies or other aggressive acts that threaten another person, your chance of return are lower. Do what you can to be safe.

Everyone should gather their immigration papers, participate in our group on WhatsApp, and show kindness to other people.

We are fighting for you, but you have to fight just as hard and harder. We love you and are grateful to know you in this #ReuniteUS journey.

Together, we can make the US live up to its promise of being the best country in the world.