August - Reunited at Last
In 2014, Deborah Jane Balirane, an acid attack survivor, was forced to flee her home in Uganda, traveling to Kenya to escape from her attackers and receive treatment. Deborah was accepted to be resettled to the United States and in January of 2016, Deborah moved to Columbus, Ohio. This painful journey separated Deborah and her four children who were unable to flee with her. Finally, mother and children have been reunited: on June 24th 2019, Carol, Cynthia, Cuthbert, and Claudia joined their mother here in Columbus. It was a long and difficult process, but thanks to Deborah’s determination and resilience, and the amazing community that has gathered behind her in support, the family was finally reunited.
Prior to Deborah’s arrival in the U.S., CRIS worked with the Kelleher family to arrange a place for Deborah to stay during her first few days in the country. Deborah and the Kellehers quickly grew close, and they became her host family for the next seven months. Deborah required immediate medical attention upon her arrival, and the CRIS Wellness Program worked tirelessly to address her needs; since arriving in the United States, Deborah has had over 18 surgeries to reduce scars from the attack.
Soon after arriving, Deborah worked with CRIS Executive Director Angie Plummer to complete Following to Join immigration applications for her children, which were submitted that May. However, despite being preliminarily approved in January of 2017, the process was disrupted and prolonged after President Trump took office. His administration changed many aspects of how Following to Join Refugee cases are handled, initially halting all of these cases from further processing, including Deborah’s children. As frustrating as this was, Deborah did not give up; she continued fighting for her children. She had multiple meetings with staff at local elected officials’ offices, she was supported by Church World Service to travel to Washington D.C. on two separate occasions to share her story and self-advocate, and she talked with different media outlets to help her story reach a wider audience. Deborah also spoke about her situation at the 2018 CRIS 5K to encourage the Central Ohio community to take action on behalf of refugees.
Having heard her story on multiple occasions, many felt compelled to support Deborah, standing with her and advocating for her children. Her host family, the Kellehers, continued to support and advocate for Deborah in many ways, and Senator Portman’s office was able to work closely with Deborah. To improve her public speaking skills, Deborah joined the Refugee Speakers Bureau at CRIS, where she worked closely with CRIS staff and a communications professor at Otterbein University.
CRIS also connected Deborah to the Refugee Task Force at First Community Church, a volunteer-based group that provides support and resources for many refugees around Central Ohio. The group worked to share her story amongst their congregation, and over fifteen members signed a letter pushing the U.S. embassy in Kenya to take action on her children’s case. This spring, the Refugee Task Force helped Deborah find sustainable housing and a better job. In the weeks leading up to the arrival of the children, volunteers worked tirelessly to help Deborah prepare - buying household necessities, going grocery shopping, and getting the apartment ready for the family. Even after their arrival, the Refugee Task Force continues to stay connected with the family and provide support - volunteers meet with Cynthia, Claudia, and Cuthbert once a week as they prepare for school. The Refugee Task Force, First Community Church, and so many more community members were instrumental in reuniting Deborah with her children. It has been incredibly inspiring to see the way the community has come together around Deborah, cheering and advocating for her the entire time. The amazing generosity and perseverance made for a beautiful family reunion filled with love and happiness.
However, in the midst of such a heartwarming story, many at CRIS feel conflicted. As CRIS Executive Director Angie Plummer reflected on Deborah’s story, she acknowledged that so many of the families with whom she works are still waiting. The process for Deborah was long, difficult and exhausting - and this was just one case, reuniting four children with their mother, something that should not and did not use to be complicated. What about those who don’t have an amazing support system like Deborah? What about all the families who don’t have the resources to make their story known? What about those families who aren’t fluent in English and able to immediately advocate without an interpreter? Every one of these separated families should be together.
If we want to see positive change, we need intentional actions:
Call your Members of Congress, and urge them to take action, seeking accountability for a system that is not working
Write a letter of support to your elected officials supporting refugee/immigrant rights to your letting them know that this prolonged family separation is unacceptable.
Donate and volunteer at CRIS.
Participate in the annual CRIS 5K Run for Refugees
Make your voice heard!