In a waterside house in Lakeland, Florida, Marven enjoys a joyful reunion with his sister Rochelle and biological mother Guerline, celebrating his 16th birthday after being apart for a decade. The family reflects on their journey amid the threat of being separated again due to impending immigration policy changes.
Stacey Nageli Angulo, who adopted Marven after he was orphaned in Haiti's 2010 earthquake, facilitated the reunion by helping Guerline and Rochelle travel to the U.S. three years ago as gang violence wreaked havoc in Haiti.
Now living legally in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the two women face potential deportation in February when TPS is set to expire, a consequence of U.S. immigration reforms initiated during the Trump administration.
Despite the warmth and joy of their recent get-together, a sense of looming dread hangs over the family as they grapple with the fear of returning to Haiti where violence is rampant, including kidnappings and gang-related crimes that have displaced many residents.
Rochelle, now 21, expresses her fears stemming from experiences of schoolmates being kidnapped in Haiti, while both she and Guerline are haunted by the daily realities of life in their home country. Meanwhile, Marven claims his life feels fuller now that he has reunited with his biological family, highlighting the crucial connection and love that ties them together.
As TPS nears its expiration, the U.S. government maintains that conditions in Haiti have improved enough for a return, despite contradicting warnings about the safety situation by the U.S. Department of State. The upcoming decision could drastically alter the lives of Marven, Rochelle, and Guerline, sending them back to a situation they fled with hopes for a better life.
