This Is What Neighbors Do
The Jassos are facing ICE threats and a devastating diagnosis — here's how our community can show up
Friends,
Once again, I’m here to put out a call for support for a member of our community who has been targeted by ICE.
TLDR: An Evanston family needs help. Click here to give to their GoFundMe, or here to support their Amazon Gift List.
The Evanston Roundtable this week reported on the story of Francisca and Francisco Jasso, a couple who came to Evanston from Mexico in 2006. Francisco owns a landscaping business in town, F. Jasso Landscaping. Francisca is very ill from advanced Parkinson’s, a brutal disease that has left her dependent on a wheelchair and requiring extensive daily care.
Now, enter ICE.
As the Roundtable reports:
“Francisco Jasso is also an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, though he is in the process of obtaining a work permit. The last year has created the most strain on the family thus far with the threat of federal immigration enforcement raids in the area and losing their insurance coverage, he said.
When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were taking residents into custody nearly weekly in October last year, he could not go to work for days, and at one point as long as two weeks. He recalled hiding in a customer’s garage for hours after hearing that agents were patrolling the city.
Despite still having fears of being taken by agents, Francisco Jasso has returned to work, since the business is the main source of income for the family.”
Given these conditions, the Jassos are understandably struggling.
Community organizer Jacqueline Mendoza has put out a call to action, urging us to consider doing what we can to support the Jassos.
Their Amazon Wishlist page can be found here. Amazingly, already, our community has stepped up to purchase many of the items, but there are still some things left that you can help with.
A GoFundMe page to support the Jassos is here, and we still have a ways to go to fulfill their needs, so if you can chip in, please do.
When the federal government fails us—or worse–turns against us, we have to come together to support each other and get through it as we fight back. I’m always proud of how our community lifts up neighbors when they’re in need. Now is one of those moments. You know what to do.
In solidarity,
Daniel