The story is similar. I'd love to tell the name of the elected official who finally helped my friends, but I cannot; and he'd probably deny it anyhow. It's a name you would recognize. He had been my friend's employer many years before when both were in private business.
No word of his help has ever been spoken and the two men have not spoken for at least 20 years. But the green cards came in the mail promptly after my husband's letter.
Our friend did not know we had contacted this individual until just a year or so ago, because such a fuss had been made about not seeking help from elected individuals. There are other elected folks that could have helped our friends, but my friend was extremely reluctant to ask. He was well known, and he kept his immigration problems a secret from all but us. It almost drove him into bankruptcy.
I chose "Hostage" because here in Seattle if I express my hard-right views through personal experiences such as the one I describe above, I will become ostracized and perhaps even attacked. There is a liberal mafia here (and yes I mean mafia), a strong world socialist presence (actually communist) and an iron grip by unions over local politics. Seattle can'teven field a GOP candidate for anything. McDermott is rep for my district. Hence, my views are held hostage.
Some say I should be reaganesque and let loose of my views. But the liberals here are like Nazis (no exaggeration). Expressing conservative or right-wing views incurs a heavy cost. So I work behind the scenes.
I don't seek controversy, it finds me. And when it finds me, you would never know of my objections openly. You would find me whispering them in some cafe or place where no one can hear me speak. The INS incident happened in 1993. I was naive then, I am more politically savvy now.