In a waterside house in the town of Lakeland, Florida, Marven laughs with two women he loves dearly - his sister Rochelle and their biological mother, Guerline.
The warmth between them is unmistakable as they celebrate his 16th birthday, even though they spent a decade apart. Now they fear being separated again.
Also celebrating is Stacey Nageli Angulo, who adopted Marven when he was three years old, from Haiti, in the wake of a devastating earthquake in 2010.
Stacey helped Guerline and Rochelle come to the US three years ago, reuniting the family, as spreading gang violence triggered a fresh humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
The two women now live and work legally in the US under a scheme called Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which offers protection to people from countries affected by war or natural disaster. However, TPS is set to end for over 350,000 Haitians in February due to U.S. immigration policy changes initiated by President Trump.
Rochelle, now aged 21, cheers as Marven blows out his candles, but Guerline's smile falters. In just a few months, they face the possibility of deportation back to Haiti, where increasing violence and instability make for a dire situation.
Guerline's choice to offer her son for adoption stemmed from her struggles to care for her children in post-earthquake Haiti. Stacey, drawn to help, adopted Marven and later facilitated the reunion with his biological family when a humanitarian scheme opened up.
As they settle into their new lives, Rochelle and Guerline fear for their safety if they are forced to return to Haiti. The gang violence has drastically increased in recent years, leading to widespread displacement and insecurity.
Stacey, a former Trump supporter, now grapples with the implications of the current administration’s immigration stance, finding it unfathomable to rip families apart under unsafe conditions.
The uncertain future looms large over this newly reunited family. 'We were told America is the land of freedom and safety,' Rochelle reflects. 'Now I don't know where we belong.'
The emotional weight of their situation and the potential for separation underscores the human impact of immigration policy, revealing deep fears and dreams intertwined by family bonds.
