Mona and Brad Hands
After fighting immigration matters for four years, all Brad and Mona Hands can say is “What next?”
Brad and Mona Hands came to Elgin four years ago along with their five children and purchased Reiny’s Drive In.
Brad and Mona received notice from the United States Homeland Security Office stating that Brad’s permanent residency here in the United States had been denied. This means that Brad will be deported back to Canada. The reason given for the denial is that Brad’s sponsor, his wife, Mona, doesn’t have enough assets. The US Homeland Security Office also reviewed three years of Mona’s income tax, and used her net income for those three years rather than her gross income, which is their policy, Homeland was determined that Mona didn’t make enough money to support Brad as a sponsor.
While Brad has not yet received deportation papers, this is imminent if their appeal is turned down. Brad and Mona have filed an appeal and the United States Homeland Security Office has 60 – 120 days to reply to that appeal. If this appeal is denied, then the next step, for the Hands family, is to get a immigration lawyer, which could cost between $7,000 – $15,000. Brad has spoken to a immigration lawyer who informed him that one in ten cases taken to court by immigration lawyers will be approved.
Brad and Mona have already spent close to $8,000 in the last four years trying to get Brad’s immigration matter straightened out. This money has been spent on flights to Montreal for meetings with immigration, trips to Fargo for short interviews and on forms which require nonrefundable fees.
While Brad and Mona aren’t looking for another sponsor for Brad, both noted that sponsorship is open. This means that anyone can sponsor Brad, such as a group, organization, church or person. In doing so, the person or organization would need to provide financial records to the government and sign a five- year contract with the government stating that they would be financially responsible for Brad.
Senator Aaron Krauter, Senator Byron Dorgan and North Dakota Governor John Hoeven are involved in the case, having written letters supporting the Hands family and state that their offices are looking into the problem. While they all support the Hands family, all have stated that they may not be able to do anything to help because this is a federal matter.
The Baptist Church, E/NL school and Brad, himself, have also written letters on behalf of the Hands family in hopes that the show of support will help settle this immigration matter. The Hands family would also like to thank Ron Clapsaddle for all the work he has done on their behalf.
When asked what the future holds for Reiny’s Drive In, Brad and Mona stated that they are a family unit and if Brad should have to go back to Canada, then the family will go with him. They also stated that they chose Elgin and they really like it here and want to stay here.
As Mona commented “illegal immigrants enter the country every day, so why is there such a hassle with us?”
