💖 Who Lissa Is

Lissa Mel Hatanaka is my wife. She is a mother, an artist, a caregiver, and one of the most generous human beings I know.

She is also the sole provider for her elderly mother and her daughter, Loren, working tirelessly from Los Angeles to support them from afar.

Now, she is facing deportation from the United States of America— a under our current administration, a punishment that is not only cruel and undeserved, but one that threatens to destroy the foundation she’s worked so hard to build for her family and the community that depends on her.

 

💔 This Is Personal

Lissa built a life in the U.S. rooted in purpose, love, and service.

She follows the legal process.

She pays her taxes.

She gives back — every single day.

She is not a threat — she is a beacon of what makes Los Angeles vibrant, compassionate, and alive.

 

🖼️ Her Legacy

Lissa once owned and operated The Messenger’s Gallery, a cultural hub in Santa Monica. Her gallery was more than just a business — it was a platform for underrepresented voices, launching the careers of dozens of creatives, especially women and artists of color. It was a safe space for healing, expression, and connection.

 

🙌 Her Impact Beyond Art

•  🧘‍♀️ Offers free yoga for individuals struggling with mental, emotional, and physical health
• 🎨 Teaches art to young children
• 📱 Uses her platform as an official Instagram influencer to uplift and unify
• 👗 Founder of Loren Marie LLC, a retail clothing brand named after her daughter
• 🌍 Helped promote the Gurudev World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C.
• 🗳️ Hosted numerous civic and political events, connecting the community and encouraging voter engagement
   

Lissa is a true example of someone who heals through creativity and leads through service.

 

 

🛑 What Happened
 

On May 15, 2025, Lissa was detained by ICE during a scheduled Adjustment of Status interview with USCIS

Her detention violated her constitutional rights:

 

• No prior notice
• No access to legal counsel
• No Notice to Appear (NTA) provided
• No bond hearing
• Coerced into signing without legal representation
• Still not fully processed into ICE’s system to this day
   

This is unconstitutional.

 

❗ Coercion & Signature Rights Violation

Once in ICE custody, the violations continued.

Lissa was coerced into surrendering her constitutional rights:

She attempted to lawfully reserve her rights by signing documents as:

lissa-mel:hatanaka, beneficiary with “Without Prejudice” at the top — a legal method of preserving constitutional rights under UCC 1-308

• ICE agents rejected her signature, stating it would not be accepted unless she signed with her standard legal name, without any reservation of rights
• They threatened to deny her phone calls unless she complied
• Lissa, under emotional distress and without a lawyer present, was forced to sign under duress

 

This directly violated her rights — **not only as a human being, but as the **lawfully married spouse of a U.S. citizen.

As my wife, Lissa is entitled to fundamental legal protections under the U.S. Constitution and immigration law, including:

• Free expression – the right to sign legal documents in a manner that reflects her will and reserves her rights
• Legal self-identification – the right to sign her name lawfully and declare her status under UCC 1-308
• Protection from coercion – the right to be free from threats, intimidation, or forced signatures while in government custody
• Constitutional due process – the right to fair legal procedures, legal counsel, and a proper hearing before any removal action
   

📌 These rights are guaranteed to all persons on U.S. soil — but especially to those in legal, immediate family relationships with U.S. citizens, which carry elevated protections under federal immigration law.

ICE’s actions in denying her those rights are not just administrative failures — they are violations of constitutional law, immigration protocol, and family unity protections.

 

🆔 False Identity Used
 

ICE also recorded her under the wrong name — “Lissa Mel Turdiev” — which is not her legal name.

Her true legal and married name is Lissa Mel Hatanaka. This error:

• Obstructed her legal rights as the spouse of a U.S. citizen
• Likely corrupted the processing of her file
• It could have invalidated her protections or relief pathways

 

💔 What’s at Stake

• Two generations rely on her: Her mother and daughter in Israel depend on her for survival
• The community would lose a cultural and spiritual leader
• Civic progress would suffer: She empowers others to vote, speak up, and connect
• Everything she’s built — legally and ethically — would be erased without cause 

 

📊 Relevant Facts

• Over 4.3 million U.S. citizens live with at least one undocumented family member (American Immigration Council)
• More than 5 million immigrants are essential to U.S. society (Center for Migration Studies)
• A 2023 UCLA study found that strong arts engagement boosts civic participation, mental health, and safety — exactly what Lissa’s work provided
   

🙏 We Need Your Voice
 

We’re asking friends, neighbors, artists, voters, and public servants to stand with Lissa.

We’re calling on immigration officials to recognize the truth:

         Lissa is not a burden — she is a blessing.

She is NOT a flight risk.

She deserves to remain in the country she’s helped shape, serve, and heal.

 

✍️ Take Action

👉 Please sign and share the petition to support Lissa Mel Hatanaka’s right to remain in the United States of America — for her family, her students, her community, and the country she calls home.

🔗 www.change.org/KeepLissaHome

Let’s keep Lissa home — where she belongs.