My name is Aaron. I’m a U.S. citizen, a husband, and a father of two small children. My wife, Natali, is facing a deportation hearing on June 10th, even though she came to the United States legally on a fiancée visa and we have done everything the right way.

Natali and I met in Guatemala in 2019. After years of long-distance love through the pandemic and delays in the visa process, she was finally allowed to enter the U.S. legally in December 2023. We got married within weeks, and we filed her green card application as instructed. Since then, we’ve welcomed our second child—our daughter Aariana, born here in the United States.

Despite following every step of the legal process in good faith, Natali’s green card application was denied without clear reason. Our appeal was also denied. Now, she has been scheduled for a deportation hearing that could separate her from me and our two children—one of whom is just a few months old.

We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for fairness, and a chance to stay together as a family. Natali did not cross the border illegally. She followed the law. But now, everything we built is under threat.

Please sign and share this petition to help stop this deportation and keep our family together.

To anyone reading this,

My name is James Aaron Neece. I have two small children named Aaron and Aariana, and a beautiful, caring wife named Natali. We met in her home country Guatemala back in May of 2019 and quickly fell in love.  I returned to Guatemala several times in 2019 often for weeks at a time.  I proposed to her at the end of 2019 and extended my stay until Christmas.  

Shortly after arriving in the United States, news of Covid-19 broke, and we can all recall what came with it.  The borders to her country were closed, and as a result I went a year without seeing my fiancé. We spoke daily through WhatsApp video messaging.  Despite the state of the world and the fear and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, our love grew stronger.  

Restrictions lifted and I was finally able to return to visit Guatemala again.  Due to the pandemic we decided to apply for a fiancés visa expecting that it would be a shorter process for her to get to the United States. The truth is that we had already begun our lives together, and even had a celebration with our families of our union, but because of the visa application we waited to become legally married until she arrived here in the United States.  

It took 2 years for her application to be reviewed. When my savings ran dry, I returned to the United States to work. However, when visiting in her in May of 2022 my wife became pregnant, and I returned to be with her about halfway through her pregnancy. My son Aaron was born in Guatemala and has dual citizenship. It was still almost a year after he was born before her visa was finally approved.  

Due to finances I had to leave my wife yet again, and this time my son also. This was a difficult time, but finally in December of 2023 I went to Guatemala to bring my family back with me.  We got married about 15 days after she arrived and filed for her green card. 

Natali became pregnant again.  

After another year of waiting, her application was denied for reasons that are not particularly clear. Surely it had to be a mistake. I motioned to reopen and reconsider, yet the decision stood, and my appeal was denied.  And this all came shortly after the birth our daughter Aariana. I began researching our next steps and within a week or two my wife received a letter for a deportation hearing.  

One month from today, on June 10th there will be a deportation hearing for my wife. We followed the rules and did everything the legal way. We have been patient. In good faith in our government and our immigration system, we have started a family, with the intentions of building a life together. This isn't right, and I ask that you help bring attention to this issue. More than anything, we want to stay together as a family. But beyond our personal struggle, we feel called to speak out—to let our pain become a voice for others who are suffering in silence. What’s happening is unjust.

Sincerely,
James Aaron Neece