By: Emily Webb | Legal Intern

I am not an immigrant, but I am a mother of immigrants. In 2009, my family of four became a family of six when we adopted two daughters, ages ten and four, from Ethiopia. Our adoption process was a whirlwind––from the day we started initial paperwork to the day our girls arrived in our home was nine months and two days––a week shorter than my first pregnancy. 

Like all forms of immigration, international adoption has its challenges, not the least of which is the language barrier. We learned as much of our new daughters’ language (Amharic) as we could in the time we had. They were learning English, too. But much of our early communication involved pointing at things, repeating ourselves slowly, and getting more wrong than right. 

I knew how to ask them if they were hungry or tired or needed to use the restroom. I knew how to tell them I loved them. But I couldn’t adequately communicate to them that it was okay to be sad for all they had lost and scared of starting over in a culture that was brand new to them. 

We kept the girls’ Ethiopian names, but also gave them middle names. They both told us they wanted to be called by the names we gave them. But when we met with an Amharic interpreter through Vanderbilt’s International Adoption Clinic, we dug deeper to make sure they were not just telling us what they thought we wanted to hear. Once our oldest daughter realized we really cared about what she wanted, she told us she wanted to be called by her Ethiopian name.  

As challenging as my daughters’ adoption and immigration were, I know that it is far more challenging for many immigrants to navigate a system that is complex, confusing, and sometimes hostile. 

As Mother’s Day approaches, I think of the mothers facing this challenge without the benefits I had as an American citizen. Many of these mothers have, out of desperation, left everything familiar behind and risked their lives to give their children a chance. They may not know what resources are available or how to access them. Lack of financial resources and English language skills may prevent them from getting the legal help that they need. 

For me, finding the assistance my daughters needed was just a matter of making a call or two. I am mindful of the gap between my experience providing for my daughters and the experience of mothers who not only need to provide for their children, but also need assistance for themselves. 

Organizations like Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors step into that gap and provide vital information and services to immigrants. They access each potential client’s case and offer advice, referrals for legal and non-legal services and, when there is a remedy available and capacity, Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors provides legal representation. 

Legal assistance doesn’t remove every obstacle immigrant mothers face, but it often does dramatically improve the outcomes for them and their children. And lifting even little of the burden from a mother’s shoulders makes it easier for her to care for herself and her children.  

Want to help another mom get the legal assistance she needs to give her family the life they deserve? Make a gift to Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors to help lift some of the burdens immigrant mothers face.