Her Husband Stole The Passports Of Their Children And Now She Can’t Get Home To America
This GoFundMe‘s organizer, Amanda Burke, wrote that Velesha Burke’s husband had been “restricting access to basic needs and technology” in the family’s home and had been physically and emotionally abusive.
Velesha took her children to Germany to seek safety, but when it was time to find a new home for her family back in America, she found she was barred from returning.
Velesha shared her story via GoFundMe in the hopes of finding a solution to her predicament.
She explained, “After leaving our home to seek asylum and safety, I could not fly back to the USA (where I am a citizen) because my husband stole the children’s passports months prior, and has since refused to return them.”
Though she had reached out to the authorities, they refused to advocate for the family. “I contacted the German police to let them know my children and I fled domestic abuse and were in a safe house for protection.”
She had even reached out to the US Consulate in Germany “in an attempt to obtain emergency passports for the children.”
But their passports weren’t issued, and Velesha soon discovered that there was a travel ban on her family.
Matters only worsened when she attended a court custody hearing, and the German judge ruled in favor of her husband.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Velesha and her children
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“The decision was made in spite of my children and I living away from my husband in a safe house.”
Though she is currently contesting the decision, this will require expenses such as legal fees and plane tickets.
Because of these obstacles, the GoFundMe became necessary to keep the family from going under financially.
But, Amanda explained, “we also want to make sure she has “start over” money once back in the USA, believing we’ll be able to get her and the children home soon.”
Velesha also wrote that she and her children have “family support and a village of love and protection” back in the United States, and it’s imperative for them to return home.
Thankfully, the family has exceeded their $15,000 goal by more than $1,000. To donate or read Velesha’s story, you can visit the GoFundMe.
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