Family and Friends Speak Out

"Let this loving husband and father return home to support his family"

Over 70 families have written testimonials to attest to Gaspar's character. Here are some of their comments:

"On paper, Gaspar is my son-in-law. In actuality, he is my son. I can't imagine life without him being with us. He is the type of person our country should welcome with open arms." Frances J.

"Gaspar is a loving, supportive community-minded sort of guy. He is always eager and willing to help, even without being asked. His absence is a personal loss to me." Betty C.

"Gaspar is the best employee I've had to work with." Brian N.

“Gaspar is a quiet person but very friendly, honest and generous. Any time that I needed help, he always volunteered his time. He is also well liked by the other members of the community and has always taken an active part in the parish activities—like the annual inter-cultural parish festival. Before he left, I asked him to oversee the Spanish Mass collection baskets—that’s how much I trust him.” Rev. Patrick P.

"It is not often you see the kind of love and devotion that Gaspar gives to his family. Even separated, as they are now, they are still lovingly devoted to each other and their children. Aren't there enough broken families in this country without having to force one apart as in the case of Gaspar, Sheryl, Aidan and Bela?" Erin H.

"Gaspar Hernandez has been gone long enough. His family needs him and he needs to be here. I believe that he is an honest, upstanding man who will be nothing but an asset to the community and the country." James F., PhD

"The last two years have been painful, frustrating and physically exhausting for all members of the family. Their times together have been brief vacation times from the school where Sheryl works to support the family. Trying to navigate the legal labyrinth has been an emotional roller coaster. Finances have been stretched thin, even with Frances working to help out. Aidan's contact with his father has been primarily on the telephone. Little Isabela, born a year ago, hardly knows her father at all. Sheryl is without a husband to help shoulder the challenges of family life.

"I am writing this letter because I have watched this family's heart wrenching suffering first hand and because all I know of Gaspar makes me certain that he will be an asset, not only to his beautiful family, but to the community we all share. I cannot see that it benefits anyone to keep a good man from the family that loves and needs him. I pray Gaspar's case will be resolved with justice and compassion and he can return to Ohio without delay. Our arms are open to receive him home." Virginia K.

"Gaspar is a good man who cares for his fellow man. He easily identifies with others, a trait not all too common in today's world. We started to host foreign exchange students, and he would make an extra effort to get to know them a bit and do what he could to help them feel welcome. When these students first arrive from their home country, this is a big deal to them." Ken & Doreen B.

"We ran into Frances, Sheryl, Aidan and Isabela at a local restaurant. I looked over at Aidan and he had that glow in his eyes that a little boy has for his dad. He is hungry for a father figure in his life." Kathy S.

"I miss the neighbor Gaspar who I could always depend on if I needed help. I know Gaspar Hernandez to be a good family man, a good neighbor, a man who loves America, and most assuredly wants to come home badly. I know he loves America as I do, with a sense of awe and gratitude for the freedoms we as Americans have." Pat C.

"Gaspar Hernandez is greatly needed in his home. It is my hope and prayer that this country that values family unification grants Sheryl and Gaspar's case compassion and consideration." Mohammed S., Ph.D.

"In my profession I see people who truly drain the resources of our society and don't care about family or others. I can attest that Gaspar Hernandez is not one of those people. I welcome his return with open arms." Debbie A., LSW

"His pleasant smile and demeanor in general, his interest in helping with anything needing done in the community, and his major commitment to being faithful to his employment and his family is commendable and admirable by anyone who knows him." Helen A.

"Gaspar is a man who loves his wife and adores his children, a man who looks after his mother-in-law as if she were his own mother and who my friend Bob would have been proud to call "son". Greg C.

"We admire him because he is honest and obeying the law in his efforts to return to the state of Ohio to be with his family."
Doris & Eugene W.

"As a nation, we support strong families being together and this family deserves that opportunity." Judy S., RN, MPA

"Sheryl and her children need Gaspar with them. We are praying that this loving family can be reunited again, soon." Teresa G.

"Gaspar was exceptionally nurturing and Aidan was always excited to see his father. Dr. James Dobson states in his book "Bringing Up Boys" the importance of the father's role in the family. This is a case where you have a wholesome, loving father being denied the opportunity to be that role model. Although Aidan and Isabela have loving adults in their lives, no one can be a substitute for a father." Alice N., MS Ed, LPC, CDCA

"Gaspar is the kind of person that helped build this country. He comes with a different cultural background but with the work ethic and sense of right and wrong that have helped make this country strong." Kathy K.

"He is exactly the type of person we need to help make our communities and our country a better, stronger place." Christena C., PhD

"Gaspar is someone I can count on. I missed out on a lot of things in my kids' lives while I was a restaurant manager. Gaspar would often talk to me about what I was missing out on and that money isn't everything. You cannot buy back those moments in life."
Jim Z.

"He thinks about others around him as much or more, than he thinks about himself. The love and compassion does not just end with my family though. It is a theme that carries through Gaspar's life and touches all who know him." Kelly Z.

"It has been very difficult for Sheryl, even with family and community support, in the time that Gaspar has been in Mexico. While she is a good parent, her health has been impacted by the stress of essentially single-parenting their children." Ann C., RN, MSN

"Sheryl and Gaspar are devoted parents and want so much to raise their family together. Please give them the opportunity to do that." Linda T.

"I can see no beneficial purpose in keeping this man away from the family that loves and needs him." Sharon I.

"As a proud American citizen, I ask that you take favorable consideration in regards to Gaspar Hernandez. This man deserves a chance at the great American dream of opportunity and his family needs him for financial and personal support." Darlene R.

"My respect for Gaspar deepened with each conversation, each observation of Gaspar interacting with [his family], and as he took his place among the Condit church family. What a fine, fine person he proved to be!" The Rev. Carol W., M. Div.

"Gaspar Hernandez is symbol of quiet strength. He will be an excellent U.S. citizen." Cheryl C.

"This is a good family unit and one that is, and would continue to be an asset to this or any community. He has demonstrated to me that he is a hardworking, trustworthy person who has the moral conviction to be an excellent citizen." William K.

"We love our sister very much and want her to be happy. Having Gaspar home is the only way for her to be happy." Robert & Marsha J.

"As an immigrant myself, (born and raised in the Netherlands) I cannot imagine to be separated from my family for such a long time. The negative effects on the whole family torn apart by this separation are not only physical and emotional but financial as well. A speedy resolution to grant him a green card will be appreciated by the entire community." Ellie B.

"My favorite memory was in the fall when Gaspar and Sheryl Hernandez would come to the Friday night high school football games. Gaspar always fit right in and easily became part of all the high school sports. I consider them my friends, not just an acquaintance." Priscilla B.

"Sheryl grew up with my grandchildren. I have watched her go through school and college and become a schoolteacher. She is a fine young lady. Gaspar is a good and loving father and he provided a good home for them. He would be an attribute to our country. I pray he will be home soon with them." Sarah C.

"I met Gaspar and saw him as a strong, quiet, solid person. I was thankful to God that such a person came to be with this family and enrich their lives. These children adore their father and rightly so. The children need their father so that they have the daily reassurance and fullness of their father's love and guidance helping them grow into the finest young people and then adults that they can be." Carla W.

"Gaspar is the kind of neighbor everyone wants but we don't often get. He takes care of his home, and helps his mother-in-law with hers. He is a quiet family man, loving his wife and children and is totally devoted to them." Richard and Marcella H.

"Gaspar is a fine husband and father to his children. Theirs is a solid hard-working family. It is so important to their lives that they raise their children together." June C.

"Gaspar and his family are greatly affected by his absence. They need to be together again. His wife needs the support of her husband. Gaspar, too, needs to be with his family, whom he loves. Linda B.

"Gaspar's wife Sheryl is my cousin. I have known her since birth, continuing a close relationship with her parents and grandparents. (I am now 81 years old.) This is a family with a strong value system - honest, hardworking, intelligent, educated. Their commitment and sacrifice to keep the children in touch with their father shows their strength and courage." Helen J.

"I have known both Sheryl and Gaspar Hernandez since before the time they were married. They are a couple with strong roots and a high level of involvement with the community. They are a wonderful family, and they deserve to be and should be reunited." Tiffany M., Attorney at Law

"We have customers that never pay their bills, others that are late in paying their bills, and then we have customers like Gaspar who always leave us feeling optimistic about how responsible most people are." Harry and Tina S.

"While here, Gaspar had a job, attended church, and was a good father. He has not been an expense on the American society - just the opposite - one who has contributed his share." Jane Z.

"I think of him as 'one of us' who has sadly been far too long detained in his return to us." Sharon M.

"These two young children need their father. Sheryl needs the husband that she took vows with to "love and to cherish, forsaking all others." These are responsible people. This community wants to see this family made whole!" Peggy S.

"It is obvious that they are very much in love and that they care deeply for their children and family. It has been very distressing to watch the impact of the enforced separation that this family has had to endure over the past few years.

"Gaspar's family needs him here in the United States for them to continue to flourish. He is a good man, husband and father. Not letting him return to the United States will serve no purpose other than to keep a husband and father away from a family that needs him." John C., Attorney at Law

"Unfortunately, the happiness of this family has been destroyed due to Gaspar's immigration status." Sylvia A.

"Gaspar's gentle heart and strong work ethic are some of his most admirable traits. There is little doubt that Gaspar will go well above and beyond just simply being a contributing member of society, if given the chance.

" In today's world of fractured relationships, a father's influence is critical to the development and success of his children. By reuniting Gaspar with his family, you will enable a family to once again be whole, while simultaneously making a community a better place to live." Matthew W.

"I just got back from the 4th of July parade. It is a genuine piece of Americana and it is my hope that Gaspar Hernandez, on whose behalf I write, will be here next time to enjoy it with his family and his community." Susan M.

"When he was in the United States, he was a loyal worker, he paid taxes, and he took care of his family. He is regarded by his American friends with admiration and respect." Ginger P.

"Expediting Gaspar's return to his loving family would tremendously benefit their well-being and the well-being of others." Julie S., PhD

"This young father is being denied participating in the formative years of son's and daughter's lives, and they are being denied the day-to-day interactions with their dad. The sooner this family can be put back together, the better for all of them." John W.

"Sheryl, Frances and the children have traveled to Mexico several times over the past two years to visit with Gaspar and his family so that they can spend what little, precious time they can with Gaspar. Besides the emotional pain of separation, there's also financial strain that's been placed on this good, decent family." Claudia H.

"I understand the need for immigration laws. However, I do not believe that the laws were made to keep out decent, hardworking people such as Gaspar. People like him - people like my grandparents - make this country a better place to live."
Nanette K.

"The children need to be with both parents - not separated by thousands of miles and lots of red tape. Gaspar will make a good citizen, supporting his family and paying taxes like the rest of us."
Margaret F.

"The last time I saw Gaspar he had just finished mowing his mother-in-law's lawn and then went home to mow his own lawn. He is a kind and thoughtful person." Carol B.

"Gaspar has been a tremendous husband to my sister, and a great father to my nephew and niece, Aidan and Isabela. He has been an invaluable help to my stepmother, Frances, especially after my father's death. He treats all people with respect and friendliness and shows a true love of life which is infectious. There should be more people in the world with his attitude and dedication to work and family.

"The hardship this family has endured with the current separation is beyond comprehension. It is a hardship that most families would be hard fought to survive, but they have grown closer, even as the distance has gotten farther." Scott J.

"He will make you glad that you gave him the chance to be a good productive American citizen." Rachel B.

"The weight of caring for a newborn and a two-year-old as a single mother began to take its toll on Sheryl. She lost weight at an alarming rate and Frances often had to stay at her home to help her care for the house and the kids when she was too ill to make it out of bed. While Sheryl rarely felt up to teaching thirty-one third grade students on a daily basis, she still managed to come to work. As the sole provider for her children, it was her only option. Gaspar's absence has been hard for the entire family." Stefanie H.

"I have observed this young man over several years, and I perceive him to be a hard-working individual, a faithful marriage partner, a devoted father, and an exemplary son-in-law."
Marilyn K.

"My sons, Christopher and Thomas, ages 10 and 6, would like to let you know that they really miss their uncle, Gaspar. Gaspar made a strong impression on my boys and gave them memories that they will have forever. Gaspar is the family member that all the children would gather around and play with and have fun." Lura J., Christopher J., Thomas J.

"From our viewpoint, it does not appear that there is any advantage - political, financial or otherwise - to denying Gaspar access to living and working in the United States and once again being an active participant in the lives of his wife and children." Clifford and Joyce C.

"Gaspar is a good, moral person, hardworking and self supporting, and will be an attribute to this country and community." Marvin M. Attorney at Law

"There is no benefit in continuing to separate the family by keeping Mr. Hernandez in Mexico; there is a huge benefit to his return to the United States." Edith P.

"They were married and were enjoying each other's company when Sheryl became very ill. It was a mystery for a long time until Sheryl was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Gaspar was there, by her side, being supportive and providing for the family." Donna R.

"My company installs cellulose insulation into new and existing homes to create a more energy efficient home environment. I currently employ fifteen to twenty people and am prepared to offer Gaspar Hernandez a job because I am aware of his excellent work ethic and dedication." Bill H.

"Each time we have interacted with Gaspar, we have been pleased with his attitude and mannerisms. We believe, based on observed behaviors, that Gaspar will be the loving and and supporting and providing man that is needed to fulfill the lives of the three U.S. citizens in his immediate family." Patricia M. and Marvin M., BSEE, MSEE, PhD EE

"You have a unique moment in time here to impact the lives of two very young children, Aidan and Isabela. I implore you to reunite this family." Rese H.

“Gaspar became a part of our church by participating whenever he could. I especially remember one Sunday when he took part in World-Wide Communion. He was dressed in the colors of Mexico and said the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish.” Bonnie & Jim C.

“Seeing Gaspar’s bond with Aidan and his gentle guidance of his son was heartwarming. Sheryl and Gaspar together showed a couple in harmony, working to create a safe, responsible family.” Valerie P.

"The Hernandez's have been separated since Gaspar's voluntary departure for the U.S. in 2005. The separation of Mrs. Hernandez and her two children from Gaspar has placed tremendous hardship on the family." Patrick T., Representative to Congress