Don't Marry a Spy

The first time I saw the Carty family, the members of Mission Baptist church were huddled around them, praying for their safety. When Immigration Canada threatened to tear the family apart, they had sought refuge in the sanctuary of their Winnipeg church, the same church which had given my family sanctuary when we had arrived in Canada 47 years earlier.

Background

Luis Carty was born and raised in Peru. He had won a scholarship to study computer engineering at the University of Kiev in the USSR. There he met and fell in love with Elena who was studying languages at the same university, supposedly to become a language teacher. Actually she was being trained as a spy.

They married secretly. Spies are not masters of their own destiny. If the authorities found out about their marriage, her life would be in danger. They therefore bought "legal" papers and left the USSR for Peru just before graduation.

Two weeks later, the USSR was dissolved, and Elena became stateless. Back in his native Peru, Luis was considered a terrorist because he had studied in a communist country and had married a communist spy. He was arrested on the street in broad daylight. The arresting officer had compassion with Luis. He allowed him to flee but warned him that a second arrest would mean that he would disappear like all enemies of the state. Luis had no time to lose. He and Elena boarded the next flight to Miami, Florida, where their daughter Elizabeth was born. When the US did not grant them refugee status, they were assured that Canada would be a better place to try.

Place of Refuge Again

Back to July 1999. Canada wants to return the family to the USA. Elizabeth’s one-year-old brother Artiom, being born in Winnipeg, will be allowed to remain here and become a ward of the Children’s Aid Society. From the USA, Luis will be deported to Peru where he is facing death. Elena has no country of citizenship. An American prison awaits her. Elizabeth will become a ward of the state of Florida.

Little Artiom senses danger. He won’t let go of his mother for a moment.

Hope

August 2, 1999, two weeks later. Ukraine has finally issued Elena a passport. Canada Immigration makes a deal with the Cartys. They will be allowed to apply for Mexican visas without interference. Once in another country, they can apply to immigrate to Canada. The Cartys are able to leave the church building for the first time in 3 months.

Immigration does honor the deal. The Cartys are arrested in full view of the media. Their pastor immediately posts a $6000 bond from the large fund which the church family has established to finance the Cartys’ ordeal.

Mexican Solution

Elizabeth dreams of Mexico Two weeks later, August 18, 1999. The owner of De Fehr Furniture in Winnipeg has taken an interest in this case. He guarantees Luis a job in his factory in Mexico. Here is a picture of Elizabeth’s dream of freedom in Mexico. A smiling high-heeled Elizabeth stands under a palm tree with coconuts and mangoes on the ground.

Resolution

December 24, 2000, 16 months later, Christmas Eve. The Cartys arrive back home in Winnipeg thanks to the prayers of people around the world, thanks to the intervention of DeFehr Furniture, and thanks to tens of thousands of dollars of donations from the members of their church family.

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© Traute Klein, biogardener
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