Why former Moreno Valley resident who lost her son met with President Trump again – Press-Enterprise
The whirlwind never seems to stop for former Moreno Valley resident Sabine Durden, and last week it carried her from Arkansas to Washington, D.C., where Wednesday she reunited with President Donald Trump for the first time since she campaigned together with him.
Tuesday, Durden had helped launch Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, which aims to influence public policy on immigrants who illegally immigrate to the U.S.
And Thursday, Durden sat down with another person sympathetic to her cause, Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
My head is spinning, Durden said, before adding: Im so blessed that I get to do this for Dominic.
Durden, 59, has told her sons story countless times on TV and radio and in newspapers and podcasts: On July 12, 2012, Dominic was riding his motorcycle on Pigeon Pass Road in Moreno Valley to his job as a Riverside County sheriffs dispatcher when Juan Zacarias Tzun made a left-hand turn in front of Durden, 30.
Dominic Durden, a former Moreno Valley volunteer of the year and aspiring sheriffspilot, was thrown from his motorcycle in the collision and died on the spot.
Tzun, who never had a drivers license in the U.S. because he illegally immigrated from Guatemala, had two convictions for driving under the influence, yet remained in the country. He was convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter he blamed God and not himself at his sentencing and served about 35 days of a nine-month sentence. He was later deported.
Since that time, Sabine Durden, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Germany, became an outspoken critic of immigrants who illegally immigrate to the U.S. She spoke to local groups and radio shows but still felt ignored. She found a national stage and a high-profile ally when the Trump campaign contacted the Remembrance Project, which advocates for families of those killed by such immigrants and had worked with Durden.Durden is no longer associated with the Remembrance Project.
Durden, once fearful of public speaking, talked about illegal immigration at Trump campaign rallies some of which she appeared with the candidate himself and at the Republican National Convention before a worldwide audience of millions. She later attended the inauguration as Trumps guest.
Ive been clawing my way through this despite being called a racist and a bigot, Durden said. I owe Dominic that much.
The Trump administration invited Durden and other parents whose children were killed by immigrants who illegally move to the United States to sit in on a roundtable discussion Wednesday at the White House, where two pieces of legislation he supported were discussed: The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, which will cut federal grant money to cities that shield immigrants with criminal convictions who had immigrated here illegally from being turned over to federal law enforcement; and Kates Law, which will enhance criminal penalties for those who repeatedly re-enter the country illegally.
That second piece of legislation was named for Kate Steinle, who was killed by an immigrant who had moved here illegally and who had been deported five times.
The House of Representatives approved both measures Thursday ahead of a Senate vote.
Durden sat next to Thomas Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Homan put his hand on Durdens back to comfort her as she spoke to Trump from across the table about the death of her only child. Durden held up a miniature urn of Dominics ashes as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion.
Mr. President, since I have no family left, I wanted to commit suicide. I wanted to be with my son, Durden said in a White House video she posted on her Facebook page, Doms Hugs. When you mentioned illegal immigration (in a television speech), I was walking through my living room and I dropped to my knees because it was my little sign from God: You arent doing anything, you stay around.
And then a month later I met you personally in Los Angeles where you were the only one that ever met with me, and you became our voice. You are not only my hero, my president, you are my lifesaver.
Trump, she said, spoke at the roundtable about what needs to be done to thwart illegal immigration.
Now I got to see him againas President Trump. The feeling was surreal, excited, blessed to be part of that and be invited and not ignored, Durden said.He came over, shook my hand and told me, Keep it up, Doms mom.
Thursday, the Angel moms and dads, as Durden calls parents such as herself, were escorted into a conference room at the Department of Justice, where they met Sessions, the attorney general. Durden had previously been introduced backstage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
The parents again told Sessions their stories.
He remembered me Doms mom and asked if we had any questions, Durden said.
The parents asked about DACA which allows people who arrived in the United States before age 16, and who meet certain other criteria, to defer deportation for at least two years at a time; eVerify, a computer system that determines eligibility to work in the U.S.; and other topics.
It was again such an honor that he would take the time out of his busy day. It was genuine, it was kind. Again it gave me so much energy and strength, she said.
Durden, who is divorced, moved to Arkansas in February along with fiancee Anthony Coulter to build a house near his family.
While one chapter in her life ended, Durdens advocacy efforts are still ongoing. She and five other families formedAdvocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, which seeks to educate the public on the effect of illegal immigration, ensure that laws are enforced and influence related legislation.
My goal is that I will never, ever hear about another victim of illegal alien crime, Durden said.
She sees the organization as a good complement to Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement VOICE which Trump ordered formed to provide information to families affected by crimes committed by removable criminal aliens, according to the website.
We will work with them, Durden said.
Critics argued that the new agency unfairly characterizes immigrants who moved to the U.S. illegally as criminals, when studies show that immigrants are less likely to commit offenses than native-born residents.
Nevertheless, Durden is a supporter.
I love it because I called the 800 number and there was somebody talking to me. I told them I needed counseling, and they called back. They are helping victims of illegal alien crimes, Durden said.
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Why former Moreno Valley resident who lost her son met with President Trump again - Press-Enterprise
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