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Woman Reflects On Two Years Of Taking Sanctuary In Greensboro

A North Carolina filmmaker put together a documentary about her.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Juana Ortega has spent two years in sanctuary. They're two years of uncertainty.

She took refuge in St. Barnabus Episcopal Church in Greensboro. She's there trying to avoid deportation.

She's from Guatemala. Her children and grandchildren live here now.

Thursday night, a North Carolina filmmaker debuted a documentary about her. The film aired on PBS Thursday night, and he showed it to Ortega's family and folks in the Greensboro community.

Ortega's daughter says her story is all about perseverance.

"Keeping her strong, especially her close to Mothers' Day," she said, "It's a reminder of why she's here, and that's because she loves her kids. She loves her family."

Ortega isn't the only migrant looking for sanctuary in the triad.

Minerva Garcia has lived in Winston-Salem for 17 years. She was forced to take sanctuary in a Greensboro church two years ago. Just last week, she was approved for a green card.

Ortega still isn't sure what the future holds. She and her family continue pursuing her legal admission into the United States.

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