Two years ago, Donald Trump officially began his presidency on January 20, 2017, but for many it might feel like he’s been in office much longer. This is especially true for Juana Tobar Ortega who has called a North Carolina church basement home since April 2017.

The mother of four was one of the first undocumented immigrants to seek sanctuary in a church and the media has followed her journey for almost two years. Ortega’s dedication to her family inspired a short documentary that won an award in October 2018.

Proud to share our win for Best Documentary Short in the Jury Prize Competition at this year’s @NOFS #Noff2018 pic.twitter.com/Hh4MwMgg5a

— Santuario Film (@santuariofilm) October 31, 2018

Twenty-five years ago, Ortega arrived to the U.S. without proper documents and settled in North Carolina where one of her primas lived. With the support of her family, la hispana soon got a job as a factory worker. In 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided the garment company where she worked, and although she was detained, she was released with the requirement of checking in with the government agency once a year.

Ortega did as she was told for six years, but everything changed when the Trump administration went into effect. Instead of giving her another stay of removal, she was fitted for an ankle monitor and shortly after, she was ordered to self-deport by the end of May 2017. Thinking quickly, she sought sanctuary in St. Barnabas Episcopal Church three days before her deadline and she hasn’t left the property since.

“I feel very sad and down. Because I’m in the same position as brother Samuel. And even more so because of the way he was tricked. That makes us very fearful.” – Juana Tobar, still in sanctuary after 18 months, shares some of her perspective on Samuel’s arrest and deportation. pic.twitter.com/076dQFIZG0

— Santuario Film (@santuariofilm) December 1, 2018

According to Church World Service, esta mamá is one of 46 immigrants across the U.S. currently staying in churches to avoid deportation and being separated from her family. Despite ICE trying to return undocumented citizens to their homelands, there is a policy barring federal agents from entering churches to make arrests. Schools and hospitals are also part of these “sensitive” locations.

St. Barnabas fully supports Ortega’s decision to stay in the church basement — the only option she has to be near her family. Trained volunteers protect her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, answering the door and listening for a driveway alarm that goes off whenever anyone arrives.

Her four children visit her cada semana and her husband, Carlos Ortega, stays with her during the weekends. When everyone is away, la guatemalteca continues to sew, cook, and clean like she’s always done for her loved ones.

Congratulations to IF/Then Short @santuariofilm on their Northwest Premiere at @BigSkyDocFest! Catch the screening today at 8:45 PM at MCT Performing Arts Center! https://t.co/awEeamGqY6 pic.twitter.com/H6aAbHkLyl

— TribecaFilmInstitute (@TribecaFilmIns) February 22, 2019

There isn’t a definite date that Juana can look forward to when she can finally walk outside in the fresh air and not feel confined to four walls. But she’s willing to stay put as long as it takes.

“We need to violate the law in order to do the right thing, and the right thing for me is to be a mother,” she told NBC News. “They’re laws created by men who don’t understand what it means to be a mother.”

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