Vesna Djokic came to Michigan seeking asylum
"I don't want to leave my family," yells Djokic on the video. "Please God please don't separate me."
On two occasions this summer, the wife and mother of two fought back as federal officials tried to put her on commercial flights and send her back to her homeland of Montenegro.
"She's a role model, mother and wife," says husband Maras Djokic. "I just pray to God this is going to be over."
Vesna Djokic has been pleading with federal officials to stay in Michigan after seeking asylum back in 1994.
She lives in Sterling Heights and works in real estate. Her husband is a cook. According to the family’s attorney, they pay taxes. And they have two children who are American citizens.
"I really miss my Mom and her hugs," says 13-year-old Marcus, the couple's oldest child. "I feel really bad because she's all by herself."
An order of deportation came in 2004, and seven years later in March of this year, officials came to her home and arrested her, right in front of her daughter.
"I miss when me and her used to make cupcakes together," says daughter Isabella. "I love her so much and I can't wait until she comes home. I pray every night."
Twice this summer she yelled and resisted so much, both when she was moved from a transport van and then in front of confused passengers that captains of both flights ordered her and the immigration officials with her off the plane.
Immigration and Customs officials did not return calls from Action News for comment.
The family’s attorney is trying one more time to keep her in metro Detroit. A federal judge is now weighing whether she can stay, based on humanitarian grounds.
The family is asking for monitored release until she can earn status, about two years away, according to attorney Charles Busse.
"Most folk they put their heads down and they let the officers put them on the plane," says Busse. "Vesna Djokic won't do that. She won't go quietly. She's confounded the normal policies and procedures."
For now, Vesna’s two young children, just 13 and 9, rely on visits with their mom to keep her close.
She remains in federal detention.
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