Title: Hopes for Asylum

" This is the WBUR news podcast for Friday August 22 service of WBUR. Boston's NPR news station I'm Bob thanks coming up today a conversation with Edward Brooke. The former Republican US senator from Massachusetts says he's leaning toward voting democratic in the presidential race. And we meet three Boston symphony orchestra musicians were retiring after this weekend performance at Tanglewood. And first today. Guatemalan woman detained in the federal immigration raid on a New Bedford factory last year. As one her legal fight for asylum so she can stay and work in the United States. The victory has given hope to dozens of other immigrants detained in the same roundup or waiting for their own court hearings WBUR as -- is reports."

" It's been a year and a half since federal agents raided Michael Bianco incorporated. When a New Bedford largest employers. They detained 361. People working there they deported almost half of them. A few miners one special protection for immigrants under eighteen. And many of the remaining adults are seeking political asylum. Immigration enforcement officials have criticized attorneys for giving these immigrants false hope saying they wouldn't win their fight to stay in the country. Well it looks like someone has. And -- yeah. -- says there was commandment and wanna and I -- from Guatemala Penske African Union and heard almost seven years yeah and I came here because and lots of problems in my country. And he plays one has received approval for green card based on her appeal for political asylum. She still has to go through security clearance so we're not using her last name. The problems one mentions go back to the civil war in Guatemala. A conflict that included massacres and her talent. Her family home was burned down relatives killed. The United Nations has called it a genocide targeted at Mayan indigenous people. But the violence she says didn't end with the war. She says she was assaulted by soldiers years later cooking a pull away. Funky. I can't return and afraid for violating the I don't want to be counts can I want to live once my kids grow up. Can you human beings. Since crossing the US Mexico border with the people smuggler at the age of nineteen -- was married and had two children. She described her life in New Bedford -- com. That's until the raid on the Michael Bianco factory. After leaving detention she didn't work because getting caught working illegally again. Would have ruined her chances of getting a green card. So her family lived off her husband's wages and she prayed she would have to return to Guatemala."

" Is the country. Violent yes and is there violence against women there's an enormous amount of violence against women."

" Austin College psychology professor bring to the lakes has worked in Guatemala for more than twenty years. And she just returned from one his hometown as the qualify. She says it's been hard for Guatemalan to win asylum cases since the war ended. Because it's hard to prove that they've been persecuted and would face further persecution if they return to their country. But she says women both in CD's and the countryside. Live in terror. And that violence has compelled many young women and men to leave."

" I think it's a very disturbing. Reality and it's very difficult. Environment in which to grow up and in which to answer and two young adulthood. And that. Punctuated by deep poverty his its its very challenging for young people today."

" Yeah. 29 year old Maria is pushing her little daughter and swing and a part of a Latino immigrant neighborhood in New Bedford. She's one of about 5000 Guatemalan -- believed to be living in the city many of them in their twenties and thirties. Maria says she wouldn't feel comfortable playing outside with her child if she were in Guatemala. Big is it deadly if you can get you and Aaron Guatemala that he asked the police to help you don't do anything that's the difference. With so much violence -- you don't want to go back it. I'm not here just for pleasure but because the violence has left so many scars and I need to find it refuge to recuperate -- and again -- got you by Adam. It will be -- new willful. Maria was detained in the same rate as one. She has applied for political asylum and is afraid that speaking about her case may jeopardize her chances so we haven't used her full name. Same goes for her friend Cecilia. Together they started a cooperative making and selling bags but the business never took off so the two are desperate for work. So Cecilia is happy to hear that another woman detained in the same grade with the same history has won asylum campus."

" The young and needles can use them. Opinion that they in this Andean -- happened and that didn't it W I admired the other Guatemalan here who have papers if they're doing well they can work. I want to quickly that you mean that you prune it doesn't matter what kind of what -- of I've done the most impossible jobs means that -- it -- he would -- those -- tournaments without a home I think we'll see for the --"

" Cecilia and -- court dates are coming up in the next few months there's certain to have different judges than wanna so they can't count on the same outcome. But if it judges agreed that they face persecution back in Guatemala. And they -- wanna. Could -- granted asylum and stay here permanently. For WBUR. And -- baskets -- It."

" Went Barack Obama formally accept the democratic nomination at his party's convention next week in Denver. He'll officially become the first black candidate to lead a major party presidential campaign. Obama himself has acknowledged that among those politicians who blazed the trail before him. Was Edward -- In 1966. Broke became the first African American elected to the US senate where he represented Massachusetts. For thirteen years. Brooke remains a registered Republican but in this presidential contest has not endorsed John McCain and it seems he will likely not. When we spoke with senator -- this week he made it instantly clear he was considering voting for Obama instead."

" Of course but I and considering we're -- for him a -- you definitely qualifies -- should be president of the United States shouldn't. Disappearance television during random it is first forceful Europe particularly. You've been able to your reception there. There's not only of the imagination. Or more importantly the amount of support -- That in many young people already issues increase code. And its citizens appeal. Coast in our country. Which interest me -- great deal because leverage we need to. Restore our relationship. There -- is Phillips. And his. Message of hope. And many chord change -- arrange -- loudly and negativity and gaining momentum as we speak."

" Well sounds like you're ready to pull the lever form what's holding you back -- just saying today that you are definitely going to vote for Barack Obama. "

" Well -- I've always been warned that you observed. They have edited credence to that the candidates are always like to listen to both so about a quarter ruler. John McCain certainly have some differences. Repair and restore those communities and concerns. Supreme Court order. So women's rights particularly. Registration. Movies please -- support certain. -- good normal it will never be overturned. -- have problems I'd like to be -- to vote for. Republican candidate for governor in more and more difficulty. Finding some common ground. On. Obama goes off from windows and an extra therefore open space and more -- more to voted for a Democrat. I don't want to say that I would vote for -- just because we're obviously records. That's Matt -- program Bigelow Forbes. If you want people to vote for him didn't I was driving -- losses."

" But I think any day asks it since you were the first black elected US senator how how big a factor. Is race in your decision about whether you want to pull the lever for person who could be the first black elected US president."

" Crosswalk that are great are. If she's elected. President. And I would like and nothing more than just you -- elected. But just because we have the Senate race but because he's the best candidate."

" Let me ask your Republican Party question has John McCain. And the Republican Party done enough to attract black voters."

" on it has never done enough to attract large rodents. Your lips are registered there haven't -- yeah -- to do it. But that's been the Republican thought it'd -- part of it is. Also. You know. And call. -- justifiably so. They were committed to lose so the strategy news and its sister as and there's -- that was aware that your approach Kurdish presence of appearing to be courageous. They have those servicemen and Republican part of we have not done enough to bring them. That change about it and then now part of therefore -- find. You're and so you like Americans. In the party who runs. Fall just as you Republicans. And it is surface. -- centrist myself -- even. That we have rejected an extremely left and they street right now it's -- country belongs in this. And I think that were Obama will be -- thank you just centrist candidate ethnic people we have Margaret. I don't I do an extremely liberal as its drive to paint him. Obviously is -- extreme conservative. But I think he's going to be theoretical -- reliever."

" Let me ask you unless questioned senator -- did do you plan to keep your decision about who you're gonna vote for private or or will you at some point publicly say. That it's Obama or McCain."

" Rob nominally I would never sort of -- home wired and -- to vote but also. Homeland voted our fingers apart not. Well say that in this case -- that it uses. A lot of should do you it would certainly magnitude. I don't -- pretty much. Major decisions and vote for Barack Obama. "

" Senator -- thank you very much good Pataki was always there are -- Edward Brooke was a Republican US senator representing Massachusetts from 1966. To 1979. -- hear our full conversation -- him go to our website WBUR. Dot org. This weekend the Boston symphony orchestra wraps up its summer at Tanglewood as it usually does with Beethoven's ninth. But Sunday's concert will be bittersweet for three veteran brass players it's their last performance as they -- retiring after spending decades -- the BSO. WBUR. As Andrea -- suspended Tanglewood to meet them and has this report. There are about 100 me."

" Missions in the Boston symphony orchestra fourteen sit in the brass section including trombonist run Aaron. This system is a -- 88 -- Which my parents purchased from in high school. That was in 1963. Seven years later in 1970. The BS so tired parent. He orchestra employees to other components. Now after 38 years as -- trombone Darren is retiring. All the losses -- based -- unusual for people to serve. Thirty to forty years and infect fifty years. After Sunday's concert Arnold focus on running the bed and breakfast he owns with his wife just a few miles from Tanglewood. And narrow wooden staircase leads down to the 200 year old farmhouse is dirty floor basement it's cool insert says -- makeshift wine cellar. Musician is a major and the easiest and shows off some vintage 1970. Wines. That he recently popped with friends to mark the year he began his tenure at the BS."

" I'd brought on for my collection 1970 shuttle -- and and settlements -- a colleague brought from California in my -- cabernet and the parole from -- all these machines haven't read."

" And -- as good wine and good music go together. That's why Darren recently poured bottles representing the years the other two retirees came on board with the B yes so. Trumpeter Peter Chapman was hired in 1984. And Daniel Katz and won his job playing is -- BS in the second French horn. In 1979."

" I was totally unified in some anyways there about 250 major pieces that can't play."

" In addition to about 100 opera's. When he tried out for the BSO as a 27 year old it was captions 48 audition as an aspiring musician. After winning the job he admits he was and nervous wreck constantly studying and practicing and showing up to rehearsals early. The days. And weeks where -- lasted forever. The years and decades -- have quickly piled up for cats and who says he can't pinpoint. When he went from being new with a BSO to being a veteran. He acknowledges that jobs in major orchestras are highly coveted and their hard to give up."

" I have had many long conversations with myself in the mirror saying. Do you really want to be leaving this. Two. Which. Is more than Steve Jobs morning to careers it's your expressionism as an artist expressionism person. I know the 250 people have been trained to this stuff. I --"

" 23 year old Michael Martin used job hunting the BS so he's not after captain's job. He plays the trumpet. Martin's one of 150. Fellow studying at the Tanglewood music center this summer. And is preparing to audition for the third and possibly the second trumpet spots at the BS."

" Two opportunities and potentially one year to play and an orchestra like the Boston symphony is. You could sort of say wants and lifetime but I guess it's twice and lifetime so it's rare. -- we'll --"

" managing director mark -- isn't worried about the vacancies in the brass section. Even though it could take as long as two years to fill the positions. The talent pool in this country is overflowing Volpe says thanks to football."

" I'm a native of the midwest -- had these huge -- in Michigan Minnesota good on the Texas the same thing so they're level brass playing in America -- institutional."

" But Volpe and longtime classical music critic Richard Dyer. Recognize the risks that come with hiring only youthful players. Dyer says an orchestra must be a complex organism."

" It has to have young hot shots who were all energy chops and ability. It has to have mature players who were at the peak of their game and then it also has to have. Older -- and experienced players who have gone through everything that can possibly happen."

" Like playing Beethoven's notoriously. Difficult ninth symphony. That's third person retiring from the BS says brass section this Sunday is Peter Chapman. He placed second trumpet and has tackled than nineteenth many times over his 25 years with the orchestra."

" It's a lot of work. Not safe it's more of that physical activity than say a subtle one Beethoven troubled parts are generally. Not very melodic and and mostly need meat and potatoes for almost precautions like at times."

" This Sunday Peter Chapman Ron -- and Daniel -- and will play Beethoven's ninth as members of the BS so for the last time. Cats in the second French horn smears the concert will end at four."

" 46. By 546 I think the wrestlers were retired from the orchestra of the room. Probably have opened the first of the scenes -- support to celebrate their time together."

" Bottles of fine line picked and -- by principal trombone and certified wine specialist Ron baron. All three retiring brass players will enjoy active. Actually demanding retirements. Writing teaching and playing the instruments they love. For WBUR. And the entry instead."

" Closing its summer season Saturday and Sunday with a traditional all Beethoven weekend. Links and information go to our website that would you -- you -- not a war."

" This podcast as a free service of WBUR Boston. To make a contribution to support the news go to our website WBUR. Dot org."