Across street from Dem Debate, Albanian man avoiding deportation watches, waits

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Just across the street from the FOX Theatre, Ded Rranxburgaj is close, yet so far away from the two-night Democratic debate.

FOX 2: "Are you going to watch these debates?"

"I'm going to watch them," he said.

It has been more than a year and a half since he and his disabled wife, Flora, sought sanctuary and took refuge inside the Central United Methodist Church.

"You know sometimes I say to myself - I'm going - but my wife keeps crying - no we're not going," he said.

"My husband takes care of me day and night - for everything," Flora said. 

"She says if he's deported it's basically a death sentence to her," said Rev. Jill Hardt-Zundel. 

Flora and Ded fled war and communism in Albania nearly 20 years ago. He wasn't granted asylum here and was ordered deported in 2009 - but Flora has M.S. and is completely reliant on her husband for care. 

Both were granted humanitarian status for years - until President Trump's immigration crackdown.

"After 30 years married - to deport my husband," she said.

Ded refused to leave his sick wife. They had raised a family here - he worked as a cook and paid taxes and was determined to stay, to make his case in court - but he never imagined they'd still be living in the church.

"Still inside it doesn't matter what you do - everything you do is still inside," he said. "It's very hard because I'm staying here for the past year and a half. Every day I got more stress more stuff."

Stress, weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol - but still - as he looks to the next election and across the street to the Fox Theatre - a sliver - of hope.

FOX 2: "One of these candidates is going up against President Trump - what do you hope those people can do for you?"

"I hope the people can do a lot for me - to help, to make me and my family free - because I love the country," Ded said. 

FOX 2: What do you hope to hear about immigration?

"I hope to hear something better - not just for me," he said.

"We're waiting hopefully for somebody that will take the country in a different direction," said Zundel.