ATLANTA - A Georgia state senator's Colombia-born wife who went into hiding rather than face deportation turned herself in on Tuesday and was released when an immigration judge agreed to reopen her case.
Sascha Herrera, 28, who had gone into hiding after the order was issued, emerged from the Martin Luther King Federal Building hand-in-hand with her husband, Sen. Curt Thompson, a Democrat who is a strong advocate of immigration rights.
"When I first came here I was very scared. I'm glad the government agreed to reopen my case," Herrera said.
Government lawyer Terry Bird said a hearing will be held on a petition filed by Thompson to establish permanent residency for his wife. Herrera's lawyer, Charles Kuck, said he expects the hearing will be held in the next two to four months.
Herrera had been in hiding since Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived at her home Nov. 28 with an order to remove her from the U.S. She was not home at the time.
2006-12-07 14:48:59 · 18 answers · asked by Miladi 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
The deportation order stemmed from Herrera's repeated failure to appear before a judge on an asylum application, which Kuck said she did not know had been filed.
Kuck claims that Herrera was duped by a man handling her immigration requests and that she never received the immigration notices.
According to Kuck, Herrera came to the U.S. on a visitor visa in 2003. She applied for an extension through a "notario" — a man who claimed he was qualified to handle legal immigration matters — who later suggested an asylum application. Herrera signed the application but decided not to proceed, Kuck said.
She met Thompson last year and they got married in April, when he applied for her to become a permanent resident
But in the meantime, the notario filed the asylum application, listing his address as hers, Kuck said.
Bird said authorities are investigating the notario.
2006-12-07 14:51:49 · update #1
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061205/ap_on_re_us/senator_s_wife_deportation_12
2006-12-07 14:53:03 · update #2
Of course she should be allowed to stay. The US government has no business in breaking up happy families. What a shame she's had to live in hiding for 4 months! That's time she will never recover. Not to mention the stress she's suffered.
People all against illegal immigration fail to realize that deporting this woman will go against the basic "rights" of her husband, an American citizen - the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
2006-12-07 14:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Pamela 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
NOONE Is Above The Law
Deport Her
And Give Her Husband The Senator A Swift Kick In The @$$
For Not Taking Care Of His Business
2006-12-07 20:52:40 · answer #2 · answered by JD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I saw this story on the news not too long ago, look she broke the law and just because her husband is a senator does NOT make her above our laws. The fact that she went into hiding AND her husband was claiming that he didn't know where she was (total lie, because he told the media she would be turning herself in, hmmm how did he know that??) proves that she should be deported.
And this senator should be losing his job, seeing as how he is breaking the law by aiding and abetting his illegal wife!! OH and LIED....just another example of the type of PRO- Criminal, either married/dating an illegal or friends with one or related to one.
2006-12-08 00:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by Hold em Rox 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Er...why is she facing deportation? Being married to a US citizen should afford her the legal right to live and work here? Was the paperwork never filed for some reason? Has she committed some other crime?
EDIT: Sounds like she should probably be allowed to stay, but this 'notario' should be thrown in jail (or possibly deported).
2006-12-07 14:52:03 · answer #4 · answered by CSlave 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
ALL aliens in the United States are REQUIRED to update their address within 30 days of moving. Herrera failed to do that repeatedly.
How did she come here in the first place?
Has she ever obeyed the law? Even once?
How is she any different (other than her vocal husband) than millions of other people who want to come here?
I vote for DEPORTATION. If her husband REALLY loved her, he can go back with her.
2006-12-07 14:59:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes. This sounds more like a paperwork scam that was conducted by this notario. She should have a full hearing and, if the marriage is found to be lawful, then she should stay.
2006-12-07 14:53:37 · answer #6 · answered by bayernfan00 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i agree with both of the above.
yes she should be deported but she shouldnt be deprived of the american dream. She should have to get her citezenship legally and not illegally i wouldnt care at all if they came and worked More Power To Them! they should the american economy CANNOT function properly with so many undocumented people. there would be no way to provide an infastructure to a Nation that you dont know what is in it
bottom line they should do the paperwork anbd put forth the effort to become legal citizens of the us. and that would be alot better
2006-12-07 14:58:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
She is illegal... bottom line. And a senator and his wife are smart enough to cover their buttts. Advocate immigrants rights when you wife is illegal? Not legal.... go and come back the right way.
2006-12-08 04:39:14 · answer #8 · answered by jackson 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What I don´t understand is why her husband didn´t file the appropriate paperwork for her to become legal.
2006-12-08 03:05:02 · answer #9 · answered by Double 709 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand. Isn't she a Senator's wife? In my opinion, since she is married to an American citizen, then, she has the right to stay and adjust her legal status.
2006-12-07 15:10:06 · answer #10 · answered by c00kies 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋