US News
U.S. sailor pleads ‘Don't deport my wife’
By Karyn Chenoweth Oct 4, 2007, 14:27 GMT
Eduardo Gonzalez, a petty officer second class with the U.S. Navy, is about to be deployed overseas for a third time. Making his deployment even tougher is the fact his wife may not be around when he comes back.
Mildred and Eduardo Gonzalez worry about what would happen to their family if she is deported.
CNN reports his illegal immigrant wife faces deportation to Guatemala -- her home country that she left in 1989. He also doesn't know what would happen to his young son, Eduardo Jr., if that happens.
"I like being in uniform and serving my country, but if she goes back I'm going to have to give it all up and just get out and take care of my son and get a job," he said.
"Defending the country that's trying to kick my family out is a thought that always runs through my mind."
Gonzalez, who works on helicopters that bring cargo, supplies and military personnel in and out of Iraq, testified before a House Judiciary Committee panel last month, detailing his situation and urging officials to consider some sort of policy to deal with cases like his, where military members' families could be deported while they're defending their country overseas. Video Watch "they're tearing families apart"
"I want to serve my country 100 percent. But with this issue in the back of my mind, I feel I can't do that," he testified on September 6.
The U.S. military does not have a policy to deal with such cases. Each is handled case-by-case, not by the military, but by immigration authorities. The government doesn't have numbers on how many military members are in predicaments similar to Gonzalez's.
Immigration officials also said marrying a U.S. citizen does not mean the spouse is automatically entitled to U.S. citizenship or permanent legal status.
Lt. Col. Margaret Stock, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves who teaches immigration law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, said she believes there should be an overall policy dealing with the potential deportation of family members of active duty military members.
"You got to understand. When you're in a combat zone, you need to be focusing all of your energies on fighting the enemy. You can't be worried that your loved ones back home could be shipped off to a foreign country where you're never going to see them again," she said.
Stock also said the government is conflicted about how to treat such cases. On the one hand, the government is supposed to be providing military families with assistance, housing and other forms of benefits while their spouses are overseas.
On the other hand, the same government is trying to deport the very same people.
"What's happening right now is, because of the dysfunction and complexity of our immigration laws, we've got people fighting overseas who are facing the impossible situation of having family members facing deportation back home," she said.
In Gonzalez's case, his wife, Mildred, came to the United States with her mother in 1989 when she was 5 years old. They were granted political asylum because of their status as war refugees from Guatemala.
In September 2000, Mildred's mother applied for legalization and included her daughter in that application. Her mother was granted legal status in July 2004, according to Gonzalez.
However, six weeks earlier, Gonzalez and Mildred got married, canceling Mildred's ability to apply for legal status through her mother because she was no longer an unmarried daughter under the age of 21. As a result, her legal status still remains in jeopardy.
A judge in June granted her a one-year extension to remain in the United States. If her legal status does not change by June 8, 2008, she will have 60 days to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation.
That's just fine, according to Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which lobbies for tougher laws on illegal immigration.
"What you're talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces, and that's just outrageous," he said. "What we're talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military. ... There's no justification for that kind of policy."
Gonzalez said that type of response is unjustified. "I'm trying to make his country better -- my country better -- and it should be her country too."
Gonzalez himself entered the country legally, crossing the Mexican border with his family when he was about 10. He joined the Navy as a so-called "green-card sailor" and became a U.S. citizen in July 2005. The military does accept some immigrants who aren't U.S. citizens.
"I understand the laws have to be followed and guidelines and a system must be maintained, but on the other token, there are times when the situation is just out of their reach," Gonzalez said to CNN.
His wife, Mildred, added, "We didn't come here to break the law. We just want to feel safe and have a home just like everybody else."
U.S. Army Sgt. Emmanuel Woko, a member of the Army's 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division who faces his third tour in Iraq, understands just how Gonzalez and his family feel. His wife and children could be sent back to Nigeria.
"My heart is bleeding on the thought that my wife could be deported back to Nigeria while I am deployed in Iraq," he said. "I am extremely distressed and distracted by the thought."
That's a sentiment echoed by Gonzalez to CNN: "We are not asking for anything. We are just asking for our families to stay with us.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Try to do it soon!
What this story neglected to mention was that in the time she had been in the US (since she was 5) she knew she was here illegally and had ample opprotunities to gain citizenship, yet she didn't. Was she employed? Going to school? Getting government benefits?
As well, she married a sailor who KNEW her status was illegal and by law and military standards that means he broke the numerous laws. She was on as his dependent, getting medical care and all the other rights given to a miltary spouse all the while they both knew she faced the possibility of deportation. WHY didnt they seek help PRIOR to his deployment??? These 6 month cruises aren't sprung on sailors, they know well in advance so that issues at home can be resolved.
To top it all off, instead of going through his chain of command he chose to break military protocol in hopes of getting the publics sympathy and NOT let his superiors know of his predicament. He broke a cardinal military rule and went to the media. He really needs to be punished for his stupidity, and be made to read his Blue Jacket manual! While I hate the fact of a family being torn apart, both the husband and his illegal immigrant wife need to be held accountable for their ignorance and wrong doing. We have too many sailors who work and play by the book and this one sailor is making it hard for those who follow the rules and guidelines to get the benefits they actually have earned. Same on him!
As well, my husband who is stationed with this sailor was once told 'Your family doesnt come with your seabag'. Had I been doing something illegal and my husband was aware of my wrongdoing, then my husband could face a fate in his command for hiding my illegal wrong doings.
This sailor who is 'Fighting the war on terrorism' truly doesnt want to return to the middle east, and this could be why he chose NOT to straighten out this mess with immigration before facing his deployment. My husband was forced to go to sea eight days before I gave birth to our first child. I was a high risk pregnancy and staying home wasnt an otion for my husband. You learn to deal as a military member and in no way, shape or form should he, his wife or family be given special consideration because he refused to play by military standards.
You got it right Cynthia! They had plenty of time to fix this little problem of theirs, but chose not to. Now it's time to pay the piper like every other criminal. Maybe all 3 of them should go back to Guatemala, especially since he's insinuating that he doesn't want to defend our country 100% anymore.
First of all to cynthia I am glad that you are not one of the families going through that same situation. If you would have read the complete article than you would have seen that they were working on her status. The only reason was that they got married weeks before they had any idea that she would have been granted lagal status. Second how would you feel if they told you that there was a chance you were not going to be able to see your husband or kids who knows for how long? think about that before you post stupid comments like that and before you go to bed look at you kids and think what if that was the last time you saw them.
I agree with Navy Wife. So much hate does no one any good. There needs to be plans in place to deal with situations like these - it's a sad story.
I think in certain cases where a parent brings a child over at a very early age the child while growing up in the USA is unaware of the 'laws' because it is the duty of the 'parents' to ensure all documents are correct. If a parent says yes all is well , the child thinks ok all is well. Many many immigrants are uninformed as to the laws and time frames of when things must be done which would be the fault of immigration officials who allowed them to enter the country and not helping to inform such individuals who are basically clueless without that kind of assistance to know. Maybe it would be of great benefit for all parties involved to have education on what these laws really are in plain language without any frills or code talk.
Open Letter to European Commission:
Attn: European Commission:
Dear Sir or Madame,
I am a theoretical Physicist holding German citizenship
and the passport of the Republic of Poland and world expert
in Condensed Matter Theory.
On June 2007 I was arrested by the United States Border Protection
Service while I was trying to get to Canada for Polish (European
Community passport found with me with expired USA visa stamp
when waiting for extension and adjustment of my US work visa.
I was tortured with one week of forcible travel to concentration
camp in Florence Arizona when I was kept for two mounts with
citizens of Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador in amounts about
200 per one cell and forced to public showers for stamp
in European passport.
I immigrated to United States from Poland for the purpose
of PhD studies in the University of Rochester holding student
visa forced by hunger in Republic of Poland before its
EU membership, was never
charged by the United States of any crime neither worked there
illigally to laws of the United States,
I request the investigation against the United States government,
United States and the persons involved and ask the
European commission to stop the diplomatic
relations with the United States and all economic, banking and trade
ties until I am allowed to return to my home in Utah, car
detained at Canadian border and
property based
of natural law and common understanding of rights.
This mistreatment of European scientist by the government
of United States must face immediate response of the
European Union and must be explained.
Sincerely,
Matt Kalinski
Mi deportación de EE.UU en Junio 2007
h
ttp://mkkes.blox.pl/html
My deportation from the US in June 2007:
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page: 1
Garrett 'Garrdor' DeRoseOct 4th, 2007 - 14:39:35
Stories like these are the little things that build up in the minds and hearts of Americans. When will somebody stand up to all of this and end this broken system?
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