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At least I think it's too late - I believe she was already deported this yr.
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<span style="font-size: 17pt">
<span style="font-weight: bold">Congress Passes Green-card Bill for Spouses of Deceased U.S. Citizens</span></span>
Widows and widowers would now be eligible regardless of when their partners died or how long they were married. <span style="color: #FF0000">The measure awaits President Obama's signature</span>.
By Anna Gorman
October 21, 2009
Congress passed a bill Tuesday that would make widows and widowers of U.S. citizens eligible for green cards even if their spouses died before their applications were approved.
The measure, part of the more than $40-billion Homeland Security appropriations bill, ends the "widow penalty," which required couples to be married for two years before the surviving spouse would be eligible to apply for residency. Now, surviving spouses can apply for a green card for themselves and their children regardless of when the U.S. citizen died or how long they were married.
There are believed to be a few hundred cases affected nationwide, including that of Dahianna Heard, whose husband was fatally shot while working for a private security contractor in Iraq; Raquel Williams, whose husband died of sleep apnea and heart problems; and Ana Maria Moncayo-Gigax, whose husband was killed in a car crash while on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol. Many are fighting deportation, and others have already been deported.
"It was just something crying out to be fixed," said Brent Renison, who has been fighting to get the law changed since 2004. "These cases should have been approved."
Renison had fought the case in courts around the nation, including in Los Angeles, where a judge this year ordered the Department of Homeland Security to reopen the immigration cases of nearly two dozen people who were denied green cards because of the deaths of their spouses.
In June, the federal government announced that it would suspend deportation proceedings for two years so applicants could stay in the U.S. while resolving their legal status. But Renison said that didn't go far enough and continued to push Congress to change the law.
The bill now goes to President Obama.
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July 29, 2009, 7:01AM
I remember this story. It's sad about the loss of her husband. But <span style="color: #FF0000">I still feel she should be deported back to Jamaica. We have enough foreigners in this country as it is
</span>. If she wants to stay here then go through the necessary steps like other immigrants to receive the status she wants.
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goober49
Posted by goober49
July 29, 2009, 7:15AM
<span style="color: #FF0000">Im sure she got a big paycheck, she can be president in Jamaica now.</span>
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doctorphil1
Posted by doctorphil1
July 29, 2009, 7:24AM
We play the game by following the rules. The rules require an immigrant to be married for two years to remain in the country if the American spouse dies.<span style="color: #FF0000"> At least she is being deported to her native country and not another country where she does not know anyone or speak the language. And the settlement check will make her life quite comfortable. </span>
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2pcsuit
Posted by 2pcsuit
July 29, 2009, 7:45AM
I have two questions for the previous posters: Do you even know how much money she got? And would you take the same amount in exchange for being uprooted from your home?
The law says this isn't her country, but it is her home. I'm not saying she should stay, but maybe you all shouldn't be so quick to write her off.
A little compassion, maybe?
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jamaicax
Posted by jamaicax
July 29, 2009, 7:52AM
Some of these comments are down-right racist, and this is not the first time I've notice this on this forum. If there were as much bureaucracy when some of your foreparents were shipped from England as criminals, their vessels would have already sunk. Be tolerant! There's enough room for all of us, and it's natural for people to seek better living elsewhere, and what better place than the US to seek this?
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bengal62
Posted by bengal62
July 29, 2009, 8:20AM
I'm for giving her the opportunity to apply for citizenship. She and her husband were following the rules. it was not her fault that he was killed in this accident. Their intent was to obey the law.
We should be trying to reward immigrants who follow the rules, not punish them when something unfortunate happens to them. Unless there are other reasons for her deportation, ie criminal behavior etc. I say, Let her stay.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...d_died_in.html</span>
---
<span style="font-size: 17pt">
<span style="font-weight: bold">Congress Passes Green-card Bill for Spouses of Deceased U.S. Citizens</span></span>
Widows and widowers would now be eligible regardless of when their partners died or how long they were married. <span style="color: #FF0000">The measure awaits President Obama's signature</span>.
By Anna Gorman
October 21, 2009
Congress passed a bill Tuesday that would make widows and widowers of U.S. citizens eligible for green cards even if their spouses died before their applications were approved.
The measure, part of the more than $40-billion Homeland Security appropriations bill, ends the "widow penalty," which required couples to be married for two years before the surviving spouse would be eligible to apply for residency. Now, surviving spouses can apply for a green card for themselves and their children regardless of when the U.S. citizen died or how long they were married.
There are believed to be a few hundred cases affected nationwide, including that of Dahianna Heard, whose husband was fatally shot while working for a private security contractor in Iraq; Raquel Williams, whose husband died of sleep apnea and heart problems; and Ana Maria Moncayo-Gigax, whose husband was killed in a car crash while on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol. Many are fighting deportation, and others have already been deported.
"It was just something crying out to be fixed," said Brent Renison, who has been fighting to get the law changed since 2004. "These cases should have been approved."
Renison had fought the case in courts around the nation, including in Los Angeles, where a judge this year ordered the Department of Homeland Security to reopen the immigration cases of nearly two dozen people who were denied green cards because of the deaths of their spouses.
In June, the federal government announced that it would suspend deportation proceedings for two years so applicants could stay in the U.S. while resolving their legal status. But Renison said that didn't go far enough and continued to push Congress to change the law.
The bill now goes to President Obama.
---
<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Comments</span>
(10 total)
Post a comment
Oldest comments are shown first. Show newest comments first
July 29, 2009, 7:01AM
I remember this story. It's sad about the loss of her husband. But <span style="color: #FF0000">I still feel she should be deported back to Jamaica. We have enough foreigners in this country as it is
</span>. If she wants to stay here then go through the necessary steps like other immigrants to receive the status she wants.Inappropriate comment? Alert us.
Reply to this comment
goober49
Posted by goober49
July 29, 2009, 7:15AM
<span style="color: #FF0000">Im sure she got a big paycheck, she can be president in Jamaica now.
</span>Inappropriate comment? Alert us.
Reply to this comment
doctorphil1
Posted by doctorphil1
July 29, 2009, 7:24AM
We play the game by following the rules. The rules require an immigrant to be married for two years to remain in the country if the American spouse dies.<span style="color: #FF0000"> At least she is being deported to her native country and not another country where she does not know anyone or speak the language. And the settlement check will make her life quite comfortable.
</span>Inappropriate comment? Alert us.
Reply to this comment
2pcsuit
Posted by 2pcsuit
July 29, 2009, 7:45AM
I have two questions for the previous posters: Do you even know how much money she got? And would you take the same amount in exchange for being uprooted from your home?
The law says this isn't her country, but it is her home. I'm not saying she should stay, but maybe you all shouldn't be so quick to write her off.
A little compassion, maybe?
Inappropriate comment? Alert us.
Reply to this comment
jamaicax
Posted by jamaicax
July 29, 2009, 7:52AM
Some of these comments are down-right racist, and this is not the first time I've notice this on this forum. If there were as much bureaucracy when some of your foreparents were shipped from England as criminals, their vessels would have already sunk. Be tolerant! There's enough room for all of us, and it's natural for people to seek better living elsewhere, and what better place than the US to seek this?
Inappropriate comment? Alert us.
Reply to this comment
bengal62
Posted by bengal62
July 29, 2009, 8:20AM
I'm for giving her the opportunity to apply for citizenship. She and her husband were following the rules. it was not her fault that he was killed in this accident. Their intent was to obey the law.
We should be trying to reward immigrants who follow the rules, not punish them when something unfortunate happens to them. Unless there are other reasons for her deportation, ie criminal behavior etc. I say, Let her stay.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...d_died_in.html</span>