Removal of Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
PREGNANT U.S. CITIZEN WIFE TORN APART FROM HUSBAND
Broken immigration laws force young husband to leave the country weeks before his wife gives birth to their child
What: Press Conference
When: Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Where: Immigrant Legal Resource Center
1663 Mission Street, Ste. 602
San Francisco, CA 94103
San Francisco, CA – August 7, 2007 – This should be a joyful and exciting time for U.S. citizen Tanya Cruz’ young family. Tanya and her husband, Juan, will be having a baby in less than five weeks. Unfortunately, instead of spending this last month shopping for baby clothes and decorating their baby’s nursery, Tanya and Juan will spend it separated, each in a different country, divided by a broken immigration system that allows families like this one to be torn apart.
“It’s unfair,” says Tanya. “The divorce rate is so high, especially for young people. Here we are starting a family and it’s being separated, not because of us, but because of the way immigration laws are.”
Although Tanya is a U.S. citizen, Juan is not. He was brought to the United States from Mexico by his parents when he was four years old. The couple is applying to obtain permission for Juan to immigrate legally as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. However, Juan’s parents had previously filed an application for themselves and Juan based on bad legal advice from an attorney who has since withdrawn from the Bar. When this application failed, Juan and his parents were given until August 13 to voluntarily leave the country. Juan will leave the United States on August 9, exactly one month before his wife’s September 9 due date, in order to have time to drive to Mexico. During his baby’s first months of life, Juan will be in Ciudad Juarez waiting to get an interview at the U.S. Consulate so that he can return to the U.S. The family has been told that the process can take longer than six months.
“I can’t be there for my son’s birth,” says Juan. “I’m going to miss out on the first three to four months, even a year of his life. I feel useless not helping my wife in any way.”
This terrible example of the flaws in our immigration system has prompted Tanya Cruz, el Comité de Padres Unidos, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and other supporters of this young family to hold a press conference on Thursday, August 9 at 12 noon, at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center to express their sadness and the need to change the laws that are forcing Juan to leave for Mexico and leave Tanya and their baby at this critical time. These supporters are also requesting that the immigration and consular authorities hold Juan’s interview as soon as possible. The press is also welcome to cover Juan’s actual departure, which is planned for 11 p.m., August 9, from their house at 59 Mar Vista, Daly City, CA.
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