Widow's Torment

NY Post ^ | 7/22/02 | Brad Hunter

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July 22, 2002 -- A heartbroken 9/11 widow is waging a personal war against the INS, which is determined to kick the British national out of the country, although her two young children are Americans. Deena Gilbey's husband, Paul, described as a true hero because he helped evacuate his co-workers and stayed behind to rescue others, was a currency broker with EuroBrokers on the 84th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower.

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There's something very very wrong with a country that would throw out a hottie.

[bandlength]

that's because she doesn't normally wear a burka.

[dennisw]

If she wuz Mexican or from El Salvador she would be NO PROBLEMO! Stay as long as your want or forever!!!!

[john in missouri]

So the INS "doesn't have time" to go after zillions of Middle-East types who've flaunted go-home orders, and adamantly insists that "just talking terrorism" rather than being a "demonstrated" terrorist isn't cause for denial of entry to the USA -- but they'll arrest and deport a British MOM of AMERICAN kids whose husband was a hero (as well as a victim) in the WTC...

Good G-d, man! Who's running this country?

[bandlength]

i take a shot at the trivia question. . . the terrorists?

[APBaer]

"There's something very very wrong with a country that would throw out a hottie."

Yes, couldn't we make a real sacrifice and throw out Reno and Shalala instead?

[TADSLOS]

'Your husband has expired and so has your right to stay in this country,'

That's just not cricket.

[EdJay]

Well, yes, she's cute, and I'm sure she's a nice person. But neither of these people were American citizens! The article says they were here for 10 years before the husband died. If they were so attached to the United States, and wanted to be sure they could continue living here, they had plenty of time to start the naturalization process. They never bothered. Why didn't they?

It's not, after all, as though she were being threatened with deportation to some horrible third world hell hole. She's a British subject. All she's faced with is returning to her own country, having never thought it was worth her time to apply for U.S. citizenship.

[Senator Pardek]

Convert to Islam - ASAP!

[Redcloak]

Perhaps she should fly to TJ and sneak back across the border. The INS doesn't seem to mind it when that happens. (Must be something about "wet" Brits that bothers them.)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

hottieIs that short for hottentot?

[TADSLOS]

The article says they were here for 10 years before the husband died. If they were so attached to the United States, and wanted to be sure they could continue living here, they had plenty of time to start the naturalization process. They never bothered. Why didn't they?

FROM THE ARTICLE:

The couple had applied for green cards in 1994 but had to start the process over again when her husband changed jobs.

Deena, of Chatham, N.J., has even tried to stay under the USA Patriot Act. The law was introduced after 9/11 and allows foreign-born spouses and children of the attack victims to apply for green cards.

It appears to me like they took the necessary steps

Immigration and Naturalization Service officials said she didn't qualify because her paperwork had not reached a certain level of the process.

AKA bureacracy.

Please read the article thoroughly next time.

It's not, after all, as though she were being threatened with deportation to some horrible third world hell hole

Well, that depends on which parts of Great Britain you're referring to. Large metropolitan portions of it are looking more like a 3rd world nation every day.

Deena Gilbey's husband, Paul, described as a true hero because he helped evacuate his co-workers and stayed behind to rescue others

That's reason enough alone in my book to allow his widow to remain here in the U.S. and apply for U.S. citizenship. Some common sense and compassion should apply in this case, don't you think?