Jun 26, 2007 11:00 pm US/Eastern
Wife Of Missing Lawrence Soldier Speaks Out
by Beth Germano
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Yaderlin married Alex Jimenez three years ago.
WBZ
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Spc. Alex R. Jimenez still photo
WBZ
The wife of a Massachusetts soldier kidnapped in Iraq is telling her story for the first time. Yaderlin Jimenez has been living with the despair of not knowing her husband's fate, and the threat of her own deportation, but she is still holding out hope.
They were teenagers when they met in her native Dominican Republic. Then, Yaderlin Hiraldo-Jimenez became an army wife three years ago, but is still an illegal alien with the threat of deportation hanging over her.
Her case is close to being resolved, but the question of her husband's whereabouts is far from answered.
Yaderlin waits for word everyday, and for weeks it hasn't come about her husband Alex Jimenez. "You know the situation is horrible...I feel so sad. You see the situation happens now, I was worrying about that," she tells WBZ's Beth Germano.
Worried about what could happen in Iraq, and it did on May 12 when Alex was ambushed by insurgents. So far, only his military ID has been found. She's seen the video of his captors claiming he was killed. "I don't believe it… he's still alive."
Her own situation became a national rallying cry -- having entered the United States illegally, Yaderlin was in danger of being deported and she still worries now. "I'm worried because I don't want to go over there… I waited for him… I want to be here when he comes back."
She spoke with her husband just three days before he went missing. They were together only three days before he went for this second tour in Iraq. There have been letters to the Department of Homeland Security from Sen. Kerry on her behalf.
She has words of gratitude. "I never lose hope… I want to say thank you for your help."
A judge has formally closed her deportation case, and her attorney tells WBZ's Beth Germano, her application for a green card will soon be reviewed now that she's considered paroled into the United States.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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