Jun 21, 2007 6:49 pm US/Eastern
Missing Soldier's Wife Will Not Be Deported
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Immigration offiicals said Thursday they are working to terminate removal proceedings against the wife of a Lawrence soldier who is missing in Iraq.
Yaderlin Hiraldo was facing possible deportation because she had entered the U.S. illegally back in 2001. Hiraldo is married to Army specialist Alex Jimenez, who was kidnapped last month.
In a letter to Senator John Kerry, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Yaderlin will be allowed to stay in the country and apply for permanent resident status.
"With my greatest respect for her husband's service to our Nation and my sincere hope for his safe return, I write to inform you that I have instructed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to take immediate action to resolve her immigration issues."
A judge still needs to sign off on the request to terminate the removal proceedings.
Senators Kerry and Kennedy reached out to the DHS and other immigration officials upon learning of Yaderlin's situation.
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