LilMtnCbn
11-26-2003, 05:39 AM
http://keysnews.com/279202236680037.bsp.htm
Judge cancels deportation proceedings for Polish teen
BY MANDY BOLEN
keysnews.com
KEY WEST -- Ana Trawinska is here to stay.
An immigration judge Tuesday officially ended the deportation proceedings that
could have forced the Key West High School honor student to return to Poland --
the country she and her mother left when Ana was 8 years old.
Ana has been navigating the labyrinth of immigration policies since her mother
died about four years ago, leaving Ana alone in a country that did not know she
existed. Her father, who was also having immigration difficulties, disappeared
after being arrested by immigration officials and for the past year, Ana has
not known whether he is alive or dead.
Delaine and Jim Lowry have been providing for Ana since her father's
disappearance and adopted Ana at one point, until it was determined that an
adoption would be detrimental to her immigration status because she was older
than 16 at the time.
The adoption was nullified and with help from immigration attorney Manny Avila,
Ana was declared a Special Juvenile Immigrant, and became, in effect, a
temporary ward of the state, but continued to live with the Lowrys.
"Next we will be filing a petition to adjust her status to a permanent
resident," Avila said Tuesday, adding that it still could take three to 12
months for her to receive work authorization and a Social Security number.
But the wait is better than a return to Poland.
Ana was relieved at the cancellation of the deportation proceedings, but was a
little frustrated by the next expected delay because a Social Security number
is required for college applications. She will graduate in May with high
honors.
She and the Lowrys are hoping U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who has been
following Ana's situation and expressing her support, might be able to expedite
the next process.
"It's just one baby step at a time, but at least she absolutely cannot be
deported now," Delaine Lowry said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
Judge cancels deportation proceedings for Polish teen
BY MANDY BOLEN
keysnews.com
KEY WEST -- Ana Trawinska is here to stay.
An immigration judge Tuesday officially ended the deportation proceedings that
could have forced the Key West High School honor student to return to Poland --
the country she and her mother left when Ana was 8 years old.
Ana has been navigating the labyrinth of immigration policies since her mother
died about four years ago, leaving Ana alone in a country that did not know she
existed. Her father, who was also having immigration difficulties, disappeared
after being arrested by immigration officials and for the past year, Ana has
not known whether he is alive or dead.
Delaine and Jim Lowry have been providing for Ana since her father's
disappearance and adopted Ana at one point, until it was determined that an
adoption would be detrimental to her immigration status because she was older
than 16 at the time.
The adoption was nullified and with help from immigration attorney Manny Avila,
Ana was declared a Special Juvenile Immigrant, and became, in effect, a
temporary ward of the state, but continued to live with the Lowrys.
"Next we will be filing a petition to adjust her status to a permanent
resident," Avila said Tuesday, adding that it still could take three to 12
months for her to receive work authorization and a Social Security number.
But the wait is better than a return to Poland.
Ana was relieved at the cancellation of the deportation proceedings, but was a
little frustrated by the next expected delay because a Social Security number
is required for college applications. She will graduate in May with high
honors.
She and the Lowrys are hoping U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who has been
following Ana's situation and expressing her support, might be able to expedite
the next process.
"It's just one baby step at a time, but at least she absolutely cannot be
deported now," Delaine Lowry said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
