Gov't Tells Mom To Leave Terminally-Ill Child

[futurebeachbum]

What are the Immigration folks thinking?

They don't want to enforce our borders or deport illegals who are here using our services and working but they go after this woman (who entered legally and is paying her way and bringing money into the economy to boot.)

The story is here:

A Barbadian woman has one week to stay with her cancer-stricken child in Atlanta before she is required to leave the country.

Petra Gooding has been by her 7-year-old-daughter Niamh's side for 10 months while she undergoes intense chemotherapy for stage four cancer at Children?s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.

They are both in the country legally with the appropriate insurance, visas and passports, but when Niamh?s mother applied for an extension on their visitor's visas, Niamh?s extension was granted, and Gooding was given a Sept. 2 deadline to pack her bags.

Can you imagine having to abandon your terminally ill child and leave the country when you did everything legally and by the book?

 

[sunspotbaby]

Nothing about this country, this administration, this government, our policies, our laws, our stupidity surprises me anymore. The BP fiasco and the subsequent cover up is business as usual for the U.S. and has opened my eyes to how corrupt and disgusting Washington is on every level.

 

[scooterbug44]

Something about that story seemed odd - I get the feeling there is something more to it. I certainly hope so, as if not that is one stupid decision.

And the government does want to deport/enforce illegals - many of whom spend money and pay taxes here. This administration has stepped UP enforcement and deportation.

Obviously we all think this is extreme/cruel, but why is it okay to clamor for the deportation of some, but not others? Do you think no illegal aliens have sick kids?

 

[futurebeachbum]

Do you think no illegal aliens have sick kids?

I absolutely do. I also absolutely believe that most illegal aliens that have sick kids didn't bother to obey the law and come here legally and don't have the means and insurance to pay for their treatment.

This woman obeyed the law, has her own insurance which is paying for it and has the means to support herself during her child's hospitalization.

If that were not the case here, I'd still support treating the child and having the U.S. citizenry absorb the cost, but I'd also support deporting the parent.

 

[scooterbug44]

Does she have the means to support herself? It just said she had insurance.

The whole thing seems odd and the article is light on what I consider salient details.

They MIGHT be eligible for a medical visa? What kind of visa did they have before?

 

[futurebeachbum]

Does she have the means to support herself? It just said she had insurance.

The whole thing seems odd and the article is light on what I consider salient details.

They MIGHT be eligible for a medical visa? What kind of visa did they have before?

They've had one medical extension. There's a more detailed story on the AJC called "Foreign mother may be sent home while child treated for cancer"

Gooding brought Niamh here in November upon the recommendation of an oncologist in Barbados. Because treatment in Barbados for neuroblastoma is nine months, Gooding applied for corresponding visitor visas for herself and for her daughter.

But the minimum treatment for Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a condition that for Niamh, caused massive tumors to form across her abdomen, was 18 months at Children's Healthcare.

Gooding applied for an extension when she wasn't helping Niamh move around or cope with the painful effects of high-intensity chemotherapy.

 

[futurebeachbum]

The Mom's visa gets extended

Looks like the press coverage and the intervention of a US Senator changed the Immigration folk's minds.

From this AJC article:

"We did it the legal way," she said. "We aren't asking anybody to pay for us. We came in the correct way and applied for the extension long before my visa was up."

Ana Santiago, spokeswoman for the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Service, would not say what led to the denial, citing immigration privacy laws.

News of the mix-up spread through the news media, however, and reached the offices of Georgia U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

In cases such as this, Chambliss spokeswoman Ashley Nelson said a case worker contacts the federal agency involved and works to resolve the conflict.

"Our office is more than happy to assist individuals who are encountering difficulties with federal agencies," Nelson said.

 

[Andy A]

Another fine example of how convoluted our immigration policy is. She evidently did every thing right and by the book and is now being penalized for it. In the meantime, Juan sneaks across the border with his pregnant wife, accesses our medical care through the U.S. citizen's generousity, and has their baby born an American citizen. What a great country! Give to those who break our laws but penalize those who make every effort to conform with them. Makes no sense whatsoever.