ARMENIAN WOMAN FACES DEPORTATION IN U.S.
hetq
[ 2011/03/04 | 13:03 ]
U.S. immigration officials have told Silva Mamigonian that she must
return to her native Armenia by March 17.
The Rancho Cordova woman faces deportation because she entered this
country illegally nine years ago with someone else’s passport and
claimed to be a U.S. citizen, officials contend.
“The courts dismissed that claim as false but ICE (Immigration and
Customs Enforcement) continues to state it as fact,” said family
friend Russ Reece. “Now the family is falling apart.”
Mamigonian and her Armenian-born husband, Nishan Simonyan, a U.S.
citizen, have two young sons, who also are U.S. citizens.
Reece said friends and family have helped with the couple’s $100,000
legal fees, including a recent $7,000 retainer to Mamigonian’s
attorney.
A hearing about her deportation is pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals.
From: A. Papazian