Her name is Yaderlin. She entered the United States illegally from the Dominican Republic in 2001. She married Army Spec. Alex Jimenez in 2004. His lawyer along with Jimenez applied for a green card and legal residence status. Army Spec. Jimenez and his unit came under attack by insurgents in Iraq on May 12, 2007 – he has been missing ever since.
Now, a judge has halted the proceedings because her husband is missing. Their attorney is seeking a hardship waiver to keep Yaderlin in the country. She is currently living with her spouse’s family in Pennsylvania.
Under normal circumstances, Yaderlin is not eligible for a green card. But if she is deported, it will be a decade before she can reapply for admission to the United States. Currently, U.S. forces are still searching for Private Brian Fouty of Waterford Michigan as well as Army Specialist Jimenez.
According to news reports, the soldiers’ identification cards were discovered at a safe house for al-Qaeda north of Baghdad along with computers, weapons and video equipment. Earlier this month, a video was posted to the Internet claiming that soldiers were killed and buried. They used the IDs to provide their only proof.
During the attack on Jimenez’ unit, four U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi translator were killed. A third soldier who went missing, was later found in the Euphrates River. At this time, there is still no proof as to the fate of Army Specialist Jimenez and Private Fouty.
Yaderlin Jimenez’ lawyer told a Boston television station
I can’t imagine a bigger injustice than that, to be deporting someone’s wife who is fighting and possibly dying for our country.
So now, Yaderlin is waiting not only for word of what happened to her husband, but also to whether she will even be here should he be able to return home.
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