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Death stymies soldier son's bid to get mother green card
Thursday, February 25, 2010
By this time last year, Eugenia Galdos son had this February planned.
The 25-year-old Army sergeant, Christian Bueno-Galdos, would come home to Paterson on leave from his second tour of duty in Iraq, his mother finally would have legal immigration status, and together theyd take a trip to their native Peru, for the annual Carnival.
Instead, Christian Bueno-Galdos body lies at the Totowa Cemetery. And immigration officials have not yet decided on his 2008 application seeking U.S. permanent residency for his mother, who could face deportation.
Galdos was one of five soldiers killed last May by a distraught fellow trooper who opened fire on them at a medical clinic at Camp Liberty in Iraq.
"I go to his grave at least every other day," said Galdos, who is 54, dresses in black, and has a black ribbon hanging on the door to her apartment. "I keep his grave clear, neat, whether its clearing away the snow or placing flowers. Sometimes I feel a gnawing unrest, and my husband says Its because you must visit his grave today. Go to the cemetery, that is what is making you anxious. "
"It is important to visit him," Galdos said, in Spanish, in her neatly furnished apartment on Columbia Avenue, adorned with pictures of Christian in his Army uniform. "This is the biggest reason why I want to stay in this country, which Christian loved so much."
The Bueno-Galdos family came about 20 years ago, joining the tens of thousands of other Peruvians who have settled in Paterson over the years. Years later, when Galdos applied for permanent residency, she was denied and ordered deported. The rest of the family had obtained their immigration documents, Galdos said, and Galdos held out hope that she, too, would be able to do so.
Christian, who decided in high school to enlist in the Army, made it a mission to help his mother gain her residency. In late 2008, after Christian submitted the petition on behalf of his mother, an immigration judge dismissed the deportation order and accepted her sons application, Galdos said.
"Everything seemed to be moving along," she said.
But after Christian died, the residency process stalled, said his father, Carlos Bueno. In a meeting with immigration authorities, the couple said, officials brought up the old deportation order. Since then, immigration officials have told the family, as well as aides to Sen. Bob Menendez, to whom the family turned for help, that they are still looking into the case.
Asked to comment on the Paterson mothers application, immigration officials would not discuss the details of Galdos case, citing confidentiality.
Carlos Bueno, who is 59 and says his health has declined dramatically since the death of his son, says he understands that immigration officials have their own priorities and a job to do.
But, he asked, "How can this situation be seen solely through legal technicalities? Why dont they see a mother who wants to go to the grave of her son, who wants to always be with him, at least that way? One of my sons last, strongest wishes was to help his mother get her legal residency. Wed like to see finished what Christian started."
Galdos almost had decided to send her youngest sons body back to Peru to be buried.
But the more she thought about it, the more it became clear that this country had to be her sons final resting place.
"This was truly his country," she said. "Yes, he loved Peru, but as more of a place to visit. This was home, this was the country he said hed give his life up for defending, if it came to that."
His parents look at letters top Army officials sent to them, telling them what an asset Christian was to the military. The letters tell the parents how respected Christian was among his peers.
One official wrote that in his more than 20 years in the military, hed never seen such an outpouring of love as he had at a memorial for Christian in Iraq.
"This family has been through enough," said Jack Fanous, executive director of G.I. Go Fund, a Newark-based, non-profit advocacy group for veterans. Group members have accompanied the family on visits to the immigration office in Newark and to Menendezs office. "For their son to give his life for this country, and for us to show this mother the door is unacceptable. This familys price of admission has been paid above and beyond what we ask."
She had a son?
Not to belittle her sons contribution in any way, but what has she done?
Hell must surely be freezing over. I agree, what has she done?
She had a son?
Not to belittle her sons contribution in any way, but what has she done?
Why did I even bother to post the article if you're not going to read it?
She came here from Peru legally. Her son joined the military at 18 and was serving.
He got his US Citizenship from serving in the military, and then was sponsoring his mother so that she could have permanent status green card.
The application was almost finished when he was killed last month by that lunatic who shot up a mental clinic in Baghdad (her son was one of the victims).
Now? Because her sponsor was her son, her application to stay here is in danger.
I think she should be allowed to stay. She's been here legally for the past 20 years, and has given her own family in defense of this country.
That qualifies in my book.
Hell must surely be freezing over. I agree, what has she done?
Satan is ice-skating, because I am also agreeing with USC. SHE hasn't done anything for this country. Her son did.
Now, barring a reasonable answer to the admittedly confusing question of why she was denied residency when the rest of her family was granted it, I would be perfectly okay with the idea of granting her citizenship as the last wish of a soldier who gave his life for this country.
I think this is one of those instances where the law sucks. This young man died serving this country, the least we could do is honor the wish of his mother being granted citizenship. It isn't about the mother. It is about what a fallen soldier wanted.
Why didn't she obtain her immigration documents like the rest of her family? It says she was here legally for 20 years and her son was her sponsor . . . but he was just 18 . . . so how is it that she is no longer here legally just because he died? If she was here legally when he was 8, what changed? Seems there is info missing . . . .
Why didn't she obtain her immigration documents like the rest of her family? It says she was here legally for 20 years and her son was her sponsor . . . but he was just 18 . . . so how is it that she is no longer here legally just because he died? If she was here legally when he was 8, what changed? Seems there is info missing . . . .
I think this is one of those instances where the law sucks. This young man died serving this country, the least we could do is honor the wish of his mother being granted citizenship. It isn't about the mother. It is about what a fallen soldier wanted.
Death stymies soldier son's bid to get mother green card
Thursday, February 25, 2010
By this time last year, Eugenia Galdos son had this February planned.
The 25-year-old Army sergeant, Christian Bueno-Galdos, would come home to Paterson on leave from his second tour of duty in Iraq, his mother finally would have legal immigration status, and together theyd take a trip to their native Peru, for the annual Carnival.
Instead, Christian Bueno-Galdos body lies at the Totowa Cemetery. And immigration officials have not yet decided on his 2008 application seeking U.S. permanent residency for his mother, who could face deportation.
Galdos was one of five soldiers killed last May by a distraught fellow trooper who opened fire on them at a medical clinic at Camp Liberty in Iraq.
"I go to his grave at least every other day," said Galdos, who is 54, dresses in black, and has a black ribbon hanging on the door to her apartment. "I keep his grave clear, neat, whether its clearing away the snow or placing flowers. Sometimes I feel a gnawing unrest, and my husband says Its because you must visit his grave today. Go to the cemetery, that is what is making you anxious. "
"It is important to visit him," Galdos said, in Spanish, in her neatly furnished apartment on Columbia Avenue, adorned with pictures of Christian in his Army uniform. "This is the biggest reason why I want to stay in this country, which Christian loved so much."
The Bueno-Galdos family came about 20 years ago, joining the tens of thousands of other Peruvians who have settled in Paterson over the years. Years later, when Galdos applied for permanent residency, she was denied and ordered deported. The rest of the family had obtained their immigration documents, Galdos said, and Galdos held out hope that she, too, would be able to do so.
Christian, who decided in high school to enlist in the Army, made it a mission to help his mother gain her residency. In late 2008, after Christian submitted the petition on behalf of his mother, an immigration judge dismissed the deportation order and accepted her sons application, Galdos said.
"Everything seemed to be moving along," she said.
But after Christian died, the residency process stalled, said his father, Carlos Bueno. In a meeting with immigration authorities, the couple said, officials brought up the old deportation order. Since then, immigration officials have told the family, as well as aides to Sen. Bob Menendez, to whom the family turned for help, that they are still looking into the case.
Asked to comment on the Paterson mothers application, immigration officials would not discuss the details of Galdos case, citing confidentiality.
Carlos Bueno, who is 59 and says his health has declined dramatically since the death of his son, says he understands that immigration officials have their own priorities and a job to do.
But, he asked, "How can this situation be seen solely through legal technicalities? Why dont they see a mother who wants to go to the grave of her son, who wants to always be with him, at least that way? One of my sons last, strongest wishes was to help his mother get her legal residency. Wed like to see finished what Christian started."
Galdos almost had decided to send her youngest sons body back to Peru to be buried.
But the more she thought about it, the more it became clear that this country had to be her sons final resting place.
"This was truly his country," she said. "Yes, he loved Peru, but as more of a place to visit. This was home, this was the country he said hed give his life up for defending, if it came to that."
His parents look at letters top Army officials sent to them, telling them what an asset Christian was to the military. The letters tell the parents how respected Christian was among his peers.
One official wrote that in his more than 20 years in the military, hed never seen such an outpouring of love as he had at a memorial for Christian in Iraq.
"This family has been through enough," said Jack Fanous, executive director of G.I. Go Fund, a Newark-based, non-profit advocacy group for veterans. Group members have accompanied the family on visits to the immigration office in Newark and to Menendezs office. "For their son to give his life for this country, and for us to show this mother the door is unacceptable. This familys price of admission has been paid above and beyond what we ask."
NorthJersey.com: Dead soldier?s mom still fighting to stay in U.S.
The really sad thing is that this soldier was killed by the dude who snapped off line at the clinic in Baghdad. He had already made US citizen, and was sponsoring his mother.
They were almost home free when he was killed senselessly.
I think this woman should be allowed to stay, she's done more for this country than most.
okay i left...not meaning to say anything on this thread..but then it struck me...what did you people do ..not you crimson but the rest of you..other than being lucky enough to be born here...(i am deleting a lot of words cause we aint in the flame zone..but you know i am thinking them)
so tell me you pompous bunch of asses...what did you do to earn being a citizen?
step up and post what great things you have done to earn your citizenship?
bunch of mo fo assholes.....just think you are so damned special...and i want to know why...
okay i left...not meaning to say anything on this thread..but then it struck me...what did you people do ..not you crimson but the rest of you..other than being lucky enough to be born here...(i am deleting a lot of words cause we aint in the flame zone..but you know i am thinking them)
so tell me you pompous bunch of asses...what did you do to earn being a citizen?
step up and post what great things you have done to earn your citizenship?
bunch of mo fo assholes.....just think you are so damned special...and i want to know why...
I served in combat in Nam.
My father served in WW2.
