Zahrija spent her last 30 years in the U.S. raising 3 children, working and paying taxes, but last week the 50-year-old, was put on a plane and sent home.
Even though Zahrija has no criminal record and a pending motion for a stay of removal in federal appeals court, immigration authorities ordered her to pack her belongings, purchase a plane ticket and remove herself from the country.
Upon arriving the airport, her family members and friends alongside 2 ICE agents were waiting for her. ICE told Zahrija that she had not been granted a stay and that she would be escorted to her flight.
During the sad and emotional goodbye, Zahrija’s friend of 16 years old collapsed to the floor while hugging her. After regaining consciousness, the woman asked the ICE agents if they could say one last goodbye.
The agent replied with a strong “No” and escorted Zahrija to her plane.
Zahrija’s lawyer called the deportation unethical. Zahrija has no family or place to live in her native land, having never gone back since moving to the U.S. at the young age of 19.
Zahrija’s attorney, Carrie Pastor said, “This is a good example of the nonsensical deportations that we are seeing”, “She has no criminal record and yet she was denied asylum many years ago, but we have no idea why since the court records have been damaged.
Earlier this year, Zahrija though she had a promising interview with ICE, and was under the impression that she was going to be approved for a work visa. But her hopes were shattered after her second interview.
“They basically told her she has to get a ticket and has to leave by this date”, said her son. “When she gets the ticket to go back home, she has to prove that she bought the ticket.”
“Her leaving, I don’t even like to think about it. It stresses me out,” Arian said before his mother’s deportation.
ICE agents stationed at the airport told her she would be banned from re-entering to the U.S. for 10 years. But that the family could apply for a waiver that would allow her to return. The application process could take a year or longer, according to the American Immigration Council.
Zahrija’s family has struggled to cope with her impending removal. Her youngest son Elvir Purovic, 23, said he had been holding onto “that last grip of hope” that a court decision would allow her to remain in the country. “It hurts,” he said.
“The way you portray immigrants as criminals… She’s literally a number – this is how many immigrants are deported. This is the number, it sucks. I don’t know what to do. It isn’t right.”
Inspired by MLive// Woman deported after 30 years in U.S.