Gli Stati Uniti deportano la madre polacca dopo oltre 20 anni nel paese

A Polish woman who lived and raised a family in the United States for over 20 years has been deported from the country, despite a desperate plea from her heartbroken relatives.

Irina Sobierajska was forced to return to Poland last Friday after authorities gave her 48 hours to leave the country she had called home since 2004, Detroit news outlet Local 4 reported.

She had lived in the U.S. twice as long as she ever lived in Poland, and leaves her husband and two children behind in Macomb County near Detroit.

Before leaving, the 62-year-old told Local 4 that she does not know anyone in Poland. “How can you go back to a country [where] you have literally nothing?” she said.

The deportation order came despite Sobierajska’s stay of removal request to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The Polish national’s family say they had exhausted other avenues to keep her from being removed, including speaking to a lawyer and reaching out to state senators.

‘Terror, shock and panic’

Patrycja Sobierajska, the deportee’s daughter, said the days leading up to her mother’s deportation were full of “terror, shock and panic.”

“Her and my dad came to the [U.S.] to help build a better life and start a strong foundation for my brother and myself. They worked hard… We have this home, we’ve worked for everything ourselves, we never asked for anything,” she said.

“I feel like people could find it in their hearts to not separate a family who is trying to just live a life like anybody else.”

Despite being an unlawful resident in the U.S., Irina Sobierajska was allowed to legally work in the country, Local 4 reported. The outlet added that Sobierajska was a caretaker for her husband, with their family now fearing that his health will worsen without Irina by his side.

‘It’s just all unfair’

Sobierajska’s daughter added that she “can’t stand the idea of being separated” from her mother.

“Yes, I am 26 years old and I am an adult, but at the end of the day everybody needs their mom. My mom is my best friend. The fact that I won’t be able to hold her or hug her or anything breaks my heart,” she said.

In a statement to Local 4, ICE said Sobierajska had been “afforded due process” after an immigration judge first ordered her removal in 2014 for overstaying a visa – a ruling the family tried unsuccessfully to appeal.

Irina Sobierajska’s son, Bernard, said: “They look at her as a criminal and that’s just the heartbreaking part… She’s never done anything, and she’s just the nicest person in the world. I don’t get it… It’s just all unfair.”

Undocumented Poles at risk in the U.S.

Donald Trump, who in January was sworn into office for his second term as U.S. president, has made it a priority of his administration to crack down on illegal immigration.

Polish officials earlier this year estimated that up to 30,000 Poles could be at risk of deportation from the U.S.

The day after Trump’s inauguration, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced he had directed Polish consular officials in the U.S. to prepare to facilitate the return of any Poles affected by the White House’s deportation plans.

Tusk said “a lot has changed” in Poland in recent years, adding: “Every Pole will be warmly welcomed back home. Everyone will find a place in their homeland. Here, they will find their own America.”

I mean I’m all for burning the current US administration to the ground, but she overstayed the Visa and was invited to leave 11 years ago.

I don’t see the same outrage for Mexican people in that condition

When you illegally enter and live in a country, are told to leave and don’t, and never bother trying to legalize your stay, then yes – you should be deported. Living in a foreign country is not a right.

She overstayed visa for mant years. You wanna have state of law or not? I’m sorry for this woman but I’m surprised it happened only now.