Public Law Center helps reunite Ivory Coast family now in USA.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
- Organization: Public Law Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hien Vo, Staff Attorney, Public Law Center
(714) 541-1010 ext 274.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Santa Ana, California.
LITTLE GIRL REUNITED TONIGHT WITH HER FAMILY AFTER YEARS OF SEPARATION
For the first time in more than two years, Firmin and Emilienne Koyaweda, will be reunited with their daughter, nine-year-old Kelly, at the John Wayne airport tonight at 10:30 p.m. The parents of Kelly can finally shed tears of joy when they are reunited with their little girl who was separated from them by the crisis in the Ivory Coast. These patient and persistent parents never gave up hope that they would see their daughter again.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Santa Ana-based Public Law Center and the offices of Senator Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Kelly's parents were able to respond to the unfortunate delays in the processing of their refugee relative petition and ultimately obtain the immigration relief to bring their daughter home!
In August of 2004, the United States government granted the Koyaweda family refugee status. At that time, Kelly was staying with her grandparents in Duekoue, a town west of Abidjan. However, due to the increasing civil unrest in the Ivory Coast attempts to reunite Kelly with her parents became too dangerous. Once the Koyaweda family fled the Ivory Coast, Kelly was forced to remain in the care of the Red Cross while her parents and younger brother traveled to the U.S. for safety.
The plight of refugee children can be a tragic one. Those who have been separated from their families have become vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. Though Kelly's case has turned out to be a tremendous victory in reuniting refugee children with their parents, she was also fortunate to have been able to remain in the constant care and protection of her grandparents, then in the care of a family friend. However, Kelly's guardian reported that she often displayed deep feelings of sadness and fear over never seeing her family again.
While the unrest and violence continued to escalate in the Ivory Coast, the Koyaweda's grew weary and frustrated at the unresponsiveness of their inquiries regarding the status of their daughter's I-730 Refugee Asylee Relative Petition. The petition was submitted on January 3, 2005 and despite their efforts to follow the proper petitioning procedures for their family reunification, the couple continually encountered unexpected delays.
On March 30, 2005, Kelly's parents sought the assistance of the Public Law Center (PLC). With the aid of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, PLC was able to ascertain and remedy the cause of the initial delay in Kelly's petition. As Kelly faced imminent danger every moment she remained in the Ivory Coast, both offices made relentless efforts to encourage the expeditious adjudication of her petition.
On October 13, 2005, Kelly's petition was finally approved. However, the wait for Kelly's arrival carried on for almost another year and a half. During that time, the family was subjected to further investigation, verification, and even DNA testing. They successfully responded to all requests made of them and continued to wait patiently for the completion of Kelly's sponsorship and issuance of her travel documents.
In November 2006, PLC enlisted the help of Senator Barbara Boxer's office to make further inquiries into the status of Kelly's case. With the information obtained from Senator Boxer's office, PLC completed the remaining steps necessary to facilitate the issuance of Kelly's travel documents. In early January of this year, the family finally received the good news that they had waited more than two years to hear. Kelly would be arriving on February 6, 2007.
Though this remarkable reunion is one of the many success stories that the Public Law Center will celebrate, it is also a reminder of how often PLC clients are forced to exhibit such patience and persistence in order to obtain access to justice.
The Public Law Center, Orange County's pro bono law firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low income residents. Through volunteers and staff, the Public Law Center provides free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices. Now in its 26th year of service, PLC has over six hundred lawyers from throughout the county involved, volunteering their time and expertise.
Contact: Hien Vo, Staff Attorney, Public Law Center
(714) 541-1010 ext 274.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Santa Ana, California.
LITTLE GIRL REUNITED TONIGHT WITH HER FAMILY AFTER YEARS OF SEPARATION
For the first time in more than two years, Firmin and Emilienne Koyaweda, will be reunited with their daughter, nine-year-old Kelly, at the John Wayne airport tonight at 10:30 p.m. The parents of Kelly can finally shed tears of joy when they are reunited with their little girl who was separated from them by the crisis in the Ivory Coast. These patient and persistent parents never gave up hope that they would see their daughter again.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Santa Ana-based Public Law Center and the offices of Senator Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Kelly's parents were able to respond to the unfortunate delays in the processing of their refugee relative petition and ultimately obtain the immigration relief to bring their daughter home!
In August of 2004, the United States government granted the Koyaweda family refugee status. At that time, Kelly was staying with her grandparents in Duekoue, a town west of Abidjan. However, due to the increasing civil unrest in the Ivory Coast attempts to reunite Kelly with her parents became too dangerous. Once the Koyaweda family fled the Ivory Coast, Kelly was forced to remain in the care of the Red Cross while her parents and younger brother traveled to the U.S. for safety.
The plight of refugee children can be a tragic one. Those who have been separated from their families have become vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. Though Kelly's case has turned out to be a tremendous victory in reuniting refugee children with their parents, she was also fortunate to have been able to remain in the constant care and protection of her grandparents, then in the care of a family friend. However, Kelly's guardian reported that she often displayed deep feelings of sadness and fear over never seeing her family again.
While the unrest and violence continued to escalate in the Ivory Coast, the Koyaweda's grew weary and frustrated at the unresponsiveness of their inquiries regarding the status of their daughter's I-730 Refugee Asylee Relative Petition. The petition was submitted on January 3, 2005 and despite their efforts to follow the proper petitioning procedures for their family reunification, the couple continually encountered unexpected delays.
On March 30, 2005, Kelly's parents sought the assistance of the Public Law Center (PLC). With the aid of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, PLC was able to ascertain and remedy the cause of the initial delay in Kelly's petition. As Kelly faced imminent danger every moment she remained in the Ivory Coast, both offices made relentless efforts to encourage the expeditious adjudication of her petition.
On October 13, 2005, Kelly's petition was finally approved. However, the wait for Kelly's arrival carried on for almost another year and a half. During that time, the family was subjected to further investigation, verification, and even DNA testing. They successfully responded to all requests made of them and continued to wait patiently for the completion of Kelly's sponsorship and issuance of her travel documents.
In November 2006, PLC enlisted the help of Senator Barbara Boxer's office to make further inquiries into the status of Kelly's case. With the information obtained from Senator Boxer's office, PLC completed the remaining steps necessary to facilitate the issuance of Kelly's travel documents. In early January of this year, the family finally received the good news that they had waited more than two years to hear. Kelly would be arriving on February 6, 2007.
Though this remarkable reunion is one of the many success stories that the Public Law Center will celebrate, it is also a reminder of how often PLC clients are forced to exhibit such patience and persistence in order to obtain access to justice.
The Public Law Center, Orange County's pro bono law firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low income residents. Through volunteers and staff, the Public Law Center provides free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices. Now in its 26th year of service, PLC has over six hundred lawyers from throughout the county involved, volunteering their time and expertise.
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