scrubbedexpat099

Joshua and Liza Hedges forced apart after days of marriage after wife is deported | Daily Mail Online

An amusing read.

ian-mstm

It seems that both USCIS and CBP were incorrect... and yet people don't believe us when we tell them that they should not act on anything told to them by a US government employee!

Then again, it is the Daily Mail... so I'm sure the author made up a lot of stuff.

Ian

kimilseung

How does the process of changing names after a marriage go? Wouldn't the passport still be in her old name. I wonder if it was just a verbal claim as to what her new name is.

edit: according to the gofundme page, the name in the passport was her maiden name too. Not sure if the name had an impact.

scrubbedexpat099

I think it was just basically a re post as much is in the DM Online.

Looks like she was wanting to enter and adjust. B2 Express.

They have a GoFundMe page for those who wish to contribute.

md95065

I assume that what actually happened was that, when she attempted to reenter the U.S, CBP correctly came to the conclusion that she had immigrant intent and was not in possession of an immigrant visa.

... but, since it is the Daily Mail, there is really no reason to believe that any of it is true ...

scrubbedexpat099

Caught in immigration nightmare, newlyweds ripped apart after 6 days of marriage | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KUTV News

TV version, seems any confusion came from the Family.

scrubbedexpat099

From the GoFundMe

Our son served a church mission to Russia. While in language training he met a lovely young Russian woman. Over two years their relationship blossomed. Fast forward to July 3, 2015 when they were married in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Two days later they boarded a cruise ship sailing out of Long Beach, CA for a short, 4 day honeymoon to Baja, Mexico.

On July 9th the ship returned to the port of Long Beach and the newlyweds disembarked for shore, elated about their trip, and eager to drive 9 hours home to tell us about their cruise.

However, while checking our daughter-in-law's Russian passport which of course has her maiden name, Immigration officers asked if she and our son had been married. My son responded, "Yes. Two days before we boarded the ship. We told you about it when you checked her passport as we boarded."

Our sweet eighteen year-old daughter-in-law was apprehended by immigration officials. Both she and our son were interrogated for several hours before the officers determined she was in the country illegally, guilty of "unlawful presence". ICE explained that as soon as she was married her tourist visa became invalid because she didn't state she was getting married when she entered the country two weeks earlier with her Mother. Her limited English undoubtedly contributed to the misunderstanding.

Our son had previously spoken with someone at US Citizen and Immigration Services (uscis.gov) to ensure all the paperwork was in order and that he was doing everything correctly. During Thursday’s ordeal and interrogation an ICE officer called and spoke to the individual my son had spoken with to corroborate his story, which was confirmed. However, they stated he had received the wrong information.

Josh was required to purchase a flight ticket (with wedding-gift money) for his bride, who was then deported. 6 days after their wedding, and only moments after ending what they thought was a dream honeymoon, she was escorted away from her new husband, with ICE officers at either arm, and loaded on a plane to Moscow. An Air Marshal sat next to her, I presume to insure she didn't escape.

It goes without saying that our son's young bride was sobbing and terrified during the ordeal, and they both remain heart broken, not knowing when or if they will be reunited.

It is our intent to do everything we can reunite them as soon as possible.

*** Any funds we receive will be used for legal costs, filing fees and transportation to reunite Liza and Josh. All unused funds will be donated to other gofundme endeavors. Thank you for taking the time to visit this site.

‪#‎bringlizahome‬

ian-mstm

This is a blatant lie.

Ian

md95065

Well, it is certainly incorrect.

Whether or not it is a lie would depend on whether the person making the statement knew that it was incorrect and was deliberately attempting to mislead or whether they were just stupid. (and that applies equally to statements made, or allegedly made, by ICE, CBP, the family and anyone else who was involved)

Pulaski

It was a fiasco on just about every level.

crg

"believing they would soon drive home to Ely, Nevada"

That's the problem right there. Her home was in Nevada.

There is so much wrong with this story.

Nobody cares about a name change. Well maybe the airlines do.

The immigration people did not check her passport when she boarded the cruise to depart the US. That's preposterous.

I wouldn't be suprised if CIS told them they could file after the honeymoon, but who knows if they mentioned the tidbit about leaving the country for the trip. That would be a jump ball either way. Even if they filed, the application would have been abandoned for departing without a parole letter.

It's likely she entered with the intention of marrying. That's why her mother was with her when she arrived. Mom was probably coming to the wedding.

If she was stating an intention to marry and adjust on the initial entry, they may have sent her back then.

"An Air Marshal sat next to her"? No way. The government wouldn't make her buy a ticket and fly with her. They escort dangerous criminals. Air Marshals don't tell Russian deportees that they are working a flight. It's a secret.

It's unclear if she was ordered removed or allowed to withdraw.

Lastly, the fact she was crying about buying a ticket seems to indicate she didn't plan to depart and get an immigrant visa.

I don't find the story credible. What do you all think Russia would have done if he tried this? The last time I saw a Russian visa application, they wanted an HIV test for a visit if it would be more than 3 months. They gave me an I-94 like document and it would have been something like $50 if I didn't turn it in on the way out.

What a shameless shakedown for donations.

sir_eccles

Between them hearing what they wanted to hear and the reporter hearing what they wanted to hear, who knows what the actual story is.

Pulaski

That isn't a problem, I did it myself, all of it, including flying with my mother. That was the critical mistake, right there!

SanDiegogirl

They met when she was 16 ..... they did not meet again for nearly two years...... she is only 18 now.

.... and now they are asking for money to fund their legal costs!

sir_eccles

Has scam written all over it.