Our Government was kind enough to grant extended voluntary departure status to many of these people. The Department of Justice has renewed the pledge every 6 months. With EVD status. some of the Polish refugees have been able to get work permits and Social Security numbers. We are all grateful for that. Granting EVD status. however. is only a temporary solution. According to the Polish American Congress. many of these Poles living in the United States are afraid to apply for asylum. Why? Because if they fail to qualify. they could be deported. And if deported. they would face harassment and possibly imprisonment in Poland. Under Polish law. it is an act of treason. punishable by imprisonment or death. for Polish nationals to seek asylum in foreign countries. Even if not prosecuted. those who return will be refused housing and employment. More than 1.500 of these Poles have been deported or forced to leave the United States in the past few years. Those who have eluded deportation live in fear that they will meet the same fate. Besides living in fear. these Poles are treated unfairly. Having their status renewed every 6 months does not permit these refugees to lead a stable life. They are in a constant state of limbo. unable to get longterm jobs. unable to make longterm plans or commitments. The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that there are 7.000 Polish nationals living under extended voluntary departure status. Almost all of these have been in the United States more than 5 years. Many now have children that were born in the United States.
Keywords matched
Immigration seek asylum Naturalization work permits deported deportation refugees