Speech #1050013963

Mr. President. this bill grants permanent residency status to Jasmin Salehi. a California constituent who is currently assisting the LA district attorney with the prosecution of her husbands murderer. Mai Hoa Jasmin Salehl is a Korean Immigrant who was denied permanent residency after her husband was violently murdered at a Dennys In Reseda. CA. where he worked as manager. Local INS officials in Los Angeles denied Jasmins application because the law requires legal Immigrants be married for 2 years before they become eligible for permanent resident status. Jasmin and Cyrus Salehl were newlyweds who had been married only 11 months before the murder. I have previously sought administrative relief for Jasmin by asking the INS If any humanitarian exemptions could be made in Jasmins case. but the local INS officials in Los Angeles has told my staff that there is nothing they can do. Jasmin met and married Cyrus Salehi. an American citizen. in March 1995 and has completed all the paperwork necessary to obtain her green card. But now. Jasmin has been told that she can stay in the United States as long as the district attorney needs her to prosecute her husbands murderer. Despite here assistance in the prosecution. Jasmin would be deported once the investigation and subsequent trial are completed. Jasmin has done everything right in order to become a permanent resident of this countryexcept for the tragedy of her husbands murder 13 months before she could become a permanent resident. I hope you support this bill so that we can help Jasmin begin to rebuild her life in the United States.