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twitterA family’s reprieve from fear
Mother who’s seeking legal status freed from jail, but still could be deported
Leila Navidi
Anoush Sarkisian, center, is back home in Las Vegas with her daughters, from left, Emma, 22; Patricia, 15; Michelle, 17; and Elizabeth, 16, after spending nearly two months in jail. The case of the woman, who lacks legal status and travel documents, highlights the issue of the breakup of families by enforcement of immigration law.
Saturday, April 4, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- Legal tempest threatens to break up family (2-25-2009)
- Reid’s phone call to Ridge spurs LV sisters’ release from federal custody (1-28-2005)
- Sisters facing deportation to remain in custody (1-27-2005)
- Girls’ plight sparks community support (1-25-2005)
When Emma Sarkisian heard her mother’s voice tight with panic in a call from the North Las Vegas jail last week, she flashed back to her own calls from a different jail four years ago.
She too was told to pack her bags, along with her younger sister, Mariam, apparently to board a plane for Armenia, a country that didn’t even exist when Emma was born in 1986. She also called her family in fear. In the end, both sisters were saved from deportation by a highly unusual, last-minute phone call from Sen. Harry Reid to the secretary of Homeland Security.
But Emma hadn’t heard of any such drama this time; her mother, Anoush, was on the other end of the line saying she was being taken somewhere. Could it be a waiting plane?
Within a couple of hours, the two were wetting each other’s cheeks with tears of relief, locked in embrace on the sidewalk in front of the Las Vegas Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
After the mother of five had spent nearly two months in jail, including being chained to a hospital bed for four days, the federal government set her free March 26 under an “order of supervision,” according to her attorney, Arsen V. Baziyants.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman would not comment on the case, other than to say that Anoush, like Emma and Mariam, must report for regularly scheduled visits to Las Vegas immigration officials — and that the agency would continue to seek to deport the woman, who lacks travel documents.
The events again draw the Sarkisian family into the news, offering an example of the situation facing an estimated 2 million families in the United States.
Some members of those families were born here — as were three of the Sarkisian sisters, Patricia, 15; Elizabeth, 16; and Michelle, 17. Others become citizens over time, as did Rouben Sarkisian, the father of the girls, divorced from Anoush since 1999 but still in contact with his daughters. Some remain in limbo, such as Emma, now 22, and her sister Mariam, 21, who wait while Rouben’s application for their citizenship winds its way through the system. Still others find no legal recourse; the only thing keeping them from being deported is that the federal government can’t find them.
With an increased emphasis on enforcement, both at workplaces and in neighborhoods, more of those people, like Anoush Sarkisian, are being found and deported. As a result, more families are split apart.
Those who advocate fixing the immigration system by offering pathways to legalization for millions, along with increased border security, are increasingly pointing to the effect of deportations on millions of U.S.-born children. They say communities across the United States are better served by keeping families together.
Federal officials got to the Sarkisian family this time after discovering that Anoush was giving a deposition in an auto accident lawsuit. On Feb. 2, outside a law office, several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents ordered Sarkisian out of her car and into handcuffs, in front of Emma, who looked on, stunned.
Emma and Mariam had been detained in a similar fashion four years earlier, teenage workers in their father’s suburban strip mall pizzeria suddenly catapulted into the glare of national media attention.
Their story began years earlier, however. Rouben Sarkisian had come to the United States with Anoush in the early 1990s. They had three daughters together. He divorced Anoush and remarried a U.S. citizen, entering a path to citizenship. Anoush sought political asylum from the U.S. government, a case that took nearly six years, finishing with her losing an appeal. The government ordered her deported in 1999. She stayed, unwilling to leave her daughters.
Rouben shared the job of raising them. He thought the girls were due to become citizens, but ICE agents arrested them in January 2005 and sent them to a cell in Los Angeles.
After several weeks of dramatic back-and-forth, Reid’s call to the homeland security chief saved them. The federal government exercised its discretion to offer what’s known as humanitarian relief. Rouben has finally become a U.S. citizen and petitioned for his older daughters to do the same. But that will take years, and until then, the daughters can’t petition for their mother. Neither can Rouben, because they are divorced.
The eldest of the U.S.-born daughters, Michelle, could petition for Anoush to become a citizen, but only after she turns 21 — in four years.
Baziyants, Anoush’s attorney, is hoping to obtain legal status for her under an immigration law meant in part for people from former Soviet republics. He says attorneys incorrectly advised her more than a decade ago that she wasn’t eligible for help under this law.
For now, he says, the government made the correct decision releasing Anoush from jail, where she received inadequate medical attention for her diabetes, migraines and stomach disorders. A week before she was released, detention center officials took her to North Vista Hospital, where she remained chained to a bed for four days, refusing to sign papers consenting to an operation on her heart, he says. During that time, neither he or the family could obtain information regarding her whereabouts. Sarkisian’s stay also included repeated attempts, some at 3 a.m., to make her sign papers giving the Armenian government permission to grant her travel documents, the attorney says.
Baziyants adds that the Senate majority leader’s office also helped obtain Anoush’s release. A spokesman for Reid wouldn’t comment on the case, however.
People following the story of the Sarkisians have said the federal government should deport Anoush just as all orders of deportation should be acted on.
But Baziyants says the case is not cut and dry, and neither are many others. “The point isn’t whether we should open the floodgates and let everyone into the country,” he said. “The point is, are the rules as they are now really balanced? Do they reflect who we are as a country? Do we tear apart all these families, or take a closer look?”
Meanwhile, last Friday night at the Sarkisian house in Las Vegas, everyone ate kashlama for the first time in nearly two months; Anoush is the only one in the family who can prepare the Armenian meat-and-potatoes dish.
Michelle, a senior at Palo Verde High, was relieved. While her mother was gone, she didn’t sleep well and let her grades slip to C’s.
“There was so much stress,” she says. “The house was a depressing place. Now I can rest.”
Discussion: 35 comments so far…
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It is sad that their family is going through this, however, their mother is here ILLEGALLY!!! Americans have no problem with LEGAL immigrants. Why don't they follow the rules and LAWS when they are here and understand that if they don't they will be deported.People everywhere no longer take RESPONSIBLITY for their own actions, it is ALWAYS some one else fault!!!! We will surely lose our status as a super power because we no longer stand up for the laws that are governing our protection. You think we are hard on immigration, investigate Canada's laws and then you can understand why they do not have an issue!
This family has been breaking the law for quite a long time and yet, they are still in this country illegally! We do not bend over backwards for Mexican illegals, so why should we bend over backwards for this family? You can not apply laws whenever you feel like it based on circumstance. How many Government officials intervene for Mexican illegals? Right, the laws were created to be followed by everyone. Deport this woman and let her come back to this country on the LEGAL path like everyone else. I am tired of hearing her sob story.
Why do illegal aliens who are breaking the law by entering the United States without legal documentation, try to tear at the hearts of the American Citizen with their sad stories of how they have gotten away with this act for years and still are trying to dupe the Feds and the people? I am sick and tired of listening to this bull.
I am more saddened with the stories of the once prosperous middle class American worker who has lost his job, lost his home, and can only survive by living in a tent with his family.
These foreigners who are breaking the law know what they are doing is illegal but do it anyway hoping they can get away with it, and on top of this they are taking jobs away from good Americans who have every right to these jobs. When will our Governmemt answer the needs of our citizens and start deporting illegals back to their country of origin? There may be an underlying story to these inactions by our President and our Government, Barrack Obama's New World Order http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599188951...
This family pulled a media blitz four years ago and they are doing it again. They keep taking advantage of our feelings. I remember Reid stepped in last time to allow the girls to stay. So im sure they are going to do the same thing again. I dont know who these people are. I do know that this family keeps breaking our laws. Time to send the whole family back to where they are suppose to be. In this economy we need resources and obs to go to people who are suppose to be here. People who dont want to wait in line to come here legally need to be sent back. I have to wait in line at the DMV and I dont like it. However I dont cheat and move ahead in line or sneak into another line I wait. So if was up to me I would say pack up the whole family and send them back.
Zeituni Onyango, the illegal aunt of Obama was ordered deported in 2004. Not only did she not leave, she has been living in public housing in Boston since then.
Zeituni, for now, has been given another year, until a Feb. 2010 hearing. Just a comment.
Enough already.Deport.
No one wants to tear up this family. Deport the mom and allow the children to go with her back to their homeland.
But, please, allow them to get nose jobs before they go!
Enough of the immigration/alien hypocrisy.
If it was up to the Native Americans, most currently residing in a America would be illegal citizens.
Here is an example of how dumb this is: Say I brutally murder somebody in 1990 and don't get caught; in the next few years I get my act together, get married, have some kids and become a model citizen. In 2005 my crime catches up to me. I am caught, found guilty and sentenced to prison.
Instead, since I have a wife and family they let me go because "we don't want to break up the family".
This is absolute garbage. Send her packing.
Harry Reid won't do anything for legal US residents in Nevada but makes a well timed phone call for an illegal alien. Thanks Harry.
Harry "vote for me" Reid also killed E-Verify thereby allowing more illegals to start families on US soil.
Just more examples of screeching histrionics from the right.
Now, illegal immigration is just like murder?
Unhinged, deranged, take you pick.
Harry Reid is so worried about all the worthless ILLEGAL ALIENS (that are going to leave.) But could care less about the 200,000 vets.and millions more AMERICAN FAMILIES that are HOMELESS/UNEMPLOYED in their own country!Some right there in downtown VEGAS !THIS GOING TO CHANGE!
Call congress @866-220-0044 or 877-210-5351
DEMAND JANET NAPOLITANO RESIGN !
DEMAND E-VERFY for ALL JOBS & GOV`T PROGRAMS !
287g NATIONWIDE !NO DREAM ACT! NO AMNESTY EVER !
visit:numbersusa.com/fairus.org/912project/
americanpatrol.com/outragedpatriots.com/
theterryandersonshow.com/americanvoiceradio/
I.C.E.@866-347-2423 REPORT ILLGAL ALIENS !
Pass these #`s and sites around get involved !
GOD BLESS THE U.S.
Sand, unhinged??, deranged??, OK we'll just let every whiny illegal to consume resources they don't pay for and we will also allow them to pick which laws they want to obey.
Does that sound better? Still unhinged? Still deranged?
If that is screeching what is your solution genius? Complete amnesty and a pat on the back?
ks9and99 - you are right.
Most of the posters here are fox news junkies, racists and from the lack of critical thinking I suspect high school dropouts. This type of mean spirited, unAmerican rhetoric is precisely what the majority of American citizens are sick of and its one of the reasons we have new leadership.
These people are tax payers and by all accounts exactly the kind of people we want as American citizens. Let her apply for citizenship and lets move on to more important matters than trying to destroy this AMERICAN family.
Harry Reid needs to butt out and do his job, which is to uphold the Constitution and our Laws. Don't separate illegals - Deport them All. Enforce our Laws.
Call your lawmakers and tell them NO on Reid's (S.1 Amnesty) and NO Dream Act (H.R.1751/S.729).
Tell them to Vote Yes on (H.R.126) ends birthright citizenship (Anchor Babies) and Yes on (HR878) Eliminates extended family Visas.
Toll free 866-220-0044 gets you thru to all House and Senate members. E-verify and 287(g) nationwide. Get involved and Save OUR COUNTRY !! numbersusa.com / americanpatrol.com
Cronky, speaking of unhinged, I love you how boorish libs accuse anybody that disagrees with you as uneducated fox news junkies.
Since when is OBEYING and ENFORCING the law mean spirited.
I can see the writing on the wall, you are hiding from ICE as well and are looking for special treatment.
Just a question, at the risk of sounding racist, were these people targeted because they were ILLEGAL or Amenian. Because if they were targeted due to ethnicity and not for legal reasons I think all the illegal mexicans currently in the U.S. can take a deep breath and give a sigh of relief.
One last thing, I am sick and tired of the cowards in the U.S. that are frightened by their own shadow when it comes to race. Disagreeing with somebody does not make them a racist. The fools that scream "racism" are the true racists, because they can't come to realize that all men are created equal and they want to pacify and live in some pathetic PC world instead of speak their mind.
As Bill Cosby wrote: "I don't know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is trying to please everyone".
And the herd continues to show its disapproval and ignorance.
Senator Reid IS upholding the Constitution and the liberties it was designed to protect, beginning with the guarantees of equality and due process.
No crime has been committed except worshiping at the alter of stupid laws that never should have been. If you disagree you should 1) research the Armenian genocide, then 2) the invitation on the Statue of Liberty. The math is easy.
If you still haven't figured it out why this family deserves to be left alone, try Orwell's "Animal Farm." Especially the piggy chorus that shouted down anyone who tried to question the big pigs' edicts.
Killer, I don't think it's ignorance, it's the current law of the land.
I know you live in some etherial world where "the man" always has his thumb on people, but reality is reality.
Revisionist history doesn't float the boat.
So tell me how many other illegals they got hiding in the closet over there at the pizza place? I mean next year are we gonna here about grandpa sneaking over also or aunt? These same people keep appearing in the news with different members. Are they running some kind of game?
Great thinking KillerB! Every time I don't like a law, I will follow your theory from now forward. I am not going to abide by it because it never should have been. That should hold water in court if I am not mistaking. If I don't like it, I will ignore it. I'm gonna light me up some chronic while driving on I-15 at 100 mph and when the pathetic red and blue lights start flashing, I will use your genius and just keep driving. That should get me well on my way to the happy place that you must live in.
Yes, getalife, when you disregard a moderate argument for one which invokes MURDER as a parallel to an undocumented worker, that's unhinged AND deranged.
As for "consume resources they don't pay for," perhaps you forget the numerous taxes they DO pay, such as sales tax. You also disregard the cheap labor they provide, which you, in turn, enjoy as lower prices on goods and services.
Amnesty? No. Have I mentioned amnesty? Did you forget that the last President to provide blanket amnesty was not a Democrat, but the darling of the Republican party... Ronald Regan.
Lets just invite EVERY poor family from EVERY nation around the world to come here for a free education and do the jobs Americans don't want,
I think that would work...
Thanks Harry and Nancy.
Would'nt it be nice if just once,These liberal rags we call newspapers in this country.....Would write a story about American families that were looking for jobs,But,Could'nt find 1,While the illegals were working...
Just a thought...
Cronky, this lady is a one time Armenian national. She wasn't born in the United States, she has never taken an oath as an American citizen. She is not an American citizen.
Race doesn't deal with a national from another country. Race pertains to the ancestry of an American citizen. Look it up in your Funk and Wagnels.
Sand, the murder angle just exploited how crazy this argument is. When does it stop? At what point do we say enough is enough?
I also didn't advocate amnesty. Sand I know you are upset that Obama is starting to look deranged and that he pandered to the G 20 as opposed to recieving a heroes welcome, but come on you used to be able to read and comprehend.
Final point, if you think the lady in question was out picking lettuce when ICE swooped in you are deranged and unhinged.
The lies generated about E-Verify subversives has corrupted the institution of our Senate. That hundreds of billions of dollars rolling into corporate bank accounts from the free movement of cheap labor is devastating to the jobless American worker. The elitists behind business welfare donate large grants to seditious groups such as the ACLU, The Cato Institute and a range of anti-sovereignty groups, whose major agenda is a North American Union. E-Verify is an extremely successful tool, to contest millions of illegal aliens pouring through our borders. It exposes illegal aliens after already being hired, and removes them from the workforce. Thousands of scavenger businesses are against it as a--PERMANENT--tool. That if caught hiring illegal cheap labor, they face hard consequences in Federal court. American workers must realize the majority of politicians are not playing on their side? The lawmakers enjoy the perks offered to them in campaign contribution, vacations and other free money passed to them. Not all have been corrupted like Sen. Sessions a Republican from Alabama, who has tirelessly fought against liberal-oriented legislators like Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada and his hard nosed lady Nancy Pelosi. and a host of other collaborators.
The next anti-sovereignty plan that has been concocted is to direct the 2010 census from the White House. Not only are they going to count Citizens and residents but--MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have entrusted our politicians to protect the accuracy and integrity including the voter registration. Yet the corrupt tax-subsidized ACORN organization will be involved in the Census numeration. The census is used to numerate seats in the House chamber, as a proportion of their population, based on the headcount. More people equals more seats in different states. More illegal immigrants counted equals more power for the Democrats Under this mis-managed national census billions of dollars will go to illegal immigrant, tax-choked states that have violated Federal law by giving refuge to criminals.
Only the foment voices of--THE PEOPLE--can stop these unconscionable acts? Call your own Senator or Representative 202-224-3121; The President: 202-456-1414: The truth about the pandemic of illegal immigration, can be found at NUMBERSUSA. JUDICIAL WATCH, CAPSWEB, AMERICAN PATROL.
Okay, so basically, all illegal immigrants are the reason our country is a mess. If we could just deport all of these people, to who cares where, our country will be fixed. Yep, you guys are so smart. And you are the same guys that will be lining up to do the service industry and construction jobs that no one else wants. Oh wait, maybe McDonald's workers should form a union and then a Big Mac can be $20, and be half cooked and halfway prepared. Yeah, you guys are right, get rid of the aliens make all low paying jobs union scale, this country will be fixed in no time. Yep, I'm sure of it.
I notice that any time sombody from the left doesnt agree with somebodys post on here they quickly start to call names and lable people as stupid. Please then those from the far left decide which LAWS people need to follow and which ones we can all break so we dont have to worry about things. LAWS are LAWS and must be followed by everyone. Even if you dont like it....its a law. This lady and millions of others are here illegally, when there are many avenues that one can take to come here legally and pay taxes and follow the rules. If one doesnt go about it the right way they need to go home. Simple.....although maybe Obama can bail out the illigals too with another 3 billion borrowed from China.
Seems they are concentrating too much effort on this one family. What about the thousands upon thousands of other illegals right under immigrations noses that are sucking up resources, putting a strain on our school systems, and social services and jobs? Just go door to door in MY neighborhood and you'd be surprised how many illegals are living "peacefully" under the radar. You can bet 1 in 5 are here illegally. Do a sweep across our city and see just how many don't have the proper documentation. Take one...take them all...
"LAWS are LAWS and must be followed by everyone. Even if you dont like it....its a law."
smoke14 -- You must be a child if you believe that. Example: blatantly unconstitutional laws are void, they have no actual legal effect. That was first declared by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1803.
Have you ever engaged in the actual lawmaking process? I have. It's too much like the process of making hot dogs -- it's better the consumer doesn't know.
The Laws exist in layers of priority, Constitutions being the foundation of all laws made by the feds and states. If a law conflicts with them it is no law.
If you want to look for the biggest lawbreakers just look at government. They're the real criminals and do not deserve the respect you and others here continually moo about.
Killer, once again you rant about unconstitutional laws. By definition a law isn't unconstitutional until the Supreme Court rules it as such.
I'll tell you what, disobey whatever you want and when you go to jail, you can be another of the "innocent" criminals that clog the system.
To tell somebody he is a child for obeying the law shows both your ignorance and blatant disregard accepted norms.
Wasn't that you I saw protesting the G20 saying long live anarchy.
Law?
LOL
Mere words (Laws) have never stopped the determined from doing right and/or wrong.
Not all laws do what's right, those guided by such laws therefore do wrong.
Doing what's right is never wrong.
Who determines what is right and what is wrong?
YOU DO i.e. the Juror, not a Supreme Court Judge or Lawmaker.
Words (Laws) that are not enforced by action are meaningless.
Who enforces law?
YOU DO i.e the Juror, not a Police Officer or a District Attnory (DA).
The Juror has more power than a Supreme Court Judge, Lawmaker, Police Officer or District Attorney deciding law. The day the Juror relinquishes the power to decide what is right and what is wrong is the day society becomes placed under the tyranny of law (what is right and what is wrong) as forcibly dictated to them i.e. under the rule of dictatorship e.g. Native Americans dictated (executive order) to land reservations.
Regardless of the law (mere words), the Juror still decides what is right and what is wrong, i.e. whether the law is enforced or it isn't"that is the essence of Law in America e.g. O.J. Simpson murder trial.
Let you be your own guide.
Keep this lady and Deport Harry Reid...
Deport the whole family and then they can all be together without the drama. This family begs for sympathy and pleads for some type of immunity to the laws of our country. Kick them out and let them start the process to become a LEGAL citizen and if they don't like it, then they can stay out of this country. What job does the mother have that doesn't check her social security number? Or does she even work for a living? I am so tired of people coming into this country illegally and enjoying all the benefits. No one feels sorry for people who run stop lights and get a tickets, so why on earth should we feel sorry for this lawbreaker? I don't..deport. now
Harley -- Amen, with this qualifier: an ordinary citizen has far more power than any government institution, including supreme courts and presidents.
That's inherent in every republic and is reflected in our Constitutions. Nevada's Declaration of Rights lays it out in Sections 1 - 2.
All these people here braying for deporting, assuming they are actual adults, seem to have forgotten how to read. They show they know nothing while acting like they know something. They prove everything I've said about being a herd.
Again, this family needs to be left alone. These articles have shown the flaws in the gestapo-like tactics the feds have used against them.
"There are two kinds of people who stand out in the United States today: sheep and wolves. Sheep stay in their herd and follow their shepherd without questioning where he is leading them. Sheep trust that the shepherd looks out for their safety" Wolves, on the other hand, do not aimlessly follow a shepherd" Wolves question the shepherd and act in a way that forces the shepherd also to question his decisions. Wolves challenge government regulations, reject government assistance, and demand that the government recognize and protect their natural rights." - "A Nation of Sheep" by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, page 10
FWIW:
PBS begins a 5-part series entitled "WE SHALL REMAIN" being Monday April 13th 9:00 pm, channel 10 (Cox), with the first episode "After the Mayflower", followed by "Tecumseh's Vision", "Trail of Tears", "Geronimo" and "Wounded Knee" at later dates.
"WE SHALL REMAIN" is a provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American History. Produced by the award-winning PBS series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
Preview series at link below:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallrema...