Ukrainian Americans appeal to legislators on behalf of Karnaoukh family

by Camilla Huk

PATERSON, N.J. - Armed with over 600 copies of letters written on behalf of the Karnaoukh family, Olga Khomko met on June 15 with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

She was accompanied by John Burtyk, president of the New Jersey Coordinating Council of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and this writer.

The Karnaoukhs, Vassili and Maria, and their sons, Sviatoslav and Igor, were residents of Little Falls, N.J., until they were deported in February after being taken into custody by U.S. immigration officials on January 6 - Christmas Eve according to the Julian calendar.

On her visit to Congressman Pascrell's office in Paterson, N.J., Mrs. Khoma, who is Mrs. Karnaoukh's mother, was greeted by Ritzy A. Moralez, director of casework, Jacqueline C. Grindrod, district director, and Caley Gray, press secretary.

As the congressman was attending hearings in Washington, all three staffers took the time to discuss the status of the Karnaoukh family, including the two sons who were unable to complete their college studies here.

The tragedy of the Karnaoukhs is that they are neither felons, nor criminals, but decent, hard-working, and law-abiding people, who had jobs, paid their taxes, bought a home and established an American lifestyle, but who, due to poor legal counseling, didn't understand the dire consequences of their immigration paperwork not being properly prepared.

Ms. Grindrod was one of the first people to meet with Mrs. Khomko after the family's deportation. She did so at the behest of Dr. Paula Francesca of the Peter Rodino Law School and has been working with the family to assist them in preparing for the presentation of a private bill. However, as Ms. Grindrod explained, the immigration issue in general has led to a climate that has changed, and the probability of passing any legislation supportive of the family or others in such a position has greatly lessened.

She assured her visitors that Rep. Pascrell continues to be supportive of the family and is trying to do whatever he can to assist in their return. His staff is exploring all avenues and past cases of persons whose deportation was overturned to see what options may be open.

Ms. Grindrod also pointed out that the congressman's office is very familiar with the Karnaoukh case because all his offices, in Passaic and Paterson, N.J., and in Washington, continue to be flooded with letters, phone calls and inquiries about the family. While most of the mail seems to be from the Ukrainian American community, the Karnaoukhs' neighbors and friends have also been insistent on answers to how this could have happened.

She explained that upon his return to New Jersey Rep. Pascrell would try to find time to meet with Mrs. Khomko and members of the Ukrainian American community, which is heavily represented in his district. As well, she promised that all the letters will be answered.

Mrs. Khomko presented the staff with over 600 signatures calling for the family's return. Ukrainian American organizations such as the Ukrainian National Association, Ukrainian credit unions and the Ukrainian Center in Passaic led and are continuing letter-writing campaigns calling for the family's return.

The group then proceeded to the offices of Sen. Lautenberg in Newark, N.J., where they met with Patrick Lynott, who assured them that Sen. Lautenberg is committed to helping the Karnaoukh family and that he is exploring the options of, at the very least, securing the return to the United States of the Karnaoukhs' sons. He, too, expressed concern that the climate for legislation supporting immigrants is not optimal and noted that, while legislation will pass, it may not answer the needs of illegal immigrants.

He also extended an offer to Mrs. Khomko to help her in filing her naturalization papers, which could reduce the time of her daughter's eligibility to return to the United States from 10 years to eight and possibly less.

Mrs. Khomko and her supporters then proceeded to the Newark office of Sen. Menendez, where they dropped off the last batch of letters and petitions.

Returning home, Mrs. Khomko found even more letters in support of the Karnaoukh family.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 2, 2006, No. 27, Vol. LXXIV

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