The following is a NY Post article: The widow of a Brooklyn-born rabbi, murdered two years ago by terrorists in Mumbai, is facing an immigration nightmare that threatens to keep her from seeing her eight children in New York.
Frumet Teitelbaum, 37, an Israeli citizen, was stopped by US Customs and Border Protection agents at Kennedy Airport after flying in from Israel on Feb. 5.
Since her husband’s murder, Frumet, a religious-studies teacher, had been regularly traveling without problems from her home in Israel to the US to visit her children, ages 2 to 14, who are staying with her husband’s family in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The kids, all American citizens, are being schooled in New York.
But Frumet’s frequent travels finally raised a red flag with Customs officials, who cited her for overusing her visitor’s visa, said her lawyer, Michael Wildes.
Frumet’s valid travel visa was consequently stamped with restrictions limiting her time in the United States and making it difficult for her to extend her stay or secure residency here, Wildes said.
She must leave the country again early next month. Otherwise, she faces possible deportation, authorities said.
Immigration and Customs officials said they could not discuss specifics of Teitelbaum’s case because of privacy laws.
Teitelbaum was living in Jerusalem with her husband, Rabbi Leibish Teitelbaum, 37, in 2008 when he traveled to Mumbai, India, for his work as a mashgiach, a supervisor and inspector of kosher foods.
The rabbi was studying in the Chabad Center, a Jewish religious retreat, when Muslim terrorists attacked the compound and slaughtered him and seven others. The attack was part of a coordinated onslaught throughout the city that lasted 60 hours and claimed the lives of 179 people.
One Customs official said agents have the authority to approve or deny entry into the country and impose restrictions on a case-by-case basis.
Wildes said he plans to bring a race-against-the-clock appeal to Immigration Court and fight for her under a post-9/11 law that gives the families of terrorist victims the right to a green card and permanent residency.
“Nobody in her situation should be worried about legal affairs or papers, and should not be treated in this fashion. I have faith that the immigration authorities will do the right thing,” Wildes said.
(Source: http://www.nypost.com/)
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15 Responses
This is a difficult, sad case full of hardships.
Those dealing with immigration laws can quote to you thousands of similiar cases. There is a husband and children in New York who has been waiting for over 2 years for his wife to join them in New York. THe legalities are burdensome and help is needed to untangle the threads. WIth success.
This is a very sad case and it is representative of the struggles that many families have when one member is a US Citizen and the other is not even a permanent resident. It is truly midot Sedom. The depressing thing is that a lot of frum Jews have supported these cruel policies. Another depressing thing is that the main reason Israelis need a visa at all is that so many Israelis overstay their visas illegally; they have hurt Mrs. Teitlebaum who is trying to obey the law.
Hopefully Mr. Neiderman will be able to intervene and help. Unfortunately, this has become common to both Americans travelling to Israel, who once lived there and the same to such as in the position of the Rebitzen. She is a great woman and is someone to learn from. Hashem will surely help.
Overstaying visas is something many foreigners do. It is not limited to our doings alone.
What a remarkable woman and what a wonderful family.
She should get a Mexican passport and she won’t have any problems anymore.
Immigration law in this country is totally broken, but instead of fixing it obama is worried about health care where there is no problem, i think the answer is clear
its amazing how all our homeland security $ etc can only stop innocent people from living their lives & cannot catch terrorists- what a slap in the face
The US Customs and Border would not dare keep illegal Arabs back from swarming into the U.S., including terrorists, but they have different laws regarding Jews entering the country including Jewish widows murdered by terrorists. The double standard in the U.S. is quite obvious and racist at best.
#7 and #8 – You are so right!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t blame the action as anti-semitic or on the zionist government. So whos fault is it?
Some of these comments are filled with these comments are %100 stupidity. Our gedolei yisroel (unless you have different role s than I such as Limbaugh) have stated that America is a Medina shel Chesed, the most tolerant country for Jews in hundreds of years.
Let’s not fuel the ignite the fire of anti-semitism by saying ridiculous things.
It’s the same in Holland. My wife is Israeli and Canadian, but she cannot live with me in Holland, should we want that.
#6 eric,
Actually, President Obama called this weekend for comprehensive immigration reform even as Congress was debating Health Care Reform. And there is now a bipartisan proposal that is reasonable, sponsored by Sens. Graham and Schumer.
BSD I am shocked reading this news. As most of the others have written, an illegal imigrant from Mexico has more “rights” than this woman. I terrorist knows how to easily by-pass these “little” distractions and go on their merry way to destroy. Where is the Israeli Govt -shouldn’t they be standing up for her, where is the Agudah, the OU, the Hischdus, Young Israel, where are these organizations that always appear when there are political spoils to be had. It’s a shame in America – people give money when their name will go onto a plaque or onto a building, organizations stand up and do battle when their constituents are listening and hoping one or two of them will write a check. Can’t a Jew help another Jew just for the sake of helping out someone in need (physical, financial, emotional, etc.) This Pesach when we invite other Yidden into our houses and apts, be serious about it, don’t just repeat the words and move on. Ans when we read about the Freedom of Jews, remember not all Jews are free this Passover, Gilan Shalit and others, and this woman, Mrs. Teitelbaum. Hasn’t she been locked away in her personal night mare long enough?
This is a total disgrace to the American flag. The Mumbai attack sent shudders throughout the world. But this new injustice on the part of a government trespasses upon everything that America always held sacred. A victim of political murder based on religion who’s widow must endure more hardship. This is unthinkable. It is time the people united and removed these animals from their positionst. Who are these immigration officials? What is their background. What race or creed do they belong to? Let’s see their pictures. Which elected official is in charge of this? Get these bums out. And get out the elected officials who put them in place. Enough of this garbage.