Despite local support and relentless pleading from the Russian Jewish community, U.S. immigration officials were coldly unswayed: An early January decision to deport young piano teacher Yana Slobodova must stand.
As a result of last week’s affirmation, the former Community School of Music and Arts teacher left the country on Sunday for St. Petersburg, Russia. She leaves behind her husband and 20-month-old son to face an uncertain future with few friends and relatives awaiting her arrival.
Supporters held a noontime rally on her behalf last Thursday in front of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services building in San Francisco.
Mountain View resident Christine Welter was one of approximately 50 supporters on hand, along with Slobodova’s attorneys, calling for officials to reconsider their decision.
Welter, whose daughter studied at CSMA under Slobodova, was one of five Mountain View moms showing support. “I have hope,” she said. “But it will take a miracle.”
That same day, officials with to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services denied a request from Slobodova’s legal help to reconsider. The department has not commented publicly on Slobodova’s case but district director David Still allegedly told Slobodova’s attorney he didn’t make “any errors” in reviewing her case.
That left efforts in the hands of 12th District Congressman Tom Lantos. Lantos, born in Budapest, Hungary, “is doing work on a high level,” said Larisa Margulis of the Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal.
Lantos was allegedly in contact this past week with others in government whom might have the authority to intervene. His office did not return calls at the Town Crier’s press time.
It could take as long as two years for Slobodova, 30, to return to the United States. “We would like to think this summer,” Margulis said, hoping that Lantos’ office will continue to pursue her return.
Slobodova entered the United States illegally back in 1996, when her boyfriend at the time brought her in under falsified papers. INS officials let her case drift while the pianist took up roots in America, getting married, starting a family and securing work.
Her life came to a screeching halt Jan. 8 when a supposedly routine hearing to change Slobodova’s immigration status landed her in jail for 20 days. She was initially ordered to leave the country Feb. 23, but received a stay of deportation until March 1.
Attorney Marc Van Der Hout complained to Jewish News Weekly of Northern California that immigration officials never accepted offers to interview Slobodova to get a firsthand account of her case.
Slobodova herself appeared resigned to leaving, describing the ordeal as extremely stressful.
“To rip a family like this apart, to leave a 2-year-old child motherless because of one youthful mistake eight years ago is entirely misguided,” Van Der Hout told Jewish News Weekly. “This is an outrageous, insensitive, inhumane decision for an administration that is supposedly promoting the sanctity of the family unit.”
