Jin's Husband, Joe, (right) Picked Her Up At Elk River Minn.
At 11am Nov.2nd, 2004. Arriving Back In Viroqua Around 5:pm.
Jin, Had Been Imprisoned Since Oct. 12th, 2004.
See Story Below.
Jin's Husband, Joe, (right) Picked Her Up At Elk River Minn.
At 11am Nov.2nd, 2004. Arriving Back In Viroqua Around 5:pm.
Jin, Had Been Imprisoned Since Oct. 12th, 2004.
See Story Below.
Karen, Spend Many Hours Contacting People. Presenting Jin's Case.
All The Text Written Below Are From E-mails Karen Sent.
It Was Fantastic The Way Jin Accepted The Welcome Home.
Within Minutes After Congratulations, Hand Shakes and Hugs
She Was Again Mingling With The Guests, Taking Orders
And Waiting On Tables.
If It Had Not Been For Many Friends Like Linda, Karen and so
Many Others. Jin Might Have Been Deported Back To China.
What A Breath Of Fresh Air In A World So Full Of Hate & Violence.
This Story Has Not Made Headlines In Many Newspapers.
But Maybe Someday Such Stories Will Take Preference
Over The Mass Killing Fields Of Todays News.
Thema And I Arrived At THE GREAT WALL Restaurant About 4:30pm
Already Guest and Well Wishers Numbered Near 50
Jin and Husband Joe Arrived Shortly After 5:pm
The Welcome Celebration Was Scheduled From 4:-8:pm
Today Jin's attorney called me to let YOU know that Jin will be released from jail at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 2 in Bloomington, MN. The major hurdle was cleared today when they (Department of Homeland Security) Acting Director of the San Diego Field Office approved re-opening her case. She faces two more bureaucratic steps, Bureau of Immigration Appeals and the Immigration court in San Diego, but she will be able to remain home here in Viroqua with her family during the procedures. DHS deemed that she is neither a security nor flight risk. The reopening was the key to the process and now the next steps are, more or less, pro forma. Remember, it aint over till the fat lady sings...and she aint singing yet.
We are going to have a welcome home party for her from 4 p.m. onward Tuesday, November 2nd (who knows how long it takes to process out of jail?) and you are welcome to come, greet her, stay and have dinner or just have a piece of cake. Bring your smiles and any cards or signs that you wish...and, of course, bring friends, family and other supporters.
The attorney again reiterated that YOU made the difference. Thank you so much for your outpouring of concern, support, letters and signatures. This is the true story of The Little Town That Could.
If you still letters and petitions, please send them to me as they will be entered into her permanent file. Karen M. Dahl, P. O. Box 32, Viroqua, WI 54665.
Again, come and visit Jin at the Great Wall of China restaurant Tuesday AFTER you vote. :-)
Most appreciatively, Karen
Oct 29th, 2004
Dear Friends,
I have a couple of things to report to you that will restore your faith in our government. Yesterday Jin's attorney was notified that they (DHS) has approved re-opening her case! Simply put...she can STAY! The following is a letter to YOU about the situation from her immigration attorney in NYC. Needless to say, STOP SENDING LETTERS AND PETITIONS TO ALAN RABINOWITZ!! I will need any letters and petitions you may have so that they can be included in Jin's case file. It aint over till it's over...so right now we are guardedly jubilant but want to have ALL the governmental red tape dealt with before total, mind blowing jubilation.
On Wednesday night, we dashed off, via FEDEX and FAX, a further urgent request to the Bloomington DHS office for the prompt release of Ms. GAO, on a humanitarian basis. Now that we have the support of San Diego's DHS for reopening her case, perhaps we should try every possible avenue for her earliest release.
We sincerely thank you, all of your supporters and the City of Viroqua for rallying behind Ms. GAO and her family! This is an extraordinarily remarkable true story of the wonderful American citizens from Viroqua and the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
God bless all of you in Viroqua and surrounding communities!
Best regards,
Muriel and Douglas Payne
douglaspaynelaw@yahoo.com
Please Note: I again spoke with the Paynes this evening and found out that we aren't completely out of the woods Please Note: I again spoke with the Paynes this evening and found out that we aren't completely out of the woods. There are a couple of offices this case must visit before she is done...first, the Board of Immigration Appeals vacated the refusal of her motion to stay....which means it's on again with them....and the case has to go before an immigration judge in San Diego...as I said, a lot of red tape but there's light at the end of the tunnel unless something goes wrong. We are proceeding cautiously making sure that all the T's are crossed and the I's dotted.
Please send to me and/or the Paynes all letters and petitions as they will go into her (Jin's) file and used as needed with the authorities. If you send them to me - Karen M. Dahl, P. O. Box 32, Viroqua, WI 54665 and if you choose to send them directly to Atty. Payne.... Douglas B. Payne, 401 Broadway, Suite 1806, NYC 10013-3005.
You may be aware that a few of us in Viroqua decided to send money to Jin in jail so that she could purchase personal items as needed. Sarah Caldwell took a card along Main St. and collected $200 from just about everybody that she met! You go, Girl! Would you believe that everybody but ONE person dug out a dollar or five!!
The Viroqua City Council met Tuesday evening and 8 of 9 councilors and the mayor signed a petition on behalf of Jin. I believe everybody in the audience signed one too.
A load has been lifted off of my shoulders. Hopefully the crisis is past and we can let progress in this case inch forward inexorably. The most important part is the achievement of a few citizens made in helping in this unfortunate situation. We are the Little Community That Could.
Karen
******************************************************
PRESIDENT BUSH SCHEDULED TO SPEAK AT ONALASKA'S OMNICENTER
This Morning Oct. 26th At 8:45am.
Doors will open at 6
a.m., and everyone must be inside by 7:45 a.m.
For More Information:
Click
Here
******************************************************
Today Oct. 26th, President Bush is probably going to travel through Viroqua
on his way from Onalaska to Richland Center. He will probably come through
around 11 a.m. +/- 30 minutes. I am asking you NOT to
protest him along his travel through Viroqua but to make signs in supplication
on behalf of Jin Xian Gao.
Ideas such as PLEASE, MR. PRESIDENT, HELP US, "Let our sister go", America, land of the free - FREE JIN, Mothers and Babies Should Be Together...reunite Jin and children, FREE JIN XIAN GAO, whatever, should be made into signs to catch the President's attention. Anything that would politely ask him to intercede Jin's behalf with Homeland Security. La Crosse and Richland Center will be having protests but I beseech you to NOT protest in Viroqua...just politely ask for help...use your imagination. Make as many signs as you have time and bring them along to Main St. Tuesday. Share...
The good news is that NBC news is going to cover our highly unusual "rally"
for the nightly news tomorrow. They are in discussion as I write this. I will
alert the other media about our "supplication rally" but PLEASE come with your
signs.
Karen
VIROQUA, — Jin Xian Gao owns a restaurant here with her husband, Zhou "Joe" Zhang. They're homeowners raising an 11-month-old boy and 2-year-old girl. And they have friends, and even strangers, who will stand up for them.
That's a much different world than they say their parents came from. Gao says her mother was forcibly sterilized by the Chinese government for having two children, which is one too many. Zhang says both sets of parents lived in fear for their families because they were outspoken critics of the Chinese government.
But that is a world federal immigration officials are ready to send her back to. Gao was arrested this month by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and is in San Diego, awaiting deportation to China. Friends and Wisconsin officials are trying to fight for her.
"She is just scared," Zhang said, noting she has also had a miscarriage while in detention. "I am afraid of what will happen if she goes back. There would be no one there to support her."
Zhang says Gao has been on "parole" since 1999 when a San Diego immigration judge ordered her sent back to China after she was arrested for trying to enter the country illegally with fake documents.
Gao had tried to enter the country in 1999 after the United States granted her father political asylum. She and her mother had been turned away because of improper paperwork, she said. Then she tried to enter with fake documents, and the legal wrangling began.
While she was released awaiting a decision on her appeal to stay, she married Zhang, a U.S. citizen. He petitioned for her citizenship in April 2001, the month after their marriage.
That petition was approved by the Bloomington, Minn., immigration office, but when the couple was there earlier this month, they discovered a 2002 ruling in San Diego denying her appeal pre-empted that decision. Gao was arrested and sent back to San Diego.
Local residents have come together to help the couple. Longtime resident and political organizer Karen Dahl has contacted local congressmen and government officials on the couple's behalf to make sure Jin's case does not get lost in the bureaucratic shuffle.
Gov. James Doyle, 3rd District Congressman Ron Kind, Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold have all been contacted and are attempting to intervene on behalf of the couple.
An outpouring of letters and faxes in support of the couple are going to the San Diego office.
Allen Rabinowitz of the San Diego office said he cannot comment on the specifics of the case, but the case is being looked at and that's all being considered."
Rabinowitz did confirm that Jin's case was in no way related to homeland security, and she is not considered a threat or a flight risk. "This is strictly an immigration issue," Rabinowitz said.
Joe is hopeful that all of the letters of support and work being done to help him and his family is enough to convince INS officials that his wife can stay. Joe said he is able to talk with his wife, but contact is limited.
"I am just so tired," Joe said. "It's really hard. I have two little babies, and they are with family. If she has to go back how am I going to take care of two babies and work? If I hire a baby-sitter how can I make it on one income?"
Tim Hundt is a reporter with the Vernon County Broadcaster
*********************************************
GREAT NEWS FROM KAREN DAHL ON MEDIA COVERAGE
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2004 10:15am
Subject: Government Duplicity
in Regard to Jin Xian Gao
Wisconsin Public Television is meeting about this this morning. Lee Enterprise is working on a story as I write this. I have a friend coming this Saturday to work on a press release for the national media and I am presently working to contact the White House through Steve Gunderson. I am exhausted trying to keep everybody informed and in action. I have an election to win too! So, I go to bed exhausted and weepy. Today is another day...the Governor's legal counsel is calling Rabinowitz RIGHT NOW. I will keep you posted. Thanks for your caring and passion....keep tuned for another stomach turning episode. :-( Karen
LATEST UPDATE
Posted 3:pm, Oct 22nd, 2004 I
could not go to bed without sharing the latest news about our friend Jin and her
deportation situation. Today, as you may remember, I spoke with Deputy District
Counsel Alan Rabinowitz of the Dept. of Homeland Security in San Diego. He told
me that he was recommending that Jin's case be re-opened so that she can stay
here in the USA with her family. He told me that he told the officer handing her
case that he recommended that the case be expedited. He didn't tell me that he
turned the case over to an Officer Mata for Removal and Deportation. They are
trying to get her out of the country ASAP!!!
Her attorney called this evening after filing a 27 page motion to stay the removal order. It went to Leesburg, VA to the Bureau of Immigration Appeals, ex parte. I will know more Friday morning if this next desperate step is going to stop this travesty.
All I can suggest at this point is for you to hold still right now, hold the faxes and pray. I will get back to you as soon as I hear what we should do next.
This is beyond belief and a terrible travesty............A line has been deleted for clairification.
Pray.
Karen
***************************************
LATEST UPDATE
Posted At 1:pm, Oct 21st, 2004
LOCAL WOMAN IMPRISONED UNDER HOMELAND SECURITY LAW
The young woman (Jin Xian Gao) Viroqua, Wisconsin
From: "Karen Dahl" SUMMARY
GAO, Jin Xian (A# 77 -051-783)
- Ms. Gao sought to enter the United States at Honolulu, Hawaii on March 30,
1999, arriving by air. She was five days shy of being seventeen years old (d/o/b
4/4/82). She was arrested at the Honolulu International Airport by the
Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS") for trying to enter the United
States with fake documents.
- The INS moved Ms. Gao from detention at Honolulu, Hawaii, to an INS
Detention Center for Juveniles on the mainland. Her immigration case was under
the docket control of the INS in San Diego, California.
- Ms. Gao applied for political asylum while in detention for fear of
persecution by the Chinese government under its coercive Family Planning Policy.
Ms. Gao feared that upon reaching her eighteenth birthday in China, she would be
subjected to regular humiliating pregnancy tests by the local Chinese government
to determine if she were pregnant in violation of Chinese laws against giving
birth before the age of twenty-two. Ms. Gao also told the Immigration Judge at
San Diego, CA, that her family was poor, that her mother had been persecuted and
forcibly sterilized for having two children in violation of the Chinese coercive
one-child birth control Family Planning Policy. Ms. Gao told the Immigration
Judge that she wanted to study and work in the United States.
- This I-130 petition was finally approved on October 12, 2004 by the
Bloomington, Minnesota, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services. The approval of Ms. Gao's I-130 petition was a requirement
for the San Diego Department of Homeland Security District Counsel to reconsider
reopening Ms. Gao's immigration case before the San Diego Immigration Court.
- Ms. Gao's application for adjustment to legal permanent resident was not
considered on October 12, 2004 by the Bloomington, Minnesota Department of
Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, because it lacked
jurisdiction over this application until Ms. Gao's Immigration Court proceedings
were reopened and terminated.
- On October 12, 2004, after the adjustment hearing in Bloomington,
Minnesota, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, arrested and detained Ms. Gao, and sent her to be further detained
at the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minnesota, because there is an
outstanding order of removal of Ms. Gao to China issued by the Immigration Judge
at her immigration hearing in San Diego, California, on July 28, 1999.
- Ms. Gao's immediate family - her husband, her two infant children, her
mother, her father, and her brother, all reside in the United States. It would
be most cruel for the Department of Homeland Security to send her back to China
where Ms. Gao no longer has any immediate family members.
This is rather disturbing news and I share it with you just now for your
thoughts, prayers and contemplation as to exactly what we can do as concerned
citizens.
The young woman (Jin Xian Gao) who jointly owns and works at the Great Wall
Chinese Restaurant, 210 Airport Road, Viroqua, went to Bloomington, MN, on
October 12 to get her "green card". At that time they determined that her
application for status as a permanent resident was terminated and she is subject
to immediate removal. She is being held in the Sherburne County Jail. 13880 Hwy
10, Elk River, MN 55330, telephone 763-241-4516 until she is deported back to
China. They are holding her in jail for 30 to 60 days before deportation. This
is all done under the guise "Homeland Security". The letter went on to say that
"the Executive Office for Immigration Review has jurisdiction over an alien's
Application for Adjustment of Status for alien removal proceedings". The letter
didn't provide any information as to where the Executive Office is located.
Jin Xian Gao is married to an American citizen, Joe (Zhou Zhang), and has a
one year old baby boy and a little two year old daughter. They were married in
NYC in March 2001. Theirs is the American dream...come here as immigrants, work
day and night, open your own business at great sacrifice, work day and night
some more, and finally, like all Americans dream...bought their first home this
summer in Viroqua.
Worst case scenario...she will be deported and cannot return for a minimum of
10 years. This heart breaking situation is beyond my ken right now....how can
this wonderful young woman possibly be separated from her children for 10
years??? She's sitting in jail terrified; she doesn't speak much English so
can't understand what in the world is going on....all she wants is her family
back here in Viroqua. How can this poor young man be separated from his wife?
Homeland Security, balderdash!
Due to the fact that this is a weekend and everybody I know is on the
campaign trail, I cannot do anything today although I have calls into Ron Kind
and Herb Kohl's staff....and an e-mail to Russ Feingold's staffer. I can't tell
you how NOT happy they are to hear from me on a weekend but I feel that this
situation necessitates action NOW.
What can you do? I don't know until I can get some information and assistance
from the various Federal people....however, I don't think it would hurt to send
a letters of support to Denise M. Frazier, District Director, US Department of
Security 2901 Metro Drive, Ste. 100, Bloomington, MN 55425 and the file number
is A77 051 783.
While I was at the restaurant gathering details, the younger brother told me
that one thing that he has heard that could/would help their situation is for
clergy to write letters in support of Jin.
I am also thinking of bombarding (whoops, better watch my words
here)....flooding the jail telephone number with calls of support too but my
guess is that they really don't have any authority as to who comes and goes.
They (Jin and Zhou) have an immigration lawyer in NYC and I will speak with
him Monday to see what we need to do on our end to support this lovely young
woman and her quest for a free life with her children and husband in this land
of opportunity.
Meanwhile, prayers and words of support to Joe if you should eat at the Great
Wall this weekend.
Does anybody know a Chinese speaking friend who could translate for us? She
speaks a southern Chinese dialect, not Mandarin. Imagine how terrified she is
right this moment.
THIS WAS THE SECOND MESSAGE FROM KAREN DAHL
Today I spoke with Jin's immigration attorney and was told that tomorrow is a
big day for Jin. The DHS attorneys in San Diego will have a meeting in which
they discuss their various cases. At that time they will decide whether to
re-open Jin's case. This may be THE turning point IF we flood the office with
letters of support.
I am asking you today to send your letters to Mr.
Alan Rabinowitz via FAX. His fax number is 1-619-557-7062. You MUST include
Jin's file number in order for your letter to go in her file....A 77-051-783.
Jin Xian Gao
Mr. Alan Rabinowitz, Deputy District Counsel, Department of Homeland
Security, 880 Front St., Room 2246, Sand Diego, CA 92101 and appeal to him to
re-open her case. He should recommend that the DHS re-open her case and approve
her permanent residency.
She must be returned to her American husband and her two babies here in
Viroqua. It is humane and just.
Thank you all for your outpouring of support for this lovely young woman.
Please share this note with whomever you spoke before so that they too can take
action.
Peace, Karen
Jin's parents came here as political refugees from Mainland China and were
granted political asylum. Jin was 17 at the time and since she is now an adult
is being treated separately.
She originally "came through" San Diego, CA and they have jurisdiction in her
case. The Bloomington office is just acting on their instructions. She had been
granted an I (eye) 130 which allowed her permanent residency. She was here
working on her permanent status under parole Due to miscommunications she missed
a hearing in San Diego and they issued a removal order to send her back to
China. She has been working since 1999 to correct the situation and has been
quite successful in that they have allowed her to remain here. It's not that she
is a terrorist or even a flight risk, they are just punishing her for the
miscommunications.
All letters of support should be sent to Mr. Alan
Rabinowitz, Deputy District Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, 880 Front
St., Room 2246, Sand Diego, CA 92101 and appeal to him to re-open her
case. He should recommend that the DHS re-open her case and approve her
permanent residency.
You would be proud of our Wisconsin Congressional delegation....Kind, Kohl
and Feingold all jumped on this first thing this morning but they have limited
influence with the immigration courts in San Diego, the Department of Homeland
Security, and Mr. Rabinowitz. They are truly fantastic.
Yesterday I mentioned that the worst case scenario was deportation for a
period of 10 years. During today's discussions with various people, this, in
deed, could happen. However, while she is again in China she could re-apply for
another visa. She would have a bar placed against her name that would say that
she cannot come back and she would be refused. However, at this point in the
process she could appeal this decision based on her family ties here in the
United States.
They MAY allow her to come back based on this appeal. I think this is too
tenuous...nothing says that this would actually happen. It is unimaginable that
she would be separated from her babies for as long as ten years. And, if her
parents are political refugees, what would prevent the Communist Chinese from
arresting her when she is returned to China and sent off to their gulag never to
be seen again?
The Department of Homeland Security is sweeping up all immigrants due to the
increased threat of terrorism (!!!) and she has become just a statistic to them.
I have been repeatedly told that letters of support by the community, ministers
and friends and neighbors MAY sway Mr. Rabinowitz and his supervisor.
So, we are back to writing letters. This evening I am writing a news release
and will attempt to corroborate the facts and then we can start a media blitz.
Until then, start writing those letters.
One last piece of sad news....Jin suspected that she was again pregnant when
this happened. Today she miscarried while in jail due to her absolute fear and
hysteria. This is taking a toll on her both physically and emotionally.
So far this is what we have accomplished....so that you know about the
volunteers that have come forward....three Chinese speakers in the Twin Cities
area, Twin Cities Quakers prison ministry, the American Red Cross, several MN
attorneys (not necessary because this is San Diego's jurisdiction), and
telephone calls of support from far and wide. Thank you all for your concern and
action.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me...however I
am getting swamped! Believe it or not, I am working on other things as well like
elections, work and family. Spread the word and write those letters.
Peace,
To: "William P. Weber"
Subject: Homeland Security Arrests Viroqua Resident
Update And Clarification
Date: Thursday, October 21, 2004 9:42 AM
*********************************************
THIS WAS THE FIRST MESSAGE FROM KAREN DAHL
AND
POSTED SUNDAY OCT 17th, 2004.
Karen Dahl
kdahl@frontiernet.net
AND POSTED SUNDAY OCT 17th, 2004
From Karen Dahl, Viroqua.
Jin, Needs All Of Us To Help
Contact Your
Friends
Write Letters
Dear Concerned Friends and Fellow Travelers,
Posted Oct 18th, 2004
THIS IS THE 3rd MESSAGE FROM KAREN DAHL.
About The Young Woman
(Jin Xian Gao) Viroqua, Wisconsin
Here Is The Latest E-Mail From
Karen Dahl, Viroqua.
Today October 18th, I spoke with Jin's immigration
attorney and I will try to summarize the up-to-date information I have for you.
Karen
kdahl@frontiernet.net
*********************************************