By Evan CardenSA Editor

Vera and James Coleman on their wedding day, Dec. 28, 2002. America is supposed to be the land of the free, but for Vera Coleman, it has become a land of confusion and disheartenment.

Coleman, 53, a Russian immigrant who lives in Jackson, is the widow of the late James Coleman whom she met and married more than 2 years ago while visiting friends and relatives in the U.S. James, an electrician who worked all over the U.S. and Canada, died on Dec. 11 of last year, just two weeks shy of their second wedding anniversary, which would have been on Dec. 28.

Now, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is threatening to deport Mrs. Coleman because she and her husband were not married for a full two years before his sudden death from a massive heart attack. All of her efforts to attain a green card have been futile, because of a short two weeks.

“All of this has been a great shock to me,” said Coleman. “I never expected such a cruelty towards widows from such a progressive country.”

Her troubles began when she traveled to Atlanta on Feb. 9 of this year for an interview at the INS in an attempt to attain her green card. Prior to his death, Mr. Coleman had applied for his wife’s green card, filling out all of the necessary paperwork and paying all of the required fees, while waiting for an interview to be scheduled.

Following his death, Mrs. Coleman decided she wanted to remain in Jackson, which she had grown to love because of the warm welcome she had received from many of James’ family and friends. So, she continued to pursue attaining her green card. “I became a part of his family and this community,” she said. “I do not want to leave here. This is now my home. It’s what Jimmy said he wished in his will.”

Because of her husband’s efforts prior to his death, Coleman was able to attain a valid driver’s license and social security card. She was notified that she was also eligible to receive her husband’s social security benefits once she turned 60.

All of that became null and void when she made her Feb. 9 visit to the INS. “At first the interviewer was acting as if everything was in order and there would be no problem for me to attain my green card,” said Coleman. “Then he noticed the date of my husband’s death, which was two weeks--just two weeks--short of our second anniversary of marriage. He told me that because we were two weeks short of being married two years the law says I am not able to receive my green card. I was shocked. James had spent thousands of dollars for me to become legal here in America. Now they were telling me that I was not legal. He did not believe this would happen. He loved and had faith in his country. Now he is rolling in his grave.”

Coleman said she has exhausted what little money she had, spending part of it for the trip to Atlanta and the rest on trying to pay for her husband’s funeral. “I have begun to sell things from our home to try and cover the remaining funeral expenses,” she said. “I need a green card so I can work and take care of my husband’s home, the home that became our home together.”

Coleman’s visa has expired because after her marriage, she planned on remaining in the U.S. Her intent was to obtain a green card so she and her husband could travel to Russia for visits with her family there. “Jimmy had looked forward to traveling with me to Russia, but he never got to do that,” said Coleman. She recently received a letter from the INS stating that there is no appeal to the INS’ decision, but a request for a review of the determination could be made during deportation proceedings before an INS judge.

Clarke County Probate Judge Becky Presnall wrote letters to U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions and Congressman Jo Bonner asking if there was any help they could offer Coleman. Members of the Jackson community who know her have rallied behind her, signing a petition for her to present when she appears before an INS judge, which is something that will happen as soon as she is notified.

The strain of the circumstances surrounding her impending deportation proceedings has caused Coleman to battle deep depression, which in turn has resulted in failing health.

“I have all proofs that our marriage was happy, legal and beautiful and wanted to show all that to INS people,” said Coleman. “Our life was not easy. I tried to be a good wife, a good helper for him. He taught me driving, computer, to run the travel trailer, the house, to pay all bills, to take care of our finances, etc...”

Anyone who is interested in helping Coleman with her plight by signing the petition in an effort to help her remain in the U.S. can do so by stopping by The South Alabamian office located at 1064 Coffeeville Road in Jackson.