Re: Danish teen w/JRA forced to leave family allowed back in U.S.

[Guest guest]

Im so glad to hear she is getting to come back home.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for keeping us updated Georgina.What a happy ending.

[Guest guest]

Me too. Funny thing is I was just thinking of her the other day and wondering if she was granted 'permission' to come back:) Good news.

Take care.

Patty

[Guest guest]

Finally someone sees the stupidity in the situation.. Im so glad Helene gets to be reunited with her family here in the States.

Hugs Helen and (6,systemic)

Hugs..Helen DH Dan DS's (20)(14)(12)Zachary(9)(6)

DD (4)>From: Georgina <gmckin@...> >Reply- >*JRA List < > >Subject: Danish teen w/JRA forced to leave family allowed back in U.S. >Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2004 18:49:17 -1000 > >Danish teen forced to leave family allowed back in U.S. >By Ron Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Wednesday, July 14, 2004 >http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2004/07/m1a_danegirl_0715.html > >Helene Jensen speaks excellent English, and Helene Jensen speaks >excellent Danish. But Wednesday she spoke in exclamation points. > >"I am ecstatic! I am so happy! I've been so happy all day, so happy I >get to come home!" > >The exclamation points have punctuated her speech since an afternoon >phone call from the American Embassy in Copenhagen with the news her >family and friends have been hoping to hear. > >The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has granted a "humanitarian >parole" allowing the 16-year-old junior at Dwyer High School in Palm >Beach Gardens to return to the United States for a year. > >"I will be home before you know it," she promised, speaking by cellphone >from Copenhagen while she waited in line for seats and a celebratory >meal at an Italian restaurant. > >Born in Denmark, Helene came to the States when she was 10. After her >father's 1997 work visa expired earlier this year, her older, U.S.-born >sister, Charlotte, was able to sponsor her parents as they become >citizens. But Helene, who participates in trials of an experimental drug >to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, was ineligible to remain because >she is not a spouse, parent or child of the sponsoring relative. > >On June 23, she returned to Denmark to stay with her grandmother while >her family tackled the bureaucracy to bring her back. > >With help from Congressman Clay Shaw, R-Ft. Lauderdale, and Stuart >Bernstein, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, the bureaucracy came through >quickly. > >A request for a student visa, made July 8, was denied a day later. But >Monday, the application for a humanitarian parole was filed and, after >Shaw urged Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson to expedite >the matter, approval came Wednesday. > >"I got the news from Helene," said her father, , vice president of >operations for Teeters Agency and Stevedoring at the Port of Palm Beach. >"I was kind of worried there was mistake or she had misunderstood >because the papers were only filed Monday." > >Now, Shaw said, they have a year to ensure she can stay here permanently. > >"To change the law would require hearings, which couldn't possibly be >done in that time, but perhaps we can try to get a special bill >providing help for her," the congressman said. > >Helene, on the other hand, is only looking ahead to the first flight >back to Palm Beach International Airport once she has the necessary >documents in hand. > >She and her boyfriend, Plotke, will mark their 5-month anniversary >July 22, and she wants to be here. Plus, her 17th birthday is Aug. 7. > >"I want to be back by then. I want to be back right now! It's cold, and >I'm freezing. It's probably 55 or 60 degrees here!" she said. > >"I really miss the warm weather, and I miss my parents and my sister — >oh, I miss everything!" > > > > >