Ten years ago, following my marriage with my husband, I moved from Rome, Italy, to this beautiful and spiritual Asheville. …
In 2003, I petitioned to the Department of Homeland Security for my adult children to join me. Six years passed [before] they … granted the approval to my daughter's case. For my son, there was a problem … and the Homeland Department denied approval. This led to my appealing to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Fortunately for us, the board recognized that [his] birth certificate was valid, and the case was sent back to Homeland Security for reprocessing.
[But] months passed without a word. [I was told there] were cases that had disappeared for over 10 years.
Somebody suggested that I contact Congressman Heath Shuler's office for help.
I rang his office one morning [and spoke to] Shelley Townley. [She] was calm, kind, courteous and friendly. She allowed me time to tell her my story [and] promised that she would call the Homeland Department office immediately. [About] one week later, I received an e-mail from the California Service Center informing me that my son's case had been approved and was being transferred to the National Visa Center for processing. …
I do not know anything about Congressman Shuler's orientation regarding immigration issues. I only know that he has a competent employee who is the constituent liaison: Shelley Townley. She not only resolved my problem with Immigration effectively, but also was a very good example of a conscientious government employee and a sensitive human being. …
— Hang Nguyen
Leicester
This letter writer. . and the Congressman and his staff member . . . deserve our thanks. The letter is a heartfelt acknowledgment of real democracy, real “representative government” in action. To this “politics watcher,” it says a lot more than all the URTV talk and Councilman Bothwell’s “sanctuary city” intiative.