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Friday January 30, 2004

An emigre needs help

Yana Slobodova is one of those people you’ve been hearing about on TV news and in newspapers. She’s an emigre — in her case a Russian Jew — who has lived in America for seven years and is about to be kicked out because she entered the country with false documents.

Her deportation is virtually assured in a month, barring last-minute success by local members of Congress. And this is happening despite the fact that she is married to a naturalized American citizen, also from Russia, and she is the mother of a 20-month-old boy, who was born in America.

Even the parents of Slobodova, 30, live in the Bay Area. They will be eligible for citizenship soon.

Slobodova was in her early 20s when, on the advice of an ex-boyfriend, she paid some immigration “officials” to help her flee from the former Soviet Union. She did what any young and desperate woman would do who had a yearning for freedom.

She arrived here with false documents, and that’s when her troubles began. The papers were enough to exit Russia, and once she was here, she applied for asylum as a Russian Jew.

In the time she was here, she built a new life for herself. She met and married Alexander Makarchuk, and they had a child. She taught piano to both children and adults.

As far as emigre stories go, theirs was a successful one. Slobodova was well-liked by her students and colleagues, in a profession that was meaningful to her. Though Makarchuk was unable to continue working as a plumber because of a back injury, and he was earning less doing office work, for the most part the family was doing quite well. But the authorities declared that Slobodova must go.

Perhaps their reasoning is that if caring for their son is too difficult for her disabled husband, then Slobodova is free to take the baby with her. And, certainly nothing prevents Makarchuk from joining them. The problem is, they left Russia for good reasons. This is now their home. Neither has any family left in Russia.

We are all aware how 9/11 changed our country’s rules on immigration. And after what happened that day, we can’t argue that we should be more careful regarding whom we let in. But we can’t help but ask how a Russian Jewish emigre who has already been here for years, and whose husband and son are U.S. citizens, fits the profile of a terrorist.

Slobodova was incarcerated 2 1/2 weeks, and did not have an easy time of it. She was allegedly sharing a cell with a woman accused of murder.

Her husband was desperate to get her out, so he posted bail, and they signed a statement that she would leave the country in 30 days. Even though a lawyer was present, the authorities were determined to deport her.

What happens now is anyone’s guess. Media coverage is a start. Makarchuk has asked for help from his congressional representative. The Bay Area Council for Jewish Rescue and Renewal is working on the family’s behalf. A new lawyer interested in offering pro bono services would be a big help, and time is of the essence. To help, call Larisa at BACJRR, (415) 703-0800.

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