An excellent story here on dKOS prompted me to write my US Representative (yep, that’s Don Young himself, AK, our only one). Though the letters back to me are not the routine brush off (which I get fairly often), the situation is essentially still one of the US government taking unjustified and unexplained action against a civilian.
To recap, story from September 17, 2007), titled
Homeland Security goes Gestapo..detains music scholar and written by Demfem, explains that Dr. Nalini Ghuman is an expert on Edward Elgar (British composer who wrote "Pomp and Circumstance"). She plays the piano and the violin and teaches at Mills College in Oakland, CA.
The expulsion has affected her professional and scholarly work for nearly a year now....
This British citizen and American trained musician was detained at an airport in California and was refused entry to the country, so is now Wales on unpaid leave from Mills College.
Here’s Dr. Ghuman’s statement in August (presented at the Bard Music Festival in her absence):
http://berkshirefinearts.com/...In
In the September story here on dKOS, Demfem wrote "no one who has enquired, including her representative in Parliament, members of Congress including Sen. Durbin, have been able to find out why this happened".
Dr. Ghuman’s fellow scholars have been told that processing of a new visa is being processed (Nov 3).American Musicologists
Here’s what I received from my Congressman.
The first response, dated Nov 9, was discouraging. Rep. Young explained he didn’t get much info and sent me a copy of a letter from US Customs and Border Protection (part of the Department of Homeland Security) which merely cited the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) . A Privacy Act Release Form was provided so that I might ask Dr. Ghuman to give consent for me to receive information about her.
The second response, dated Nov 14, had some information. Rep. Young named members of his staff to whom I should address any further questions and sent me a copy of another letter. The Department of State says she has a visa application pending and "her case has taken longer to adjudicate than anticipated".
So, no breaking news here. I was convinced by the State Department that I "can rest assured that Dr. Ghuman’s application will be given full and fair consideration". I am a little surprised at the careful and detailed responses from Rep. Young. Do you suppose he’s predicting a vigorous campaign by his Democratic opponent (three people have filed for the primary)?