This may seem from left field, but it caught my attention today so I thought I should burn a diary on it just on the off chance that someone in the DKos community could help.
Joe Papp, once part of the US National Team in cycling, fell in love and married a Cuban National Team cyclist, Yuliet Rodriguez Jimenez.
Joe has tried ever since to bring Yuliet to the US, leading to a situation where she is now confined in Venezuala and may be soon deported back to Cuba.
A little more on the flip...
From
cyclingnews.comJoe Papp, a former elite level professional who raced for the U.S. national team and in Europe, is desperate for help from anyone. He and his Cuban-national wife, Yuliet Rodriguez Jimenez, are trying to finally close the geopolitical distance between them after more than two years of marriage, but without much luck.
Jimenez, herself an elite cyclist with the Cuban national team, tried with Papp to pursue immigration for her through the proper diplomatic channels. However, due to the unique tension between the two countries, immigration visas are nearly impossible. "If the U.S. is going to maintain an embargo against Cuba and enforce travel restrictions against its own citizens, then the least that could be done is expedited processing of visa petitions made by U.S. citizens on behalf of their Cuban spouses," Papp told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
After delays of more than a year she tried over the summer to flee Cuba and escape to the U.S. by traveling through Russia and Europe. But her attempt was thwarted and when she was forced to return to either Cuba or Venezuela, Jimenez chose Venezuela. The couple again tried to come together in the U.S. via less-than-official means, but Jimenez was detained in Venezuela and Papp has not had direct contact with her since.
"I never heard from her," Papp said in the interview. "I went to Kennedy Airport to wait for her and she never showed up. And I still don't know all of the details. I don't know where it went wrong."
Last reports say that Jimenez was to be deported back to Cuba this week, and Papp fears for the possible repercussions. "It's a bad situation for her because the Cuban government likes to make examples of people who are well-known," Papp said in the interview.
Papp has done all that he can, including contacting his Senator, Rick Santorum, who's office is assisting, and now he is desperate for any attention he can get on the case. "If this case can get more publicity, and if people are motivated to call their government representatives and ask them to pressure the Venezuelan and Cuban governments to divulge information on the condition and whereabouts of my wife, well, that's all I'm asking."
Obviously Joe and Yuliet have been trying to get together in the US in less than admirable ways, as well as the normal official channels. Yet Joe has no idea of where is wife is or if he will ever see her again. That must be devastating. Something that only a denial of habeas corpus would make happen. Note the link to recent anti-terror legislation...
Anyway, if anyone here has contacts or expertise in this area, please help Joe out.