MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A Macomb County family has confirmed that their mother was abruptly deported after living in the United States for 20 years.
Irina Sobierajska boarded a flight from Detroit Metro Airport back to Poland on Friday evening after she was given 48 hours to leave the country she had lived in for 20 years.
“I feel like people could find it in their hearts to not separate a family who is trying to just live a life like anybody else, and have the same opportunities and work hard,” her daughter, Patrycja Sobierajska, said.
Irina Sobierajska received a notice last week that her stay of removal request was denied by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
“How can you go back to a country you have literally nothing?” Irina Sobierajska said.
She is a Polish citizen who lived in Poland for about 10 years. She’s allowed to work in the U.S. but is currently an unlawful resident because she doesn’t have legal status.
“Her and my dad came to the country to help build a better life and start a strong foundation for my brother and myself,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.
Throughout their time in the U.S., the family has kept up with immigration requirements.
“They look at her as a criminal and that’s just the heartbreaking part,” her son, Bernard Sobierajska, said. “She’s never done anything, and she’s just the nicest person in the world. I don’t get it.”
Irina Sobierajska is also the caretaker for her husband, who suffers from diabetes, arthritis, and depression. The family fears his condition will worsen without her.
“He just doesn’t know how he is going to continue his daily life without his wife by his side,” Patrycja Sobierajska said.
The family took steps to stop the deportation. They spoke with a lawyer, contacted state senators, and reached out to Local 4.
“It’s just all unfair,” Bernard said. “I don’t think her case was looked at enough.”
ICE released the following statement about Irina’s case to Local 4:
Irina Sobierajska was ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2014 as she was a visa overstay. She has been afforded due process as she made multiple attempts to appeal that decision with the courts, but the immigration judge’s order of removal still stands. ICE allows aliens to pursue relief from removal but when they exhaust all legal avenues to do so, ICE must carry out the judge’s removal order.
Statement from ICE