El Salvador girl denied US visa to save sister's life

[Judi Lynn]

El Salvador girl denied US visa to save sister's life
By Robin Yapp
Thursday December 01 2011

A girl from El Salvador has been denied a visa to enter the United States in order to donate bone marrow that could save her sister's life.

Yarelis Bonilla, five, of Elizabeth in New Jersey, has lymphocytic leukaemia and her best hope is a bone-marrow transplant from a perfect match donor.

Her seven-year-old sister, Gisselle, would fit the bill but she lives in El Salvador and has twice been denied a visa by the US embassy.

Marian Habib, the lawyer representing the family of Yarelis, who was born in the US, said: "It is truly an emergency. This is a race against time." She said the US embassy in El Salvador has to be convinced that the girl's life is at risk and that her sister will return to her home country after the transplant.

More:
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/americas/el-salvador-girl-denied-us-visa-to-save-sisters-life-2951223.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Braun: Strict U.S. immigration laws ignore life-and-death decisions in case of ill Elizabeth girl

Braun: Strict U.S. immigration laws ignore life-and-death decisions in case of ill Elizabeth girl
Published: Monday, November 28, 2011, 6:20 AM Updated: Monday, November 28, 2011, 10:34 AM
By Bob Braun/Star-Ledger Columnist The Star-Ledger

Here’s the choice: Strict enforcement of immigration laws or the life of a little girl.

So far, the U.S. Department of State has chosen enforcement, but, maybe, that will change.

"We’re sure that, once the government has all the facts, it will recognize the seriousness of the situation," says Marian Habib, a lawyer for the American Friends Service Committee in Newark.

She represents the family of Yarelis Bonilla, a 5-year-old Elizabeth resident who suffers from "very high risk acute lymphocytic leukemia," according to one of her doctors. It’s a disease that is "life-threatening and extremely serious," according to a report from the pediatrics department at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

More:
http://blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/2011/11/braun_strict_us_immigration_la.html

[Judi Lynn]

2. Bluestone Waiter Fights for Granddaughter’s Life

Bluestone Waiter Fights for Granddaughter’s Life
BY Debbie Galant | Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011 10:37am

Bluestone Coffee waiter Gertrudis Ramirez has just a minute to pose for a picture at his job today. After work, at 3 p.m., he’s heading to Newark to Sen. Robert Menendez’s office. At issue: the life of his granddaughter, 5-year-old Yarelis Bonilla of Elizabeth, who has cancer and desperately needs a bone marrow cancer transplant. Her 7-year-old sister Gissele, who lives in El Salvador, is a perfect match — but the Immigration and Naturalization Service has rejected her visa application.

WABC aired a story about Yarelis’s plight last night, which you can see here. You can read more in the Star Ledger. Ramirez says he doesn’t have anything specifically to request of the people of Montclair yet … but if anyone has a magic wand that works on the INS, now would be a good time to whip it out.

http://www.baristanet.com/2011/11/bluestone-waiter-fights-for-granddaughters-life/

[Judi Lynn]

3. Illegal fight to have his daughter receive bone marrow transplant in NJ

Illegal fight to have his daughter receive bone marrow transplant in NJ
01/12/2011 12:08:00 Edition: 1339

Daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, the girl Yareli Bonilla, 5 years, suffering from acute lymphatic leukemia

As in a real soap opera drama, sometimes life imitates art. That is the choice: the fulfillment of strict immigration laws or the life of an American girl. So far, the U.S. State Department chose the law, however, for parents of Yareli Bonilla, 5 years, fighting against a rare type of leukemia, the race against the clock continues.

"We are confident that once the government receives all necessary information, it will recognize the seriousness of the situation," said Marian the portal NJ.com Habib, a lawyer for the American Friends Service Committee in Newark (NJ).

She represents the family of Yareli, residing in Elizabeth (NJ), who suffers from acute lymphatic leukemia, according to his doctors. His only chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant from a compatible donor. Fortunately, she has a sister 7 years old, Gisselle, which is genetically ideal for transplantation. However, she lives in El Salvador and had twice refused a visa to enter the U.S..

More:
http://www.brazilianvoice.com/bv_noticias/bv_comunidade/41903-Ilegal-luta-para-que-filha-receba-transplante-medula.html