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An Oklahoma mother, Melana, is in immigration custody and facing deportation to Russia, as her attorney calls for mercy and highlights rising removal orders for Russians. “We’ve tried just about everything to try to keep her here,” said Elissa Stiles of Rivas & Associates, who is representing Melana. Melana arrived in the U.S. on a fiancé visa and married someone else. When that relationship ended, she received a removal order, which was later converted into an order of supervision requiring routine check-ups. “For the last 20 years, they knew about the removal order and decided not to act upon it. They’ve changed their mind suddenly because of the political situation,” Stiles said. Data from Syracuse researchers shows removal orders for Russians have increased since the Russia-Ukraine war began. Before the conflict, national numbers were in the teens, but they began rising in 2022 and reached 319 deportations in March, the latest available data. “She’s very, very afraid for her life. If she were to go back to Russia at this point, I feel like I’ve essentially used up, exhausted my legal options,” Stiles said. To provide context, Mexico leads the national list for removals, followed by Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. In Melana’s case, Stiles said they filed a habeas corpus petition and argued she qualifies for a visa as a victim of trafficking. “ICE has been saying that they are planning to remove her. She’s from Russia, so she is looking at being removed to Russia right now,” Stiles said. With legal avenues exhausted, Stiles said the only option left is to appeal to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for compassion.”The only thing left is to beg ICE to exercise mercy in the situation for a victim who is seeking help, who is afraid for her life,” Stiles said.
An Oklahoma mother, Melana, is in immigration custody and facing deportation to Russia, as her attorney calls for mercy and highlights rising removal orders for Russians.
“We’ve tried just about everything to try to keep her here,” said Elissa Stiles of Rivas & Associates, who is representing Melana.
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Melana arrived in the U.S. on a fiancé visa and married someone else. When that relationship ended, she received a removal order, which was later converted into an order of supervision requiring routine check-ups.
“For the last 20 years, they knew about the removal order and decided not to act upon it. They’ve changed their mind suddenly because of the political situation,” Stiles said.
Data from Syracuse researchers shows removal orders for Russians have increased since the Russia-Ukraine war began. Before the conflict, national numbers were in the teens, but they began rising in 2022 and reached 319 deportations in March, the latest available data.
“She’s very, very afraid for her life. If she were to go back to Russia at this point, I feel like I’ve essentially used up, exhausted my legal options,” Stiles said.
To provide context, Mexico leads the national list for removals, followed by Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
In Melana’s case, Stiles said they filed a habeas corpus petition and argued she qualifies for a visa as a victim of trafficking.
“ICE has been saying that they are planning to remove her. She’s from Russia, so she is looking at being removed to Russia right now,” Stiles said.
With legal avenues exhausted, Stiles said the only option left is to appeal to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for compassion.
“The only thing left is to beg ICE to exercise mercy in the situation for a victim who is seeking help, who is afraid for her life,” Stiles said.
