Dallas woman sues officials in immigration dispute
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Posted on Tue, Aug. 23, 2005
Dallas woman sues officials in immigration dispute
By Bill Miller
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials have been sued by the Chinese-born wife of a Dallas businessman in the latest effort to get her immigration status adjusted.
Nicole Isenberg, wife of real estate developer Ralph Isenberg, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
She fled to New York City with her husband and their infant daughter on the eve of her Aug. 15 deadline to voluntarily return to China and restart the visa application process.
But the Isenbergs wanted to delay the departure by six months, stating that their baby, who was born in July, is too young to travel.
Their request, however, was denied Aug. 5 by an immigration official in Dallas.
Ralph Isenberg has repeatedly criticized government officials, saying that his wife was needlessly jailed on suspected immigration violations for 52 days in late 2003 and early 2004. Her lawsuit states that her detention conditions were "deplorable."
"We're not avoiding justice," he said Monday. "We're seeking justice."
A spokesman for Gonzales said Monday that Justice Department officials have not seen the lawsuit and could not discuss it.
The lawsuit also names Michael Chertoff, secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the government's immigration agencies. Attempts to reach officials for those organizations were unsuccessful.
In her lawsuit, Nicole Isenberg asserts her eligibility to file for applications of adjustment because she is married to a U.S. citizen.
Ralph Isenberg, who owns commercial property in Tarrant County, has also threatened to sue immigration officials in Dallas, who have said they won't comment on threatened litigation.
