WERE ELDERLY COUPLE A SECURITY RISK?Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
No one in the federal government is accusing Valerio Gelpi's parents of being terrorists or posing a national security threat, but the 71-year-old Italian couple are still persona non grata non gra·ta adj. Not welcome; not approved: The aide, having been declared non grata, was expelled from the country. [From persona non grata.] in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Without realizing it, they broke the law in 2001, when they came to visit their son and daughter-in-law in Burbank. Their crime was staying here two days too long - 92 days instead of the 90 days allowed under the visa-waiver program established between many European countries and the U.S. As he had in the past, the couple's travel agent booked their trip for three months, thinking 90 days and three months were the same thing. But there were actually two days difference in this case because two of the months had 31 days. For that, the Gelpis paid a big price when they returned to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. last October to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their son. After spending 22 hours getting here from Milan, they were detained for interrogation interrogation In criminal law, process of formally and systematically questioning a suspect in order to elicit incriminating responses. The process is largely outside the governance of law, though in the U.S. by U.S. immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. officials at Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX . They were put in holding cells for 26 hours, then put on the next British Airways British Airways in full British Airways PLC International passenger airline based in London. In 1936 British Airways Ltd. was founded through the merger of three smaller airlines. flight back to Italy. They never did get to see their son and daughter-in-law. All because they stayed two days too long in this country the last time they were here. ``The provisions of the visa-waiver program are very strict, very specific,'' said Ana Hinojosa, Los Angeles port director for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a bureau of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. Bureau, which is under the new Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States . ``Under the law, ignorance is no excuse. Lots of people have compelling stories, but we don't make the law. Congress does. We implement policies and had no discretion in allowing them in.'' Stuart Patt, a spokesman for the U.S. State A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States, although four states use the official title "commonwealth". The separate state governments and the federal government share sovereignty, in that an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and Department, concurred. ``There is no authority for individual customs borders inspectors to use discretion and allow them in,'' he said. ``Congress did not give them that authority. ``A lot of discretion has been taken away post-9-11 for obvious reasons. They had to send the Gelpis back for overstaying their visit the last time they were here.'' Where's the compassion and common sense, their son wonders. Have we become so scared, so fearful of all foreigners that we're turning away frail, 71-year-old couples from friendly countries because of a misunderstanding - three months vs. 90 days? His parents posed no threat. They were no national security risk. They'd visited their son a half-dozen times in the past decade - always staying three months, always going home. No one ever told them they were breaking the law. They were always allowed back in - eligible for the visa-waiver program because they were from a friendly country that continues to support the U.S. in its war against terrorism. ``Couldn't they have warned my parents of their past violations, maybe detained them a few hours to scare them, and then explain that next time they would have to obtain a tourist visa to re-enter re·en·ter also re-en·ter v. re·en·tered, re·en·ter·ing, re·en·ters v.tr. 1. To enter or come in to again. 2. To record again on a list or ledger. v.intr. the U.S.?'' Gelpi asked. In reviewing the file on the Gelpis, Hinojosa admitted there was no indication, either verbally or in writing, that the couple had ever been warned they were technically breaking the law by overstaying their visit a couple of days. ``If they had known, my parents could have easily obtained a regular visa to stay longer,'' Gelpi said. ``Their track record speaks loudly of them entering this country multiple times and always leaving after three months of spending their hard- earned money on the U.S. economy. ``Wouldn't such a track record clearly show what their intentions were and grant them entry?'' No, it wouldn't. Not anymore. Gelpi has contacted the Italian Embassy and local congressional leaders, hoping they will look into the treatment of his parents, but so far no one in government seems anxious to question the authority of the new Office of Homeland Security. Even when the threat to our borders is a 71-year-old couple from a friendly country coming to America to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their son. Dennis McCarthy, (818) 713-3749 dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Valerio Gelpi and wife Ruffaella Piccinelli show a photo of Valerio's parents, who were denied entrance to the U.S. for staying too long last time. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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