Albanian mom's deportation on hold for review

Tresa Baldas | Detroit Free Press

TROY, Mich. -- It was a sleepless night for Cile Precetaj.

The Albanian mother of three, who was bracing for deportation Tuesday morning, tossed and turned in bed all night. She had brief nightmares of checking the front window and seeing immigration agents parked in vans outside, waiting to pick her up.

They never came.

Late Tuesday afternoon, U.S. immigration authorities announced that they had decided to review Precetaj's case, which called for her to be deported at 10:30 a.m. that day.

The Troy woman had been given given 24 hours' notice that she was to report to Detroit Metro Airport. But her husband told the Detroit Free Press they decided to stay home and let U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials come and get her instead, so they "can show the world the hardened criminals" immigration is going after.

The agents stayed away.



"ICE is presently conducting a review of Ms. Precetaj's case, therefore her removal is not imminent at this time," said agency spokesman Khaalid Walls.

An elated Precetaj broke down crying at the news.

"I was just hugging my kids, saying 'thank you, thank you, thank you.' I don't have to be scared," Precetaj said after learning her case was getting reviewed.

The 41-year-old said her dream is to stay in the U.S. and "raise my kids in this beautiful country."

"I feel so glad, and I appreciate what they do for me right now," she said. "Hopefully, it's going to work for me and they're going to keep me here."

If it doesn't, she said, perhaps her case will help other mothers like herself and bring about immigration changes.

Her story, meanwhile, has triggered an outpouring of support and grabbed national headlines after the Detroit Free Press reported her ordeal. Some supporters have started petitions to keep her in the U.S. Some are calling their U.S. representatives for help. A Good Morning America crew went to her home Tuesday.

Her husband, Pjetero (Pete) Gojcevic, said he hopes the government gives his wife a second chance.

"Hopefully, they'll have a change of heart," Gojcevic said. "I hope they find it in their hearts not to split up a family."

So does Precetaj's lawyer, New York immigration attorney Andrew Johnson.

"This is a good first step, however, we are still confused as to why they are deporting a woman with three U.S.-born kids who has been here for 13 years," Johnson said, adding he also can't understand why a woman with no criminal history is a priority for immigration authorities.

According to Gojcevic, the case has had a devastating effect on the couple's children, ages 4, 6 and 11. The mother's initial plan was to take the children to live with her in her parent's village in Albania, he said, noting his wife had packed bags for both herself and the kids.

"The girls want to know why they're not going to school. They're on pins and needles," Gojcevic said.

According to Gojcevic, a Yugoslavian immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for 40 years, his wife immigrated here illegally 13 years ago to escape an abusive fiancé and violent culture.

Court records show that she sought asylum, but an immigration judge denied her request in 2007, concluding her testimony about fear and crime was not credible, and that even if it was, women in that situation do not qualify for asylum. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in 2008.

Johnson tried to have the case re-opened. But the 6th Circuit denied the request six months ago.

"It's just so sad, you couldn't ask for nicer people," said Richard Nunez, the woman's neighbor. "They keep their house clean. Their yard is immaculate and their kids are just adorable."

Nunez said he and his wife stopped by their home Tuesday morning to say their goodbyes.

"It was very emotional. We all broke down," Nunez said. "The kids don't realize what's going on. They don't want to leave."