Religion & Law

Nun Threatened with Deportation

By Michael Scaperlanda

My student, Ash Mayfield, brought the following to my attention.

Jim Roberts of KTBS reports:

"Sister Cristina Angelini has been called the heart and soul of Shreveport's Renzi Center, an early child development center run by the Catholic church.

But the federal government might be getting ready to tear that heart out. In a country where there are millions of illegal aliens -- and a shortage of Catholic sisters -- the feds are threatening to make her leave and return to her native Italy.

Exactly why, the government couldn't tell KTBS News today. It might be a bureaucratic mixup.

Sister Cristina got a letter from the government last week, telling her she must leave the U.S. by the end of the month.

She had applied to extend her visa and thought she was approved.

Then the letter from immigration officials arrived.

"I was very shocked and confused," Sister Cristina said today. "I don't know why this happened."

Angelini would not discuss specifics pending a conference with immigration officials later this week. But the reason for the deportation could have something to do with Hurricane Katrina and delays in processing her paperwork at immigration's New Orleans office.

But she and her lawyer are having a hard time maneuvering through the government's red tape."

For the full story, click here.

Full post as published by Mirror of Justice on March 06, 2008 (boomark / email).