By Kristin M. Hall
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE – The family of a Marine killed in Iraq is asking for Senate assistance to pass a bill fixing a decades-old immigration law that has prevented his Japanese widow from living in the United States.
The bill, called the Marine Sergeant Michael H. Ferschke Jr. Memorial Act, passed the House earlier this month without objection. The proposed law would allow for a proxy marriage when the couple is not physically together because of military service.
Robin Ferschke, the Marine’s mother who lives in Maryville, spoke with Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday in Mobile.
Hotaru Nakama married Sgt. Michael Ferschke by phone in 2008 while he was stationed in Iraq and she was in Japan. He died in combat a month later, but under a 1950s immigration rule, immigration authorities say the couple’s marriage was not consummated though she already was pregnant with their child. The family has been pushing for legislation that would allow Hotaru to live permanently in the United States with their 22-month-old son.
The House passed the bill sponsored by Tennessee Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. on Nov. 15, but Sessions’ spokesman Stephen Miller said a number of senators were concerned the bill was too broadly written and would remove immigration safeguards that don’t apply to the Marine’s situation.
“We have been working in tandem with other offices to try and fix the issue by adding language that would ensure the bill specifically applies to military families suffering from the same tragic set of circumstances as Ms. Ferschke,” he said in a statement.
Robin Ferschke said she was ready to protest with signs outside his office on Tuesday, but instead she had an hourlong meeting with Sessions, which she described as productive.
“He said that he believes what we are going through is very sad,” she said. “He seemed very sympathetic and he agrees that something needs to be done.”
She said that Sessions agreed to work with the bill’s supporters on changing the language of the bill and hopefully have the process finished in December.
“I just told him whatever it takes, we just need this to happen,” she said.