Marriage plans brutally turned off
Please read the rest of the story by clicking on the LETTER
Please read the rest of the story by clicking on the LETTER
Dear Friends,
This is a petition to ask for your support for Dan Teodorescu, a Romanian citizen who is currently a resident of Richmond, Virginia. Here is his story:
On October 7, 2007, while under a legal work contract with a mobile ice cream company, Danny (affectionately known by his friends) was shot in the back and left for dead while selling ice cream from the company van, parked in an elementary school playground on a Sunday afternoon. It is the story of an honest guy, trying to make an honest living, in the "land of opportunity" so that he and Irina (his partner of 12 years) could get married and have a better life than his own country can provide. Eleven days before leaving the U.S. to go back to Romania to get married on November 10, he is rushed to the hospital where he undergoes surgery for five hours. The bullet entered Danny's back on the right side, passed through his right shoulder, severing his clavicle shoulder bone, bouncing off his collar bone, badly damaging his vocal cords and exiting the left side of his neck. Even though he has regained the use of his voice and right arm, there was a great deal of nerve damage and his doctors have indicated that Danny will probably never regain full strength in his right arm and shoulder. His voice is forever changed. (Read more about Danny's story on his website: www.helpdanny.net ) All of this because someone in the U.S. wanted to rob him of the small money he collected selling ice cream. He spent the next 22 days in the hospital. While he was hospitalized, Irina was denied a visa to be with her finance by the U.S. Embassy in Romania.
When leaving the hospital, Danny wanted desperately to return home and be with Irina to recover. This was not to happen. The police arrested the guy who shot Danny and the prosecutor begged Danny to stay and testify at the trial, because "without Danny, this guy would be free to continue his long history of violence, perhaps killing the next victim". You see Danny's assailant was out of jail on bail from previously nearly beating a man to death, when he shot Danny. Since all of the witnesses to this violent act were afraid to testify, Danny stayed for the trial. Irina was brought to the U.S. to testify as a witness since she was on the phone with Danny when he was shot. The U.S. Embassy again denied Irina a visa, so she was brought to the U.S. for 11 days as a "Parolee of Interest" by the Department of Homeland Security. Because of Danny and Irina's testimony, the shooter was found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He won't hurt, or perhaps kill, another U.S. citizen.
But Danny's problems weren't over. While in the hospital, he was told that Workman's Compensation was denying his claim, saying it was a "random act of violence" and unrelated to his job. Facing over $100,000 in medical bills and being overwhelmed psychologically from the incident and his injuries, Danny is again denied the ability to have Irina by his side. He continues to stay in the U.S. while a pro bono attorney manages to convince the Workman's Comp insurance company that the incident was indeed related to his job. Danny is granted the award of declaration that his case does fall under Workman's Compensation, just three days before the hearing was to be held. Danny is granted lifelong medical care related to the shooting, along with payment of all his medical bills. Where will he get the continued care he needs? In the U.S., and once again Irina is denied a visa in order that she can come here so they can finally get married.
This petition is simply to say "LET IRINA COME TO THE U.S." Let her come and marry the guy who took a criminal off our streets; a guy who works hard, isn't an illegal alien, isn't a burden to anyone. Irina and Danny just want to get married. After spending a honeymoon in the U.S., Irina would then return to Romania and wait for Danny to come to her there. Let's say thanks for getting a criminal off the streets, and we're sorry this shooting happened in the U.S. by letting two people get married. It's simple. Let Irina have a tourist visa to the U.S. Please sign and send it along to your friends to show that we reward, not punish, those who help us.
If you have any questions please contact us at petition2@gmail.com.
Thank you very much for your support, and for signing and passing this petition to your friends/relatives.
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Danny came here to live the American dream. He is a hard working serious young man that has a lot to offer our country. He was a victim of a heinous crime that almost killed him. Despite this, he loves this country and wants to have his wife with him.
We complain about illegal aliens in this country and how people work around our laws. Having come from California I've seen how many people take advantage of our welfare system by sneaking into our country, giving birth to a child and then demanding support. I would think that we would WELCOME someone like Danny who has worked within our laws and is trying to live the American dream by starting his own business. Let Irina have a tourist visa to the U.S. so the two of them can get married. That is the least we can do for such an upstanding individual as Danny.
Aren't we America, the land of people who reach out to help other people. This poor gentleman did nothing more than try to make an honest living.Let's show him and his family some compassion.
It's the right thing to do. Not every situation follows the rule book.
What happened to this man is horrible. We owe it to him to help him out.
Let Irina come permanently to the USA. I say "Welcome."
Yes, Danny and Irina should be allowed to marry. We appreciate Danny's testifying against his attacker.
Let them get married in the U.S. He has been a model person here and I am sure she will be also.
He was her leagelly, and almost lost his life here because of some hoodlooms roaming our streets and.
Our country should help the people who are hard working to make this a better place for us. As well as for them.
Danny is trying to do everything by the book, but only meets obstacles. He is the personification of the American Dream, and deserves a chance.
I have known Danny now for over 2 years. Every workday he would come by our business selling ice cream from his truck. I found him to be a honest, trustworthy, dependable and very caring indivdual. Over these 2 years, I learned how much he loves Irina. He has made a true sacrifice to make a better life for both he and Irina. I had the privilege to meet Irina during her visit here to testify during the trial. She trully loves Danny and just wants to marry the love of her life. Please grant her a tourist visa to the United States to marry Danny. It's the least our government can do to show our appreciation for helping get criminals off our streets.
Please allow this as it is the right thing to do.
I know Danny and Irina personally. They are wonderful, sincere people who just want to share their lives together. We let people walk through our borders every day who have no intention of paying taxes and contributing to our country. Danny is a good person who wants to be here legally and be a contributing citizen of our wonderful country. He has done everything asked of him by our country and still, we deny him. The very least we could do is allow this one request - for him to be able to marry the woman he loves.
What harm can come by letting two people get married?! We asked him to stay so can't we do something for him? He didnt have to stay & testify & that man could still be out there robbing & possibly killing someone. I think allowing him to merry his longtime love is a very small boon to ask especially for what we asked of him.
They should be allowed to get married because its not right to keep them apart for nothing. There is no harm in letting her come to be married. She is not asking to stay forever & even if she was, we let everyone else stay even when they are illegal so why not let a good legal person come & stay?
This man was brave enough to testify againt a violent criminal and has, in essence, most likely saved many more from the wrath of that man. He and his fiance should be allowed to marry....
This gentleman performed his civic duty of being a witness to ensure that the criminal who shot his wasn't able to do it to someone else. Yet we reward his courage with a denial of his girlfriend's visa, and the couple is prevented from starting their life together. If this is upheld, the US justice system is fatally flawed.
I had the honor of meeting both Danny and Irina and they are a wonderful and devoted couple. Time to put country boundries aside and allow them to start their official life together as husband and wife.
Why NOT is what the question should be. Let them get on with their life together after Danny put aside his personal life to get someone convicted that had a record already. The conviction would have never happened had Danny not stayed to testify!!
Seems to me this man has earned his stripes, so to speak, by crawling through the mess that is our system -- deny worker's comp even though you're injured on the job; fight the red tape while you're hurt and the least energetic to do so; and even during all that, remain in the U.S. to testify and help US out by getting a criminal to justice. That's more than many folks I know would have done.
He deserves to be able to get his medical treatment in the country that hurt him. He should not have to choose that over his wife-to-be. They should be able to marry here, and he should be able to have some happiness.
Please rush the processing of the VISA. This tragedy was an incident that should allow for special attention and processing.
How can a great country be so uncaring and impersonal?
It is the right thing to do. Their loyalty has been proven. It should be rewarded, rather than punished.
what has this country become ,is justice truly blind
because we all say so ,we own this country not our government
Danny deserves better! He experienced the worst the U.S. has to offer...now he should experiece the best.
Their marriage has been delayed for more than six months because of the United States' violent crimes. He has endured much pain, agony and disappointment. Now, let us extend compassion and allow them to marry here.
