U.S. visa extension denied to family of child of Chornobyl (03/16/97)

U.S. visa extension denied to family of child of Chornobyl

by Irene Jarosewich

NEWARK, N.J. - Vova Malofienko, a 12-year-old boy who has been in the United States for several years receiving treatment for leukemia, will have to return to Chernihiv, Ukraine, on April 10 with his parents, unless the family is granted an emergency extension of their visas. Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, the state where Vova now lives, is seeking an extension of the departure date based on humanitarian grounds.

The Malofienko family's struggle with the visa extension began last year. Though Tetley Tea Co. of Tenafly, N.J., has agreed to sponsor Vova's father for a work permit, both the Department of Labor and the Immigration and Naturalization Service have turned down the family's requests and appeals for extensions.

According to information provided by Vova's teachers and classmates, who are lobbying on his behalf, much of the delay and the denials in the process of requesting an extension are the result of the passage last year of a new immigration law that makes it difficult for non-citizens to remain in the U.S.

Vova arrived in the United States in 1990, with a group of children who suffered severe health consequences as a result of the radiation fallout from the explosion at reactor No. 4 of the Chornobyl nuclear power station in April 1986. All were diagnosed with terminal illnesses; Vova's prognosis was modified to include a chance of survival, providing he remained in the United States and received treatment with more advanced medication and procedures than were available in Ukraine.

Through the efforts of numerous individuals and organizations, as well as in-kind and private donations, Vova was able to stay in the U.S. After four years of painful and complicated treatment, he beat the odds and went into remission. He remains in remission, but continues to be tested and monitored.

While undergoing treatment, Vova began elementary school, learned English, and now is an honors student at Millburn Middle School in New Jersey. Last year, at the invitation of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vova spoke at the White House ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy.

Vova Malofienko was a toddler in the spring of 1986 when a reactor at the Chornobyl nuclear power station exploded 35 miles away from his home in Chernihiv. The policy of the Soviet government at the time was to not warn the public about the accident, or advise how citizens could best protect themselves against potential consequences. Late April that year was warm and Vova, according to his mother, Olha, "was a very active child who did not want to remain indoors." Vova's parents, unaware of any danger, allowed him to play outdoors from dawn to dusk.

Vova's home was located in what is now designated as Zone 2, less than 20 miles from the border of Zone 1 (the "Dead Zone" - 18 miles in radius), an area around the reactor that was completely evacuated due to high levels of radiation. The Chernihiv area, along with other areas in Zone 2, have seen a marked increase in infant mortality, immuno-deficiency disorders, as well as endocrinological, hematological and oncological diseases among children, adolescents and young adults in the 10 years since the explosion.

According to Dr. Zenon Matkiwsky, president of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), children are most vulnerable to the effects of a radioactive explosion such as the one at Chornobyl because all the systems in their bodies are developing rapidly and abnormalities also appear sooner.

In Ukraine and Belarus, hardest hit by Chornobyl's fallout, boys and girls, who like Vova were toddlers at the time of the explosion, will soon be entering a period of tremendous growth and hormonal changes: adolescence. Children who are already diagnosed with leukemia and other cancers need careful monitoring during this period.

"Vova may be in remission," according to Alex Kuzma, director of development for CCRF, "but he is still a sick child. He is in remission from leukemia, a disease that requires sophisticated monitoring, and in the event of recurrence, complicated treatment, which is not available in many countries in the world. We may not be able to help all the children in the world who need help, but if we have the opportunity to save a life and then turn our back on this opportunity, then this would be cowardice."

For those who have been working with the Malofienko family for the past several years, the entire process has evoked outrage and disbelief that the obstinacy of the U.S. government bureaucracy puts at grave risk the life of a child who has shown remarkable courage and beat incredible odds. Medical experts from the U.S. and Ukraine agree that at present Vova needs the type of close monitoring, testing, and in the very real possibility of a relapse, treatment that would not be available to him in Ukraine. The alternative is an almost certain death.

Vova is a very poised young man with a child's genuine smile. All those who meet Vova love him. Sen. Lautenberg has called him "extraordinary" and Sen. Torricelli has called him "courageous." Last year, more than 100 of Vova's schoolmates traveled to New Jersey's state capital, Trenton, to show their support for the extension of Vova's visa. Vova's classmate from school has written an appeal in which he asks to be allowed "to know Vova, my best friend, for the rest of my life."

Vova's parents, school and community continue to appeal. On March 13 at 11 a.m. a bipartisan coalition led by New Jersey State Assemblymen Kevin O'Toole and Joel Weingarten held a press conference in Trenton, where they called upon federal officials to stop the impending deportation of Vova and his parents.

Laura Mardyks, the vice-principal of Millburn Middle School who has led a non-stop effort to prevent the deportation of Vova and his parents, asks that letters supporting the extension of Vova's visa be sent to: Doris Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I St. NW, Washington, DC 20536; Sen. Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510; fax, (202) 224-8567; and Sen. Robert Torricelli, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC 20510; fax, (202) 224-9707; Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, 2201 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20520; and, via e-mail, to First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton at [email protected]. Vova may be contacted via the homepage at http://schools.millburn.org/vova.

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