‘I just want him home’: Easton woman facing cancer diagnosis stranded without husband due to immigration freeze | Easton Area

EASTON, Pa. — An Easton woman facing a recent cancer diagnosis says changes in federal immigration procedures have left her homebound and without her primary caregiver.

Annette Maritza Gallego says her husband has been her primary caregiver throughout years of serious health issues. But for the past five months, he has been stranded overseas after a sudden pause on immigration visas was executed, just days after he landed in Colombia for his required immigration interview.

For years, Annette Maritza Gallego has navigated severe chronic illnesses with her husband, Jorge, by her side.

“He’s my support. He does everything with me,” said Annette.

But since January, Jorge has been stuck in Bogotá, Colombia, forcing her to navigate a new diagnosis all alone.

“In the meanwhile, on top of everything, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Annette. “So, my operation is soon and I have to go through it alone. He’s not here.”

Annette relies on an oxygen machine. Without Jorge, simple daily tasks have become not just physical, but emotional hurdles.

“It’s very hard to be in an empty house all day long without him,” said Annette. “Just simple things, taking out the garbage and things that I can’t do. I have to get people to do me favors, to come to the house.”

The separation wasn’t expected to be long-term. To complete the process of obtaining permanent residency, Jorge traveled to Colombia for a required interview at the U.S. Embassy. The family’s attorney says he passed every preliminary check, including obtaining an approved provisional hardship waiver. But the situation shifted immediately after he arrived.

“He left in advance for the interview, only to have the government, several days later, notify everyone that Colombians were no longer allowed to get immigrant visas. So, he’s now stuck there until that pause is lifted,” said Lehigh Immigration Law Firm Attorney Michael Renneisen.

Because Jorge had to physically depart the U.S. to attend the mandatory consular interview, federal rules triggered an automatic bar to re-entry. Now, current administrative restrictions prevent him from simply returning on a temporary visa while the freeze is active.

Annette cannot travel to Colombia to be with him either, because the city’s high altitude would dangerously compromise her oxygen levels.

“Just want him home,” said Annette. “The not knowing is what’s really hard.”

The family’s legal team is now appealing to Senator John Fetterman’s office, requesting casework intervention and emergency humanitarian parole to bring Jorge home for Annette’s upcoming surgery and cancer treatments.

69 News reached out to Senator John Fetterman’s office regarding Annette and Jorge’s case, but representatives stated they cannot comment due to privacy protocols.

For now, the family’s legal team says they are awaiting formal guidance and a timeline from the U.S. Embassy, the State Department, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).