Upton Bill Seeks Permanent Residency For Ibrahim Parlak

Congressman Fred Upton is trying again to help keep Ibrahim Parlak in the U.S. permanently. He has reintroduced legislation seeking permanent U.S. residency for the Kurdish immigrant, who was born in Turkey and came to the U.S. in 1991 seeking asylum. Senator Carl Levin has introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Parlak was granted a deferrment on removal proceedings in both 2010 and 2012, each for two years, and Homeland Security has indicated subsequent renewals will likely be granted. His case gathered national attention nearly a decade ago, when Homeland Security accused him of having ties to terrorists. Parlak was released from prison in 2005 and has been fighting to gain permanent residency ever since. He lives in southern Berrien County. Upton says it's time to put the matter to rest and allow Mr. Parlak to "live in peace and remain a productive member of society."