Court Makes Decision In Mother’s Deportation Case

CHESHIRE, CT — On the day she was set to be deported to Albania, a woman whose family owns a popular Italian restaurant in Cheshire has been granted a temporary stay of deportation by the Second Circuit Court on Monday morning, according to multiple reports including FOX 61. Denada Rondos, the mother of three young children, manages finances at Viron Rondos Osteria restaurant, which is owned by her husband Viron Rondos, on Highland Avenue in Cheshire. She was born in Albania and has lived in the United States since 2002.

Denada Rondos told NBC Connecticut that she left Albania when she was 16 years old and fearing for her life. She came to the U.S. to escape religious persecution and has applied for asylum, according to NBC Connecticut. Denada Rondos admitted to WFSB 3 that she used an altered passport when she entered the United States. The passport had her photo on it, but contained someone else's information.

Denada Rondos was ordered to return to Albania by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2007 but was granted a stay of removal every year since then, according to WTNH News 8. Everything changed on Sept. 13 when she was told that she had two months to leave the country. Denada's attorney told WTNH that they are asking the Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider and give her a hearing based on "new dangerous circumstances" in Albania.

Denada Rondos received support from the community and legislators, including a vigil for the family on Sunday night.

U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat who represents Connecticut's 5th District, joined the fight to grant Denada Rondos asylum to stay in the country.

“This is one step on a long road, but I am grateful for the efforts of all those who worked so hard to keep Denada home,” Esty said in a post on Twitter after learning that the stay was granted on Monday morning.

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