PHILADELPHIA – Dr. Pedro Servano and his wife, Salvacion, along with their four children, appeared at the Immigration and Citizenship Office in Philadelphia Monday afternoon where they were granted a 60-day extension to stay in the United States.
The couple had faced imminent deportation to the Philippines for an error that was made on their citizenship applications more than 25 years ago.
The couple’s future now rests in the hands of U.S. Sens. Arlen Spector or Robert Casey, both of Pennsylvania, or U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10 of Dimock, who could sponsor a private bill granting the Servanos amnesty.
“The INS didn’t give us a drop-dead date of when the Servanos would be removed from the United States,” said Gregg Cotler, one of three attorneys working for the Servanos. “They gave us a sufficient amount of time to work with the senators’ offices. There are tremendous equities in this case, making it unusual.”
The Servano family remained optimistic Monday that they would be able to stay in the United States.
Dr. Servano is a doctor with the Geisinger Health system with more than 2,000 patients. His wife operates an ethic grocery on Market Street in Sunbury and the couple also owns and has renovated the old YMCA building, also on Market Street in Sunbury.
“We’re happy for any type of extension,” said Shappine Servano, the Servano’s 24-year-old daughter.
The couple also has a 22-year-old son, Steven, Peter, 15, and Phoebe, 13.
Reporter Damian Gessel is in Philadelphia and will have more in Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Item.
