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Gutierrez Seeks Visa For Soldier's Wife In Mexico

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Congressman Luis Gutierrez is asking for a humanitarian visa for the family of a National Guard soldier from Chicago.

The soldier's wife and infant son are stranded in Mexico - while the soldier is to be deployed in Afghanistan.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Steve Miller Reports

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Gutierrez says he's calling on Homeland Security and President Obama to act now to reunite a family.

"If there has ever been a clear-cut reason for the use of the humanitarian visa, this is one of them," Gutierrez said.

National Guard soldier Hector Nunez, 26, says the U.S. government - and an immigration lawyer he hired - led him to believe his wife, who is undocumented, would have no trouble getting the proper documents if she went to the American consulate in Mexico.

That's what she did in June.

Then, Nunez says, not only was his wife not given documentation - she was barred from entering the United States for 10 years.

"So in reality, she's getting a 10-year bar, and I'm getting a 10-year bar, too."

Nunez says he wants to see his wife and infant son before his deployment to Afghanistan.

Newsradio 780 is trying to reach the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office for comment.

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