KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasLas Vegas Man Facing Deportation to Poland

Las Vegas Man Facing Deportation to Poland

Our country's complicated immigration laws are tearing a Las Vegas family apart in what they're calling a communication breakdown between government agencies.

Thirty-nine-year-old Filip Baranski is in custody at the North Las Vegas Detention Center on an immigration hold. He faces deportation to his native Poland, but his family says it's a misunderstanding.

"I feel lost without him, we've been married for 12 years," said Liza Baranski, who doesn't understand why her husband Filip, who's been in this country for 16 years, is in jail facing deportation to Poland.

"My husband doesn't have a criminal history," Baranski said. She believes that they are caught up in the immigration system.

Filip was pulled over last month for having an expired front license plate and not coming to a complete stop. Police say they were ready to release him, but noticed he had an immigration hold on his record.

"Immigration finally apprehended him by way of Metro," John Fernandez, immigration attorney. His attorney John Fernandez says that hold comes from his first wife who sent the government papers that she entered into a fraudulent marriage with Filip.

For more than a decade, Filip and Liza tried to clear his immigration status and claimed they have received conflicting documents. In Jan. of 2003 the Department of Justice sent him a letter telling him he had to leave the country.

But several months later, he received another letter approving an application for employment. The couple thought they had the law on their side.

"The law is tearing up this family. He is a productive part of society, not once has he committed a crime," Fernandez said.

"I would like for him to stay and have the chance to defend himself," Baranski said.

To make matters worse if Filip is deported, his wife says he will likely go to a military jail for not serving time in the Polish army, which is required by Polish law.