Air Force widow fights deportation

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A Volusia County Air Force widow is fighting deportation to stay in the country which her husband defended. Natalia Goukassian is from Russia. She and her husband, Tigran, weren't married long before he lost his battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Now U.S. Immigration says Natalia might have to return to Russia.

The two met through family at a party in 2006 and married soon after. Tigran wanted to spend every minute with his new bride

"He was different from anyone I ever met," said Goukassian. "I had no doubt in my mind I would be behind this person."

Only married for seven months, Tigran passed away in December of 2006; months later, Natalia learned the United States Government would not let her stay and told her to withdraw her immigration application for permanent residency.

The regulation that would keep Goukassian from staying is known by many as the widow penalty, a U.S. Immigration rule that says a non-citizen married to a U.S. Citizen must be married for two full years to apply for permanent status. A rule Goukassian says is not fair, because she didn't choose for her marriage to end.

"I'm so glad he doesn't know whats happening if he did it would be horrible for him to know I wont have a right to stay here to visit his grave," said Goukassian.

The Obama Administration is looking into the so-called Widow Penalty. For now Goukassian's deportation is on hold, but she's not sure for how long.

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, D-Florida, is pushing a bill called the Fairness to Surviving Spouses Act, a move that would end the Widow Penalty and if passed would allow Goukassian to stay if she goes through the proper channels.