Italian teen headed to Iowa denied entrance

WASHINGTON, IOWA - Lorraine Williams won't get the chance to spend this spring with her niece's son Paolo Amoruso. She won't get to help him learn English or get to show him the Amana Colonies. She won't get the chance to show the 19-year-old the finer points of living in the United States.

Williams, the owner of Cafe Dodici and Dodici's Shop in downtown Washington was on her way to Cedar Rapids Wednesday to pick up Paolo, who was traveling to Washington from Italy, when she got the call from immigration and customs officials in Chicago. She said she was informed Paolo had been detained because the officials believed he was coming to the United States to work, which was not allowed on his Visa.

'It was so wrong how they made assumptions about this young man and wouldn't listen to me or anyone else,” she said.

Williams spent all day Thursday trying to help Paolo. She contacted legislators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley. Nothing she tried worked and Thursday evening Paolo was deported, being sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Williams said that when he had come through Germany on his way to the United States, he had come through Munich. She said this route took about twice as long.

Paolo's trip to the United States had been planned for months. Williams said Paolo had wanted to visit the United States for many years. Paolo's mother, Maria Carmela, had been someone who had stayed with Williams while she was living in Italy. Williams said she had mentored Carmela much of the time she was in Italy. When her son had wanted to come to the United States, the only way Carmela would allow it was if he had a safe place to stay.

'She told me that she knew if her son came to stay with me, he would be safe, he would be with family, and he would be treated with love,” Williams said.

Carmela had spoken with Williams and reported Paolo had a 'smile from ear to ear,” that he was coming to the United States. That was before the detention had happened.

In speaking with Carmela, Williams learned Paolo had been held in a room, which he referred to as a 'cell.” She said he had been very frightened. Carmela told Williams at one point he had gotten on his knees to beg the immigration officials to let him out. In his first text to his mother he had said, 'They treated me like a criminal.”

Williams said in her phone discussions with immigration officials, after they learned she owned a restaurant, it was all that was needed for them to believe he was traveling to Washington to work for Williams.

'I had told so many people he was coming and he wanted this American experience,” she said. 'There were no secrets about him visiting. There was no talk about him working for me. They just said, ‘we don't believe you.' That was all it took and they just moved forward.”

She said even people who have been arrested in the U.S. have rights to due process and to contact people. Williams said officials would not comment on Paolo or let him talk to anyone. She reported they had said it was a question of privacy.

'This was a young Italian boy coming here for a vacation and he has this nightmare go on,” Williams said.

Williams later reported that Paolo had arrived back in Italy and had reunited with his family. She did not immediately know if Paolo will try to return to the United States or not.