The Mehinovic Family

1. Who are these folks?
2. Where do they come from?
3. Why are they here?
4. Why should we care?
5. Are they really that good?
6. If they're so good, why doesn't the government just grant them citizenship?
7. Why me? Why doesn't someone else do something?
8. Why doesn't some famous musician take up their cause?
9. So what can I do to help?
10. This item is under construction.
11. Oh, I don't know. You hear so many hard-luck stories.
    How can I be sure this is a legitimate cause?
12. OK, if they can't get in to the U.S. can't they just go somewhere else?
13. Suppose I want to contact someone in the government. Can anyone there help?
14. How can I get more information?
15. Should I sign a petition or something?
16. How can I follow the status of their case?
17. How can I contact them if I care to?
18. Can you tell me more about Bosnia, or the conflict?

1. The Mehinovic family consists of four refugees from war-torn Bosnia. The father, Senad, is a composer and classical guitarist. Mrs. Mehinovic, or Vesna, plays keyboards. They have two sons. Vedran is 16 years old, and he also plays keyboards. Dinko is 15, and plays the oboe. They currently live in New Haven, Connecticut.

2. The Mehinovic family lived in Sarajevo until the war forced them into temporary dwellings. They had to move, for their own safety, sixteen times in three years. All the while, while they had no heat, running water or electricity, they continued to play their music. Finally, they fled for their own safety.

3. The Mehinovic family was unable to continue to live safely in Bosnia. Senad is a Moslem, and his wife is a Christian. Yugoslavia, and especially Bosnia, was once the worldwide showcase of religious tolerance, and prided itself on the fact that people of all races and religions could live closely and happily together. Alas, the dream was shattered by the nightmare of "ethnic cleansing".

The family was asked to play at a Martin Luther King celebration in Phoenix, AZ. On January 17, 1996 Vesna entered the country with her two sons. Senad did not have the papers to leave the country, and was not able to join his family until 8 months later.

4. This family is a "national treasure" to us, who can "enrich our culture" in the words of National Public Radio reporter Bob Simon. They are outstanding musicians of surpassing passion and excellence. We are lucky to have them in our country, but if they cannot become immigrants they will be forced to return to Bosnia. Mr. Simon says that to be forced to return will "spell their doom."

5. Yes.

• Vesna is an accomplished pianist, and the first woman orchestra conducter in the history of Yugoslavia or Bosnia.
• Senad is a talented and accomplished classical guitarist.
• Vedran started playing the piano when he was eight years old. By the time he was twelve he had publicly played his first piano concerto, as well as a canzonetta for bassoon and piano. He has written the music for the play I Never Saw Another Butterfly and his interpertations of Bach, Chopin, Beethoven and others are nothing short of heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
• Dinko is talented bassoonist, oboe player and singer. He won his first nationwide singing contest when he was ten years old. He has continued to sing, and to play works by Bach, Cimarossa, Barret, Pachalbel, and others.
• Senad and Vesna are also music teachers. Vesna created the Rainbow Chorus, a multi-ethnic singing group in Phoenix, and she is the organist and choirmaster at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Middletown, CT. Senad is working as a volunteer, teaching opera to elementary students; he cannot receive compensation for his efforts, and the family would be pressed for money in any circumstance. In this case, however, they have needed the services of six lawyers in their fight to become citizens of this country, and their legal bills are very high.

6.Our government cannot meet with every hopeful applicatnt. They process close to a million forms a year see table. The numbers are staggering and the workload is overwhelming. Like it or not, they process papers, not people, and there are always more refugees than legal available slots. Look at the regulations. This means that a lot of people are going to be sent back. Specifically, in fiscal year 1996 (the 1997 numbers have not yet been processed) 68,657 people were sent back to their country of origin. Of these, 18,593 were excluded, which means they were turned away at the point of entry. The remaining 50,064 were deported for cause which means that they violated the law or some part of their immigration agreement. In contrast, we admitted 915,900 people into this country, and another 494,495 residents were adjusted to immigrant status. Source: United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Statistics. They maintain that over 70,000 people will be returned to their country of origin in 1998. Some of those people are going to be killed; they fled for a reason. But this family is special. Their music is a treasure that the world should not lose. I urge you not to take my word for it, but to listen to a concert, and hear for yourself. They really are that special.

In addition, they devoted their lives to service and teaching before and during the war. They say they'll continue that here. Their actions substantiate their claims. But the INS does not process promises; they cannot and do not know the stories behind the numbers on their forms. That's why we must make this case an issue before the national public. Anything worthwhile takes effort. What this family has to give us is worth the effort.

7. Well, who else? The Mehinovices need lots of small contributions to pay their legal bills. Their case needs public exposure if it is to come to the attention of the INS officials. None of us are rich; none of are important enough to influence the policy of a government agency. But if all of us just does a little bit the Mehinovics will live, their music will live, and the small children they have demonstrated a commitment to will continue to learn music, from masters.

8. Well, Zubin Mehta met Vedran in a hotel in Sarajevo, heard him play briefly, and was kind enough to write a short note extolling Vedran's abilities. Bob Simon, a National Public Radio reporter, has been quoted elsewhere in this article. Other than that, I don't know anybody famous, and I urge you to help us publicize this case. Perhaps somebody with influence will hear of it, and take action. Until then, we have to do the work ourselves, in small incremental steps.

9.

• Go to a concert. They'll be listed here.
• Contribute something, if you can, to their legal defense fund.
• Tell others.

10.This item is under construction.

11. Good question!

• Write to them here.
• Call Trinity Church at 624-3130.

12. There are over 30 hot and cold conflicts going on right now. See this page. Other countries are in the same situation we are in, and the U.S. is their best hope.

14. Well, you could try the Immegration and Naturalization Service, a division of the Department of Justice. They maintain an office in Hartford, CT. The number is (800) 375-5283. They also maintain a branch of statistics in Washington, DC. That number (please note that it's a toll call) is (202) 305-1613. Their headquarters is in Washington, DC. You may reach the Branch Chief at
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Department of Justice
425 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20536
(202) 514-5104
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov

I live near the Mehinovics. If you do too, and you'd like to contact any government officials, it is likely that you are part of, or close to:

• Connecticut Congressional District 3
• State Assembly District 96
• State Senatorial District 11
• It's a small area, but you may be part of the 9th Ward
  Note: Unless you live very close, your alderperson may vary.

If you want to find out this information for your location, call City Hall and ask for the City/Town Clerk. If you have separate offices for city and town clerks, you want the city clerk; generally, the town clerk handles land records, and the city clerk assumes most other clerical duties. In New Haven, CT:

• City Hall may be reached at (203) 946-8200
• The City Clerk's number is (203) 946-8339

13. Same answer as above, but keep watching this page. I'll keep updating information, and tag the new items.

15. We are researching this with their lawyer. If that would help, details will be posted here and tagged as new.

16. I will keep you updated on this page.

17. You can send them electronic mail here.

18. Here's some information on Bosnia and here's a primer. Here's a list of links and general resources.