Nick Lampson: “Uchechi Anyanwu is a U.S. citizen born of Nigerian nationals who were here with U.S. green cards. She had a younger…”

“Uchechi Anyanwu is a U.S. citizen born of Nigerian nationals who were here with U.S. green cards. She had a younger sister, Ogechi, also born in the U.S. Because of marital problems, the family went back to Nigeria. When they arrived there, the father informed the mother that the marriage was over, took possession of the mother's passport and the children. He wanted to get a divorce in Nigeria to avoid having to pay child support. The mother was able to escape with her family's help. When she came back to the United States, the mother immediately got temporary custody. The father came back to the U.S. without the children. The mother and father appeared before a judge in August of 1997 and the judge ordered the return of the children. He refused, and has been in jail ever since. The children were allegedly with a paternal aunt and uncle in Lagos, Nigeria. In November 1997, the mother got word that the younger daughter, Ogechi, died of malnutrition. The uncle was jailed for 2 rac{1}{2} months for the murder of his niece, but then was released. Interpol has verified the child's death, but the burial site is unknown. Interpol has checked at the aunt's and uncle's home for the surviving child, but has not found her there. Uchechi's mom has hired an attorney in Logos, who took all her money and disappeared. Mr. Speaker, do we have to wait until children die before this Congress takes notice of children being taken across our borders? It is time to bring our children home.”