Published: March 06, 2008 11:56 am      

Home isn't always where the heart is - just ask the Neats

BARTON - Walter and Susan Neat's hearts are in Barton, even though the rest of them is in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.

This situation is not by choice.

Rather than face a lengthy and troublesome deportation process, once it became apparent this past month that her formal request to stay in America would be denied, Susan, along with Walter, an American citizen, packed up some things, sold others and simply walked away from some possessions Feb. 8 and made the 10-hour drive northward.

It's a long story.

Susan, now 56, says she was in an abusive marriage in Canada in 2000, one that included physical injury, when she met Walter and attempted to enter the U.S. with him.

"At the first border crossing I was denied entrance because I didn't have proper papers, so we tried another crossing and that's when they took me aside," Susan said.

Bottom line: For five years Susan would not be allowed to set foot on U.S. soil for any reason.

Susan got divorced. In September 2001, she and Walter, now 60, were married. They lived in Canada.

Five years went by.

Walter, a U.S. Army veteran of 15 years with two tours in Vietnam and one in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, got the itch to return to the portion of Allegany County endearingly known as "The Crick," where he had grown up with friends such as Andy Winter, Bugs Custer and Gary Broadwater.

Susan obtained a temporary visa and traveled south with her husband.

"I have never been accepted so openly and so quickly in my life as I was by the people of the Barton area," Susan said this week.

The Neats bought a home at 19124 S. Railroad St., which is now up for sale. They became members of Barton United Methodist Church. Then they were named custodians of the church. Susan was appointed to direct the food pantry housed there, which is operated by the George's Creek Ministerial Association.

The temporary visa was just that, temporary. In seeking permanent residency, the Neats made a number of trips to Baltimore to talk with representatives of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

They sought help via U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, all to no avail.

"I was sitting in Congressman Bartlett's (Cumberland) office while Brenda (Frantz) was talking on the phone with the immigration lady who told her that I would be getting a letter telling me I was being deported," Susan said.

Frantz told the Times-News she would not provide Neat's file. "I can't even confirm that we dealt with them," Frantz said.

Susan said that during the move north, her copies of papers dealing with the immigration issue were either discarded or misplaced. She also attempted to obtain her file from Bartlett's office.

"I asked (Frantz) to give me the file so I could give it to the Times-News and she said the only way we could get the file was to have Walter (still an American citizen) come to the office in Cumberland and get it," Susan said.

Walter has a heart condition and is a diabetic, according to his wife. He had a pacemaker installed.

"I thought the trip to Canada was going to do him in, so I'm not going to have him go back to Cumberland for the file," Susan said.

The Neats said they would move back to Barton if allowed to do so. "At the minimum, we'd like to be able to return to visit our friends and Walter's relatives," Susan said.

"I have never been so disappointed in my country," said The Rev. John Park, former pastor of Barton United Methodist Church. "You would think with his years of service on foreign soil for his country it would make a difference. I am shocked and greatly saddened by this. I know our country has immigration problems, but where is our good thinking and compassion?"

"He told me that once I lied I would probably lie again," Susan said of an immigration agent who was referring to her attempts in 2000 to enter the United States illegally.

The Rev. Thomas Morgan of Barton Presbyterian Church interacted with Sue in her role at the food pantry.

"This isn't the first time I have witnessed this sort of thing," Morgan said. "When I was in the seminary, one of my colleagues was sent back to Tonga in a similar set of circumstances. She never returned to the United States."

Morgan wondered aloud why the federal government would welcome daily with open arms thousands of illegals, even going so far as to offering them rights, while turning its back on one good person and sending her back to Canada.

"There is no real reason, no ethical or moral reason to send the Neats out of the country," Morgan said.

About 20 people filled Barton Town Hall's small meeting room Tuesday to say how much they missed the Neats and how much they believe the popular couple were treated badly.

In the group were fellow members of Barton American Legion Post 189, where Walter was second vice commander. Susan was an active member of the legion auxiliary, where she proudly pledged allegiance to the flag, according to Walter. She baked cakes, worked the post's dinners and helped with Christmas parties, according to Ruth Ann Zacot, president of the auxiliary.

Sonny and Monta Jean Kyle, the Neats' former next door neighbors, keep an eye on the vacant house.

"They didn't know how they were going to pay for the trip back to Canada," said Beverly Moore. Some of that worry was soon resolved.

Charles "Bugs" Custer bought the Neats' tools.

"I didn't need the tools, but they needed the money," Custer said.

The Neats offered Moore the food that remained in their home, but instead of taking it, Moore paid for it.

Morgan paid Susan $500 for her work at the food pantry.

"When they left here they had $2,000," Moore said.

"When they left here we all cried," said Monta Jean, who had baked the couple a cake.

"I talked with Susan on the phone Monday," said Shirley Custer. "When they left here they were told by immigration that they had to make a list of everything in the U-Haul and show it at the Canadian border. She said when she pulled out the list for the border people that they just smiled and told her 'welcome home' and waved them through."

"We left Barton at 3 p.m. on a Friday," Walter said by phone Tuesday, recalling that emotional Feb. 8 "I wouldn't see her spend one day in jail for this."

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.