Written for the web by Deborah Hoffman, Reporter
Created: 8/29/2007 4:51:06 PM
Updated: 8/30/2007 8:06:19 AM

Her husband died heroically trying to save two children from drowning. Now a young widow is facing deportation.

Jacqueline Coats, 27, came to the United States from Kenya six years ago on a student visa. She married her husband, Marlin Coats, in April 2006. Three weeks later, Coats died while rescuing two young boys caught in a rip current off Ocean Beach.

Coats said she was in the process of filing the necessary documents to become a permanent legal resident when her husband died. But she now faces deportation.

"I've been here six years, I've built my life here," said Coats. "The most and better part of my life that I've built is in this country. My family's here. This is what I know."

On Wednesday, state Republican and Democratic lawmakers held a news conference at the State Capitol to support a federal bill sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, that would allow Coats to remain in the United States.

"It's an injustice to this young lady," said Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia.

Coats said she's believes the system will ultimately work in her favor. "I want to be able to put flowers on Marlin's grave. I don't want to be taken away from that," she said.

Feinstein's bill is Senate Bill 420. It was introduced last year.