For more than a decade, Guy and Genevieve Vang waited for the immigration bureaucracy to respond to their application for political asylum. They had two children, U.S. citizens by birth, before the government decided, in late 2000, to begin removal proceedings.

They and their [first] two children came to the United States from France, the country they fled to after they escaped war in Laos and Vietnam. They got working papers, filed for political asylum and waited.

They eventually opened up a restaurant, Bangkok 96, in Dearborn, Mich., and had two more children. But they continued to wait on word from the government about their asylum application.

If the government didn't believe the Vangs were worthy of American residence, it should have rejected their application promptly. Instead, the Vangs were trapped in a paperwork maze. Their green cards were renewed annually but their asylum application languished. Shouldn't the government be obliged to act promptly if it seeks to remove people who are working legally, paying taxes, raising a family, and obeying the law?

The Vangs' only hope is legislative relief. They're scheduled to be deported in less than 60 days. Sign a petition.