Jumped Ship in Houston to Fulfill ‘a Wish and a Dream’ : Second Romanian Seaman Granted Political Asylum

A Romanian seaman who slipped off a cargo ship to fulfill “a wish and a dream” to live in the United States was granted political asylum Thursday.

Paul Firica, 44, is the second Romanian sailor to defect to the United States within one week.

“It was recommended by the State Department that he be granted asylum and that goes along with our initial determination and he will be granted asylum,” said Paul O’Neill, district director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Meeting With Minister

Firica, appearing nervous and frightened, told reporters Thursday he fears for his wife and two daughters, ages 23 and 17, but hopes to bring them to the United States. He said he will go to Austin, Tex., to meet with a minister and attempt to find a job as a diesel mechanic.

“He was very happy,” interpreter Bego Memet said of Firica’s reaction to news he was granted asylum. “He wants to thank the American people and the immigration service for letting him stay. He’ll be much happier when he has a chance to get his family here and live a normal life.”

Memet, of Spring, Tex., also is a Romanian. He defected in Italy and moved to Texas 15 years ago.

Firica said he initially was frightened when he slipped away from the freighter Zalau, where he worked as an assistant engineer.

“It was a wish and a dream to come here,” he said.

Visiting Friend

Firica left the Zalau during the confusion of its leaving port late Tuesday and made his way to the Harris County Jail. Memet, who was visiting a friend at the jail, overheard Firica speaking Romanian and sent him to the INS.

Firica, a member of the Romanian Orthodox Church, said he had been troubled by lack of religious toleration in his country and had decided to defect where “freedom is respected.”

Last week, another Romanian seaman, Stevan Vernea, was granted asylum after leaving a merchant ship in Jacksonville, Fla.