Caught in Spotlight, Couple in Baird Case May Be Deported

The Peruvian couple labored in obscurity like most illegal aliens--until their former employer was nominated to be U.S. attorney general.

Now Zoe Baird has withdrawn her nomination, and the couple who worked for her could get kicked out of the country--if they haven’t left already.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service told Victor and Lillian Cordero on Friday they must appear for questioning next week in Hartford to determine if deportation proceedings should begin.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Helene Pepe, an attorney representing Victor Cordero.

But Victor Cordero’s current employer said Friday that he had disappeared, leaving behind a note saying he planned to return to Peru. The whereabouts of Mrs. Cordero, who had separated from her husband, couldn’t be determined Friday.

Baird, 40, of New Haven, withdrew her name from consideration as attorney general early Friday because of criticism over her hiring of the illegal immigrants. She paid a $2,900 fine for employing the couple and paid back $12,000 in delinquent Social Security taxes and penalties.

The Corderos went to work for Baird and her husband, Yale University law professor Paul Gewirtz, in 1990. Victor Cordero was a chauffeur and his wife was a live-in nanny.