A U.S. Congressman from Michigan reintroduced legislation on Friday that would give permanent residency to a Kurdish immigrant living in Southwest Michigan.

Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) proposed a measure which, if enacted, would grant Ibrahim Parlak and his family U.S. citizenship.

According to Congressman Upton, “Mr. Parlak has been a well-respected local businessman; a valued and much-beloved member of his southwest Michigan community.”

Parlak came to the U.S. seeking asylum back in 1991, the following year the Immigration and Naturalization Service determined he had a credible fear of returning to his Turkish homeland and granted his request..

But after the September 11, terrorist attacks Parlak and his family have been fighting to stay in America.

In 2010, the Dept. of Homeland Security granted him a two-year deportation deferral which was then renewed an additional two years last summer.

Congressman Upton said on Friday that, “It’s time to put this drawn-out matter to rest and allow Mr. Parlak to live in peace.”