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ICE's Newest Trick: Deporting Valedictorians

Posted by Corinne Ramey, Drum Major Institute at 10:33 AM on June 9, 2008.


ICE attacks the best and brightest.

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I've written about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials' schoolyard antics before, but the recent news that ICE is planning to deport a California high school valedictorian just affirms my view that these immigration authorities need to get out of the schools. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The valedictorian at Fresno's Bullard High School won't be attending college in the United States this fall because he's scheduled to be deported.

Seventeen-year-old Arthur Mkoyan's 4.0 grade-point average qualified him to enter one of the state's top universities. But he and his mother have been ordered back to Armenia after their last appeal for asylum failed. The family fled from what used to be part of the Soviet Union and has been seeking asylum since 1992.

But, rest assured, ICE shows its nice side once in a while (and if it's not clear, I'm being sarcastic here). As a sort of consolation prize, ICE decided to let Arthur stick around for graduation. According to the article, "A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement says they were given an extension until June 20 so Mkoyan could attend his graduation ceremony."

This past October, the Senate tried to help out students like Arthur, but to no avail. Legislation called the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act -- better know as the DREAM Act -- was introduced in the Senate, but failed a procedural vote. The legislation would have allowed Arthur and approximately 65,000 other undocumented students a path to citizenship and the opportunity for a college education. But unfortunately for Arthur, the legislation failed.

Arthur's story and that of the DREAM Act are just two examples of what amounts to an utterly inconsistent immigration policy. Whether ICE wants to admit it or not, undocumented immigrants are here to stay, and an enforcement-only policy that consists of random deportations just isn't going to cut it. According to a recently-released report by the Public Policy Institute of California, Immigrant Pathways to Legal Permanent Residence: Now and Under a Merit-Based System, more than half of the immigrants in California who have legal permanent resident status were at some point undocumented. This number is 42% for the U.S. as a whole. These immigrants -- both documented and undocumented -- are a vital part of the nation's economy and the fabric of our nation. Deporting smart students like Arthur -- especially considering that such a huge percentage of immigrants eventually receive legal status -- is not only bad for the immigrant community, but for the nation as a whole.

For a slightly happier immigration story, check out this video of DMI scholar and Mexican immigrant Samantha Contreras. Samantha was undocumented when she graduated from high school, and soon realized the hardships associated with being undocumented.. "I learned the reality of my immigration status," she said. "I couldn't work, I couldn't go to college, I couldn't drive, I couldn't even get a Blockbuster membership card." Unlike Arthur's story, Samantha's has a happy ending -- an immigrant rights group helped her to enroll in college, and now she strives for a career in public policy.


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Maybe We Can Salvage Something Out of This...
Posted by: Xynyx on Jun 9, 2008 10:55 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let's see just how successful and competitive Arthur Mkoyan is back home, with his American 4.0... could be a good measure of how useful an American education is.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

So whats the problem
Posted by: EncinoM on Jun 9, 2008 10:57 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The student, regardless of his grade point average is here illegally. Other students, whether US citizens by birth, naturalized or went through the proper channels and applied for a student visa deserve the seat at the university before an illegal alien. Skipping the line, and thumbing your nose at the rule of law should not be rewarded.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Mr. Compassion Posted by: xconservative
» RE: Mr. Compassion Posted by: EncinoM
» Law and Order Posted by: Nebris
» So, Mr. Law and Order... Posted by: aalif ba ta tha
» RE: So whats the problem Posted by: aalif ba ta tha
» Beautiful! Posted by: Nebris
» RE: So whats the problem Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: So whats the problem Posted by: aalif ba ta tha
» RE: So whats the problem Posted by: EncinoM
Let's just throw a bag over the head of the Statue of Liberty
Posted by: AngryWhiteFemale on Jun 9, 2008 11:19 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My ancestors dismebarked at Ellis Island 125 years ago. All you had to do to get into this country back then was fog a mirror. So long as you were disease-free, you were in. And you could take free English language lessons in NYC in the evenings. I am so tired of the amnesiacs in this country hijacking this debate. My ancestors sought the same dream as these people. Good for this young man. May his plight be a lesson to his peers to remake this nation into something we can be proud of again. It's easy to bash "illegal" immigrants - among the most vulnerable in our population- and avoid getting angry at Wall Street and all the greedy corporate execs who make our lives miserable.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» Rule of Law Posted by: Nebris
» RE: ule of Law Posted by: EncinoM
» denied a seat Posted by: Nebris
» RE: denied a seat Posted by: EncinoM
» Game/Set/Match Posted by: Nebris
» RE: Game/Set/Match Posted by: EncinoM
» Small Mind Posted by: Nebris
» RE: Small Mind Posted by: EncinoM
» Hatin' Posted by: Nebris
» RE: Hatin' Posted by: EncinoM
Update to this story
Posted by: coryramey on Jun 9, 2008 1:32 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is considering a private bill that would allow Arthur and his family to remain in the U.S. I wrote an update to this story here.

Arthur is asking that people email him letters of support that he can forward to Sen. Feinstein.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Update to this story Posted by: EncinoM
» Are You A Traitor? Posted by: Nebris
» RE: Are You A Traitor? Posted by: EncinoM
undocumented VS illegal
Posted by: oku_haiku on Jun 9, 2008 3:27 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
for all of those who are kicking up a fuss that this poor kid didn't follow the rules and "cut in line" - please note the difference between undocumented and illegal.

he was undocumented because he was involved in an active refugee claim.

that does not make him illegal. he was well within the protection of the law while he pursued his secondary education.

he didn't "cut in line" or somehow steal resources from others. he was following the rules as they were laid out for his particular case.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: undocumented VS illegal Posted by: EncinoM
» Hatin' Posted by: Nebris
» RE: Hatin' Posted by: EncinoM
» an end to the expections Posted by: Nebris
» RE: an end to the expections Posted by: EncinoM
» The Hated Other Posted by: Nebris
» I Call BS Posted by: Nebris
Compassionate Conservatism at Work
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Jun 9, 2008 6:25 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let me try to understand this. We give sanctuary to Cuban militants who murder a planeload of innocent civilians, but deport a smart, hard-working student. Forgive me, but it seems that he is exactly the kind of person we want in this country. Senator Feinstein's bill should give him a scholarship, too.

It seems George W. Bush's compassion is limited to embryos, fetuses, right-wing terrorists, long-suffering millionaires, corrupt war profiteers and disgraced neocons. Everyone else can go to hell.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Compassionate Conservatism at Work
Posted by: AlexLawyer on Jun 9, 2008 6:25 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Let me try to understand this. We give sanctuary to Cuban militants who murder a planeload of innocent civilians, but deport a smart, hard-working student. Forgive me, but it seems that he is exactly the kind of person we want in this country. Senator Feinstein's bill should give him a scholarship, too.

It seems George W. Bush's compassion is limited to embryos, fetuses, right-wing terrorists, long-suffering millionaires, corrupt war profiteers and disgraced neocons. Everyone else can go to hell.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Yadda yadda
Posted by: anneliese-nyc on Jun 10, 2008 7:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Illegal is illegal .
Illegals sponge off our taxes and are breaking our laws. They gotta go home now, we cannot afford them anymore with a deep recession coming which will be with us for years.
Property tsxes skyrocket due to illegal's children attending school, charity care is exhausted , employers pay no taxes on them , they do not pay taxes and yet Americans are swamped with taxes for people who think this country's laws are a joke . Illegals cost a lot to the average American family and we cannot afford them in an economic downturn.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Yadda yadda Posted by: PickleBarrel
» RE: WHudda? Yadda yadda Posted by: Itsthewater
Against Illegal Immigration
Posted by: PickleBarrel on Jun 10, 2008 8:03 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Wonder if these "Christians" ever pondered WHY they are seeking ASYLUM. Asylum...naw...just send em back...they won't be killed...hmmm thou shalt not kill? naw...send em back...They're not children of God...they're illegal aliens...Did THIS mother and child pay their taxes?...obviously not...send em packing! Were they trying to become citizens legally? Naw..the article said so! send these demons back! Send these illegal immigrants back!

Gawd Bless America...Screw everyone else!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Why , yes
Posted by: anneliese-nyc on Jun 10, 2008 10:37 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am a Christian.What of it ?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Was Jesus Illegal Too?
Posted by: bc430 on Jun 10, 2008 11:00 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yadda yadda
[Report this comment] [Ignore this user] Posted by: anneliese-nyc on Jun 10, 2008 7:32 AM

"Illegal is illegal .
Illegals sponge off our taxes and are breaking our laws. They gotta go home now, we cannot afford them anymore with a deep recession coming which will be with us for years.
Property tsxes skyrocket due to illegal's children attending school, charity care is exhausted , employers pay no taxes on them , they do not pay taxes and yet Americans are swamped with taxes for people who think this country's laws are a joke . Illegals cost a lot to the average American family and we cannot afford them in an economic downturn. "

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]
****************************************
RE: Yadda yadda
[Report this comment] [Ignore this user] Posted by: PickleBarrel on Jun 10, 2008 8:10 AM

"Your logic is unassailable. Your assessment of cause and effect is spot on! All our problems come from those illegal alien demons!

You must be a christian! Only a christian has such clarity of vision! You must be proud of yourself!"

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »]
****************************************
Why , yes
Posted by: anneliese-nyc on Jun 10, 2008 10:37 AM

I am a Christian. What of it ?
************************************

***Why YOU might not be a CHRISTIAN.
They were first called "Christian" at ANTIOCH. Applying the law of first mention anneliesse-nyc, it will do you and most Americans who call yourselves Christian to find out who the "they" were who first got labeled 'Christian' at Antioch. Why were they called "Christ Persons?" What is the significance of Antioch in the historical context of the lynched young radical teacher/prophet known today as Jesus? He was homeless at birth, became a young immigrant in Egypt, went on by age 30 to become a super liberal and before his 35th birthday was framed and lynched, by the religious right of his day. His Crime? He and a small group of everyday people went about everywhere teaching, healing and doing good. He successfully resurrected and made alive and real what the conservative religionists had stifled in legalisms and memoralized in religious dead works and dared anyone to 'eff' with. Sound familiar?

Are you a CHRIST Person? Do you even want to be one? Consider Romans 12:1,2.

According to the Bibles stored in most American homes and Churches most American "Christians" are as far from being Christ persons as kittens born in an oven are from being biscuits.

The mischaracterization really isn't your fault. It just rained on you as a circumstance of being born who you were, where you were and being taught what you came to believe. Today you have opportunity to take responsibility for the rest of your life and begin correcting the errors of your fathers.

Your yadda yadda post contains not one single thought from the mind of Jesus the Christ whose disciples were first called Christ persons or "Christian" at Antioch.

About you and those who told you to call yourself Christian, Jesus had this to say: " In that day many will say to me, I preached in your name, and I did this and that in your name. And I will say to them, depart from me you workers of "lawlessness," I never knew you."

To hell with the song of the fat lady, that's when it's over fo real. No mo do ovas.

I pray that a word to the wise is sufficient. What are you going to do with John 3:16 and "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved," rip them out of your Bible?

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