FRESNO, Calif, June 3, 2008
High School Valedictorian To Be Deported
17-Year-Old California Youth From Armenia Fails To Get Asylum
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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.
A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement says they were given an extension until June 20 so Mkoyan could attend his graduation ceremony.
A federal bill called the DREAM Act that would have given some high-performing illegal immigrants legal status to attend college stalled last year in Congress.
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- Makes sense. We don''t want any more smart people in the USA. Oh no. They make the stupid people who are breeding like rats feel inferior. Besides, this makes room for more Mexicans & people from Central America.
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- If they are here ILLEGALLY they need to go, unless they can get another extension and become LEGAL CITIZENS.
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- I''m American.
Posted by penskeone at 11:26 AM : Jun 03, 2008
Central American? or a citizen of the USA? - Reply to this comment
- ABSOLUTELY! The kid is a valedictorian! He''''s not in a gang, selling drugs, obviously speaks English...he should be a friggin inspiration to the millions of illegal mexicans sucking the system dry to get off their a$$es and achieve or get the hell out
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Posted by sbbm
What about the illegal Mexicans that pull Americans out of burning vehicles. What about the Illegal Mexicans that babysit YOUR kids for dirt cheap. Quit generalizing! Let''s expose the Trailer trash in Alabama! - Reply to this comment
- They are deprting ONE out of state FULL of illegals? What a hoot! Save him Arnold!!!!
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- how ironic. we will keep the illegal criminals here but cannot keep a kid who is bright and smart and could be the future of this country and send him back. that is a great immigration policy. kudos to the government. that why we are where we are.
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- "A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement says they were given an extension until June 20 so Mkoyan could attend his graduation ceremony. "
Gee, that''s so nice of INS. "We''ll let you attend your graduation ceremony... right before we haul you off to prison and then back to whatever part of the former USSR you''re from!!
There are too many people in the country who are full of nothing but hatred. You folks need to lighten up... especially when it''s a KID!! It''s not like he had a choice when his parents came over here, he was probably only 2 or 3!! Perhaps if the government got it''s rear in gear, they would have been given asylum by now. That''s ridiculous to have to wait for over 16 years before being denied. We have so many problems in this country... we don''t need to be kicking the upcoming best and brightest out of the country over technicalities. I guarantee you, if they knew someone high enough up in the government, they would have had asylum a long time ago.
Let them stay!! They are contributing... which is more than I can say for some US born citizens! - Reply to this comment
- This story illustrates how slow and ineffective our immigration system is. Asylum cases routinely drag on for years as do lots of other immigration procedures. But, this family had their say and it did not turn out in their favor. That happens. Asylum is not just handed to folk becasue they ask, the case must be compelling. These people were not denied due process. This wonderful scholar can return to Armenia, apply for a student visa and return to the U.S. as a student. When he graduates from college he can apply for a work visa and stay longer.
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- Belonging to the continent of American doesn''t constitute being considered an American citizen. An American citizen is under the cloak of the United States of America, hence, Mexico doesn''t fit the bill. Sorry...
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- Freedom of speach is guaranteed to all Americans. You''''ve got it kid, enjoy it, use it wisely.
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Posted by wcincott
This is the best comment you have made! - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.
