Thread: {Sob}Aspiring artist, 18, who grew up in U.S. fighting depor

sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-509deport,0,1484576.story

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Aspiring artist, 18, who grew up in U.S. fighting deportation to Mexico
By Tal Abbady

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 9, 2008

Meynardo Garcia hopes he is bound for a career as an artist.

His bleak drawing of children huddled in a concentration camp recently took the top prize in a national contest sponsored by the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Hollywood. It was the latest accolade for the Coconut Creek High senior from Oaxaca, Mexico, who said the memory of emaciated children walking the streets of his hometown inspired his drawing of the doomed children in his prize-winning piece.

Instead of making plans to hone his skill in college, Garcia, 18, is fighting deportation back to Mexico, where he hasn't been in eight years.

Thursday, immigration Judge Stephen E. Mander granted Garcia a continuance until Sept. 18, allowing the teen time to seek an attorney and prepare his case. At the hearing, Garcia, who represented himself, unveiled his latest Mayan-inspired artwork before the judge and asked to be allowed to remain in the country.

Brought into the United States illegally at age 10 in a trip arranged by his mother, Garcia is one of thousands of children nationally who come of age in the shadow of the law.

"I'm paying for something I never knew could happen," said Garcia, who has a 3.0 GPA and counts American Government among his favorite classes.

More than 1,000 students and staff at Coconut Creek High School signed a petition, addressed to immigration officials, in support of Garcia. He presented the document to the judge.

"He has pursued his passion and turned it into a potential career," said Nancy Shoul, a Spanish teacher who has taught Garcia. "To curtail it now would be a travesty."

Abandoned by his father when he was four, Garcia was raised by his mother. In 1997, when Garcia was 7, his mother and stepfather left for California to pick crops. In 2000, they paid a smuggler to drive Garcia over the border, the teen recalled. The family, all of whom are undocumented, moved to Florida in 2001 in search of better jobs.

Garcia adjusted to his new life and became fluent in English. He attended Silver Lakes Middle School and Coconut Creek High School, where he discovered his artistic talent. In 10th grade, he won first place in an art competition for ESOL students for his drawing of a Mayan man standing next to a jaguar. That prize spurred more drawings. Garcia took art classes at school and began to see his future as an artist.

But a random checkpoint at the Port of Miami in August put Garcia on the radar of immigration officials. Garcia and a 21-year-old friend, an undocumented Salvadoran immigrant who was driving the pair, were stopped by officials when they accidentally drove into the Port of Miami. They tried to leave, but both were asked for their ID. Neither had any.

Officials took Garcia's friend into custody. He was deported soon after. Garcia was held in Miami for two days before authorities sent him to a detention center in New York. He was there three weeks, before he was given a hearing date and released.

Garcia, who has little understanding of the immigration system, said he'd heard of the deportation of adults. But he said he doubted that school children such as himself could be ensnared by the law.

Roughly 700,000 children enrolled in K-12 schools throughout the country are undocumented, according to Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy for the National Immigration Law Center. A proposed bill, the Dream Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for students like Garcia, has languished in Congress for years.

Bernstein referred to Garcia as part of the "1.5 generation" -- wedged between the first generation of immigrant adults and the second generation of U.S.-born children.

"It is a very promising generation, but our laws are written in such a way that we treat them like criminals," he said. But proponents of tougher immigration enforcement say that is the easy side of the argument.

"When parents break the law, they're taking the risk that there will be consequences for their children," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "Immigration policy forces people to make tough ethical decisions," said Stein, "but the laws matter."

Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... 4576.story

Garcia, who has little understanding of the immigration system, said he'd heard of the deportation of adults. But he said he doubted that school children such as himself could be ensnared by the law.

At 18, he is no longer a child. I don't buy his story that he doesn't understand the immigration system. Ignorance is no excuse.

His friend was already deported, why hasn't he been deported yet? He can draw in Mexico too, especially since his drawings are based on Mexican subjects.

He came here at age 10 and he was STILL is ESOL in 10th grade?? Something does not add up here.

"He has pursued his passion and turned it into a potential career," said Nancy Shoul, a Spanish teacher who has taught Garcia. "To curtail it now would be a travesty."

Sickening! To 'curtail' it now would be the lawful and proper thing to do. The day of reckoning should be faced for what it is...the gig is up! We have given away the store...enough already!!!

buhbye--!!

He should be furious at his mother for putting him in this position.

But the last thing we need here is another starving artist.

Roughly 700,000 children enrolled in K-12 schools throughout the country are undocumented, according to Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy for the National Immigration Law Center.

B.S. alert. It is against the law for K-12 grades to inquire about the immigration status of students. Personally, I don't even see how a rough number can be provided. I wonder what data Mr. Bernstein is using to base his guesswork on?

Hey, if not required to provide data to support my number, I too can throw one out there! How about 1.8 million?

You people in elementary education can correct me on the following (if need be)...

MW - Elementary schools have a Title I ('1') program and often collect data pertaining to the family and students themselves. As part of the Federal program, the school staffs (usually the in-house Title I specialist person) is required to track language issues very closely (eg. is English student's 'native' language? Do parents speak English at home? Does student speak to parents using English [or not] at home?)... this sort of thing. They also have some knowledge and/or track the movement in/out of the area as well.

Most of the time, they are able to make a very good informed 'guess' as to who is likely to be legal or not. I know someone very well that did exactly this function in a local elementary school. Of course, the official recording categories are not ones of 'Legal Resident' or 'Illegal Alien' but something more along the lines of: 'Permanent Resident' or 'Migrant Worker', etc.

Stepping back and applying a little common sense: Since the Federal courts have upheld that all children of IAs have to have access to our education system, and... most IA parents want their kids educated here... then the 'pedal meets the metal' in our elementary schools. Most or all the kids are going to show and the schools have to educate (and track) them.
Of course, not all schools are happy about it, but most go along pretty willingly because....'they're just kids', 'the families are struggling', 'we have to take care of them too', .. (I have heard all the justification first-hand).
It seems not to occur to them that their very own children (or grandchildren) won't have as good an education that they need and deserve often times because of the overcrowding and rapid influx of IA children.

He can draw in Mexico too, especially since his drawings are based on Mexican subjects.

Kind of a slap in the face to the people for whom this contest is about....my daughter is in it as well for an essay.


Oh gee.....I don't know.. ..I loved Angelas point....we don't need any more starving artists....it isn't a career where we have a shortage of very talented people.

Maybe it's my mood today but all that went through my mind was "see Judge, I drew you a pretty picture now let me stay".

If they know who these kids are, and this kid is 18 and obviouly aware of the difference between legal and illegal....they should figure out some way to have them file their OWN papers to go about trying getting legal for THEMSELVES if citizenship is what they want. It is mom and pops fault, and it is a valid reason for the problem they face...but once you turn 18 the problem is in your lap and you have to fix it.

OK , i'm going pc on this one . just to see if i can .
Let the judge order him into the military , which ever branch he may be qualified for . 3 years in the Armed Forces will give him college money and benefits to keep him off the taxpayers back . Yet 3.0 , in what ? underwater basket weaving ?
Kid was happy to do nothing till they found him = Illegal

I'm paying for something I never knew could happen," said Garcia, who has a 3.0 GPA and counts American Government among his favorite classes.

Then he should know and understand this country has laws and regulations in place to govern who is allowed into this country. Those who enter this country in violation of those laws must leave.

Cannot he be an artist in mexico?