CA:Fresno high school valedictorian scheduled to be deported

How many IAs are high school valedictorians...and what does "high-performing illegal immigrants" mean?
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Fresno high school valedictorian scheduled to be deported
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 06/02/2008 09:52:23 AM PDT

FRESNO, Calif.—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.

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.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9454611

This is sad since they were trying.....but not everyone who wants to come here can.....no matter how "good" they are.

Nice to see ICE showed compassion and let them stay to graduation, this also gives them time to sell assets etc, he will have a bright future, and no reason he can't apply for a student visa after they get back home, as he has broken no laws here. many excellent schools in his homeland.

There are more Armenians in Fresno than any other place on earth except Armenia. I find it incredible that the Armenian community hasn't done more to accommodate and/or help these people get legal.

Is there more to this story?

....sad situation but the parents are at fault ...they've been here for 12 years seeking "asylum".....there are excellent universities in the former Soviet Union...and with his excellent English skills and intellect ...his future is bright.

It may just be that their request for asylum was denied because, now that the Soviet Union no longer exists in it's past form, the reason they wanted asylum no longer exists as a threat

Not saying that's it, but in conversations with my employers about immigration.....they immigrated here themselves from a Soviet country many years ago.....there has been discussion about those who came here for refuge purposes no longer qualifying for asylum since conditions have changed. They have had both family members and friends return home for just that reason.

It is good to see impartial law won out over subjective emotion in this situation.

Support flows for Bullard High studentLawmaker, Armenian group, peers respond to plight of valedictorian.
By Vanessa Colón / The Fresno Bee06/02/08 22:31:51


Arthur Mkoyan, the Bullard High School valedictorian who may be deported before he can fulfill his college dreams, got a boost Monday in his efforts to remain in this country.

Mkoyan, whose story was featured in Monday's Bee, drew immediate support from a local Armenian advocacy group and fellow Bullard High students -- and a promise from Rep. George Radanovich to take a second look at his request for help.

On Monday, Arthur said, he was showered with questions and offers of help from students and teachers at school, who hadn't known of his plight. His home phone has been ringing off the hook as friends and supporters called. Television news reporters were trying to get an interview most of the day, Arthur said.

The shy 17-year-old with a 4.0 grade-point average said he is overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

"It makes me feel good people care," he said.

Arthur will graduate from Bullard High June 10 as a valedictorian. He'd like to stay in the United States and attend the University of California at Davis, where he has been accepted for the fall.

But the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ordered Arthur and his mother to leave the U.S. by late June and return to Armenia, a country Arthur hasn't seen since he was 2.

Arthur's family fled from the old Soviet Union and has been seeking asylum since 1992. Ruben Mkoian, Arthur's father, applied for asylum but was rejected. Mkoian, who spells his name differently from his son, appealed to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. He lost his appeal. Mkoian is currently at a detention center in Arizona.

On Monday, as news of the family's plight spread, Arthur's family was contacted by the Armenian National Committee of Central California. Hilda Santikian, the committee's chair, said her group is exploring how it can help the family.

Meanwhile, Arthur's mother, who has declined to give her name for fear of losing her job, was invited on Ray Appleton's afternoon radio show on KMJ 580 and discussed the family's situation. She said the family had sought help from Radanovich, R-Mariposa, but his office wasn't able to do anything for them.

Radanovich's office acknowledged Monday that the family first sent a letter to the congressman on April 18. A few days later, a staff member told the family that its only option was a private bill to grant legal status to individuals, but that Radanovich doesn't introduce private bills.

"He doesn't feel he should be able to pick winners or losers and who should on an individual basis stay or leave," said Spencer Pederson, Radanovich's press secretary.

Arthur's mother then turned to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has introduced private bills in the past. Feinstein is now looking at Arthur's case. Private bills are rarely introduced and often don't pass, but if a bill is introduced, deportation is halted.

Radanovich called Arthur's mother soon after her KMJ radio appearance. His staff now plans to meet with Arthur and his mom Thursday.

"We are taking a more extensive view" of the case, Radanovich said in a phone interview.

"This is a second look. ... We would be reviewing the case to see if there's anything we can do."

Arthur is surprised by all the attention. But he is trying not to let it distract him -- he has one more final exam and an essay still to write.
The reporter can be reached at vcolon@fresnobee.com or(559) 441-6313.
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/641556.html

You can hear the KMJ podcast here: (I'm listening now)
http://www.kmj580.com/kmjpodcasts.html?pollId=203

Maybe someone could pursuade immmigration authorities to allow this boy to stay in the US...in exchange for all the illegal aliens from Mexico who don't even graduate from HS! I think that would be a fair exchange!

While I have a certain amount of empathy for this achieving individual's plight, at some point we have to enforce the law and stop making exceptions.

June 20th...hmmm that gives him enough days to find a sanctuary church and hide!!

From what I heard from the mother on the podcast their case for asylum was considered and REJECTED. They had a lawyer, they went through due process........case closed. Time to go home now. We need to watch Feinstein though because she'll surely try to file a private petition for this case :evil:

Radanovich called Arthur's mother soon after her KMJ radio appearance. His staff now plans to meet with Arthur and his mom Thursday.

"We are taking a more extensive view" of the case, Radanovich said in a phone interview.

"This is a second look. ... We would be reviewing the case to see if there's anything we can do."





I don't see why it is necessary to take a "more extensive view" of the case, or a second look.

This has already been looked at upside down and inside out by attorneys and the courts. They had their day(s) in court and the answer was NO. It is not up to politicians to interfere and try to force special exceptions for this one or that one.

Looks to me that Radonovich only backtracked because Feinstein is getting more limelight. Sheesh! What a "news whore" he is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AmericanMe

Maybe someone could pursuade immmigration authorities to allow this boy to stay in the US...in exchange for all the illegal aliens from Mexico who don't even graduate from HS! I think that would be a fair exchange!

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Now there's an idea.

so they have been fighting to asylum since 1992. is that what I read?

now who is to blame that something has not been taken care of in SIXTEEN YEARS... that makes no sense

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jamesw62

so they have been fighting to asylum since 1992. is that what I read?

now who is to blame that something has not been taken care of in SIXTEEN YEARS... that makes no sense

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Her husband came in '92. She followed with the boy in '95. They applied for asylum and were REJECTED on the basis that there wasn't evidence they would be in danger if they returned.

I didn't catch any mention of the initial entry status/method of any of the family members. In my view, anyone that enters illegally initially with the thought of applying for asylum later should be automatically denied.

Knocking on the front door and proclaiming an intent to apply for asylum/refugee status is one thing (even without numerical limits on such persons, I can still live with this) But... sneaking in, finding yourself 'on the radar' of immigration enforcement and then quickly applying for asylum status is quite another. I wonder which case is applies in the present circumstance here (?) We tolerate WAY TOO MUCH of the latter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cvangel

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jamesw62

so they have been fighting to asylum since 1992. is that what I read?

now who is to blame that something has not been taken care of in SIXTEEN YEARS... that makes no sense

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Her husband came in '92. She followed with the boy in '95. They applied for asylum and were REJECTED on the basis that there wasn't evidence they would be in danger if they returned.

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So it does sound like something similar to what I mentioned in an earlier post.

The people I work for had said that it has become very difficult for those coming from former Soviet countries to obtain asylum because the dangers some would have faced in the past are just not an issue anymore.

What I find conspicuously absent from these articles is the mention of the exact circumstances under which these folks feel they are entitled to asylum.

If there was any valid reason, you can bet it would be mentioned at every opportunity to garner more sympathy and hopefully make their case in the court of public opinion. :?

Bullard Valedictorian Fights Deportation

6/5/2008 Fresno, CA (KFSN) -- A top Bullard High School student is hoping an act of Congress will keep him in this country.

Seventeen-year-old Arthur Mkoyan has been in this country since he was four but the Federal Government wants to deport the boy and his family to Armenia.

Graduation ceremonies are just 6 days away, and Arthur Mkoyan plans to get his diploma, and be recognized as valedictorian. But before the month is out he and his family might be deported.

Arthur Mkoyan proudly displays a symbol of achievement declaring him a valedictorian of the Bullard High School Class of 2008. He's been accepted to U.C. Davis in the fall, but instead, on June 20th, he and his mother and 12-year-old brother could be sent back to, Armenia. "Supposedly we're supposed to get deported on that day. They are going to hold us, and then, take us from there," said Arthur Mkoyan.
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Arthur's father was arrested last month and is already being held in a federal detention center in Arizona. He came to this country legally 16 years ago, and applied for asylum. The petition was eventually denied, and the family's long court battle ended with a deportation order and immigration officers at their door.

The family is now hoping Congressman George Radanovich or Senator Dianne Feinstein will introduce a private bill on their behalf. "It would be a dream come true, but I guess it's not for me to decide," said Mkoyan.

Members of Fresno's Armenian community have mobilized after hearing of the families' plight. Hilda Santikian, chair of the Armenian National Committee, thinks he's the wrong kind of person to be deported. "He's a good student, he's a four-point-zero student and of course I want him to stay here," said Santikian, "we need people like this."

Arthur said he's trying to stay focused on graduation day on the tenth, and just hoping for the best. "I'll be able to make it to the ceremony, but after that it's really up in the air right now."

Representatives from Congressman Radanovich's office will meet with the
family on Thursday, but the Congressman has already rejected the family's first request for help.

Senator Feinstein has intervened on behalf of Mexican families facing deportation, and her office is looking at this case.

With graduation season here, this case has attracted national attention.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?secti ... id=6186156