Thread: FL-Scholarship may aid teen's quest to stay in U.S. $72000

Scholarship may aid teen's quest to stay in U.S.

The dreams of an undocumented Mexican, 18, of staying in the United States legally may be realized with a recently awarded scholarship to a Weston art school.
Posted on Fri, May. 30, 2008

BY ANI MARTINEZ
armartinez@MiamiHerald.com

Meynardo Garcia's battle to avoid deportation took a positive turn this week when the 18-year-old Coconut Creek High School senior was awarded an art scholarship.

The Art Institute of Weston offered Meynardo a four-year $72,000 scholarship, beginning in 2008.

Meynardo's immigration case has drawn public attention after hundreds of his high school classmates, along with his art teacher, rallied behind the Mexican teen who is fighting to stay in the country. At age 10, his mother hired a smuggler to bring him to the United States. His undocumented status was discovered by authorities last August.

His immigration attorney, Jorge Rivera, said the scholarship could delay Meynardo's deportation.

''This scholarship gives us an incentive to be able to ask for four more years,'' Rivera said. ``The judge may be more sympathetic since he will be furthering his education and will have everything paid for.''

`DEFERRED ACTION'

He said the judge could take ''deferred action'' on Meynardo's case, allowing the teen to remain here to complete his studies. The next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18.

Meynardo would start classes Sept. 1.

The Art Institute of Weston is willing to gamble on Meynardo because of his talent.

''We felt compassionate when we saw his art work,'' said the school's director, Charles Lechesnay. ``We want to give him the opportunity to stay in this country, but to also learn the skill professionally as an artist.''

Meynardo, a native of Oaxaca, Mexico, has won several local and national art competitions for his intricate airbrushed art pieces. He wants to become an artist and open art studios around the world -- especially in Mexico -- for children to have a chance to express themselves.

Meynardo lives in North Lauderdale, with his mother, her boyfriend and their two U.S.-born children. Neither the mother or her boyfriend are legal U.S. residents. Meynardo's lack of documentation went undetected until last summer, when he and a friend were stopped in their car at a security checkpoint in the Port of Miami.

Unable to produce any identification, police contacted U.S. immigration agents who eventually sent Meynardo to a detention center in New York; his friend was deported.

A RELATIVE ACTS

A relative called Meynardo's high school art teacher Jacqueline Sacs and asked her to write and fax a letter to immigration authorities. Days later, he was released from custody in New York and reunited with his family in South Florida.

His case is not uncommon. Each year, 65,000 teenagers -- who were brought to the country illegally by their parents -- graduate from high school and cannot continue their studies because of their immigration status.

Immigration advocates have long argued that these children are being punished for the wrongs of their parents.

They have spent years unsuccessfully lobbying Congress to approve the so-called DREAM Act. If passed, the bill would grant legal residency to those going to college or joining the military.

In Meynardo's case, he's gotten the support of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami. She sent letters to President Bush, acting director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Jonathan Scharfen and Chief Judge Stephen Mander.

''He wants to inspire young people to become artists . . .'' Ros-Lehtinen wrote in the letter. ``Meynardo is a remarkable and talented role model who would be an asset to our nation.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward ... 51651.html

Previous article on this: FL-Talented student artist could be deported-Poll too

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-116127-art.html+student

How many cans of spray paint can $72000 buy? :P

This really makes me mad as heck! Would Weston give a $72,000 4 year scholarship to deserving American CITIZEN??

A citizen student whose parent(s) committed illegal act(s) thru no fault of his/her own?

While colleges cry "poverty" and increase tuitons, giving illegal aliens scholarships is an huge slap to citizen students who have financial needs and want to attend college!

Funny how this so called "scholarship" was suddenly offered only AFTER he faced deportation proceedings!

I certainly hope immigration officials are not gullible enough to be deceived by this lame duck attempt to avoid deportation. What's going to change in four years? He's going to be an illegal with a college degree that is not authorized to work in this country.

If he's such a great student, let him apply to the Autonomous Universidad de Mexico in which he would likely get a free education since he's a citizen of Mexico.

He shouldn't be granted a stay of deportation just because he has a private benefactor paying his tuition...;send his arse back to Mexico ....public universities in Mexico ARE FREE and the $72k scholarship should go to a more deserving AMERICAN student.

ARt Institute of Weston



ADULT's ART EDUCATION




954.659.9050




2900 Glades Circle, Suite 1600,

Weston, Fl 33327 - 954.659.9050

he's going to be a illegal alien who will have 4 years to marry a US citizen...or maybe he'll be eligible for one of those artist visas....

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Funny how this so called "scholarship" was suddenly offered only AFTER he faced deportation proceedings!

I certainly hope immigration officials are not gullible enough to be deceived by this lame duck attempt to avoid deportation. What's going to change in four years? He's going to be an illegal with a college degree that is not authorized to work in this country.

If he's such a great student, let him apply to the Autonomous Universidad de Mexico in which he would likely get a free education since he's a citizen of Mexico.

Oh for crying out loud, I am a current nursing student and our family struggles to get by, yet an illegal immigrant is awarded over 70 grand to go to art school????????

Like they couldn't find a deserving American.

This is a 2008 article. He got a 6 month reprieve and his attorney planned on filing a private bill to keep him in the country. I couldn't find an update on this one.

Dixie

It's interesting how they quickly deported an entire ARGENTINE family from Utah and yet they reward Mexican illegals with scholarships, in-state tuition, rare deportations...(Mostly for violent crimes, drugs, smuggling)

You take ANY student from ANY other nationality under the same circumstances and that student - not being Mexican - would get booted out to get his freaking scholarship in his or her own country.

Has anyone seen the preferential treatment displayed towards Mexican illegals versus other nationalities?

Sick.