High School Valedictorian to be Deported

[Theophylact]

Cruel, stupid, and counterproductive:

Arthur Mkoyan's 4.0 grade-point average has made him a valedictorian at Bullard High School in Fresno and qualified him to enter one of the state's top universities.

But while his classmates look forward to dorm food and college courses this fall, Arthur Mkoyan may not make it.

He is being deported.

Arthur, 17, and his mother have been ordered out of the country. By late June, they may be headed to Armenia.

Arthur hasn't seen Armenia since he was 2, and he doesn't want to return. The thin, rather shy teenager doesn't speak Armenian and barely understands the language when it's spoken to him.

"Hopefully, I can somehow stay here and continue my studies here," he said. "It would be hard if I go back."

The family fled from the old Soviet Union and has been seeking asylum since 1992. The appeals ran out this year.

He and his mother, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing her job and income she needs, were given an extension to June 20 so Arthur could join his class at the ceremony, said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Our goal is to enforce these court orders for deportations," Kice said. But "if they come to us and they fully intend to respect the court order, we will work with them."

Mark Silverman, director of immigration policy at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, said Arthur Mkoyan's case illustrates why Congress should have passed the Dream Act. The act would have allowed students who excelled in school and stayed out of trouble to become permanent residents and attend college or enlist in the military.

"There's something very wrong with the immigration laws when our government is deporting our best students," Silverman said.

Rick Oltman, national media director of the Santa Barbara-based Californians for Population Stabilization, sees it differently.

The Dream Act "would take away seats from American students, legal immigrants and foreign students legally here on visas," said Oltman, whose group favors limiting immigration. "There always seem to be some excuse why the law should not be enforced. Everybody should obey the law."

Arthur's father, Ruben Mkoian, ran a general store and worked as a police officer in the then-Soviet Republic of Armenia, where he was threatened by independence supporters as the Soviet Union was breaking up, Arthur's mother said. His store was broken into and the family home was burned down, she said.

Seeking a safer life, Mkoian left for Fresno in December 1991 and soon applied for political asylum. Mkoian, who spells his name differently from his son, chose Fresno because he had a close friend here.

Arthur and his mother spent three years in Russia before joining Mkoian in Fresno in 1995.

Mkoian worked for a carpet business and later as a truck driver. But winning asylum turned out to be difficult. Asylum seekers must prove they would suffer severe persecution if they return to their country.

Mkoian's asylum application, which included his family, ultimately was rejected. He appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which ruled against him in January.

Immigration officers picked up Mkoian, now 46, in April at his Fresno home, according to his family. He is now in a detention center in Arizona.

The officers left behind Arthur, his 12-year-old brother, who is a U.S.-born citizen, and their mother. Arthur and his mother now face deportation; the family plans to take the younger brother as well if forced to leave the country.

Arthur said he thinks it's unfair that he has to return to a country he hasn't seen since he was 2.

He already has been accepted to the University of California at Davis, where he planned to major in chemistry. He would like to become a dentist or a pharmacist.

Bullard High School Principal Glenn Starkweather said he wasn't aware of Arthur's situation but said he had a good academic record. Arthur has just over a 4.0 grade-point average, making him a valedictorian.

"He's obviously a very strong student. I'm proud of him," Starkweather said.

With deportation on the horizon, Silverman said, Arthur has limited options.

Once he is back in Armenia, Arthur could return to the United States on a student visa. Or he could ask a member of Congress to introduce a private bill on his behalf to grant him legal residency, Silverman said.

Arthur contacted Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein for help weeks ago. Feinstein has introduced private bills in the past in an effort to grant legal status to individuals.

Feinstein's office is looking into Arthur's case, said Claire Bowyer, Feinstein's deputy press secretary.

Private bills are rarely introduced and often don't pass, according to Feinstein's office. Once a bill is introduced, deportation is halted. If it passes, the applicant receives a green card. In some cases, the bill allows a parent to obtain legal residency along with the child.

"Arthur Mkoyan represents another reason why Congress needs to pass the Dream Act," Feinstein said in a prepared statement. "It is in our nation's interest to provide talented students the incentive to take this path toward being responsible and law-abiding members of our society."

Arthur hasn't told any of his classmates that he must leave the country. He hopes that somehow he will be able to stay. But the deportation order has added stress to his final weeks of high school.

"I can't really concentrate on my studies. It's hard to focus, [but] I'm still keeping my grade-point average high," Arthur said.

[Chuckiechan]

Let me guess, the evil GWB & Co. are discriminating against Armenians?

Feinstein's office is looking into Arthur's case, said Claire Bowyer, Feinstein's deputy press secretary.

Let's not forget Pelosi, and the fact that they can go to San Francisco where Federal Laws don't apply.

They aren't on the boat yet.

[Theophylact]

Dis I mention George Bush (or any other politician, for that matter)?

Let me get this straight, Chuckiechan: Here's a kid who came to this country at the age of two. His parents fled the old Soviet Union (before Armenia was a separate nation) and sought asylum here. He's committed no crime. His younger brother was born here. He doesn't speak the language of his native country. His parents' request for asylum is still being appealed. He's an honor graduate of high school and has been accepted at a good state university.

But because he has Dianne Feinstein as a Senator, you think he's worthy of deportation.

You have some pretty strange stuff in your head.

[The Real Bingo]

This country is ass backwards yet again. Why are resources being used to deport upstanding residents, while on the other hand, Mexicans are crossing the border illegally to companies that are hiring them illegally? I guess it's because North America is going to be unionized eventually, so spending money on deporting people who'll inevitably end up citizens is a waste of time, money and manpower.

[Theophylact]

This country is ass backwards yet again. Why are resources being used to deport upstanding residents, while on the other hand, Mexicans are crossing the border illegally to companies that are hiring them illegally? I guess it's because North America is going to be unionized eventually, so spending money on deporting people who'll inevitably end up citizens is a waste of time, money and manpower.

I don't suppose you mean "unionized", but rather "unified". I can't imagine that Big Business has any interest in unionizing. But why unify? So much easier to exploit people who are here illegally and can be sent back as soon as they make any trouble -- like asking for a living wage or safe working conditions.

[chipbgt]

In those 16 years he was here he never thought to apply for citizenship? Certainly a 4.0 valedictorian can pass the test.

[Theophylact]

You obviously have no understanding of the process. He was a minor, so he couldn't apply for it on his own; his parents weren't permanent legal residents, so they couldn't apply on his behalf, because their status was in question the whole time. So blame him, of course. Sheesh.

[The Real Bingo]

I don't suppose you mean "unionized", but rather "unified". I can't imagine that Big Business has any interest in unionizing. But why unify? So much easier to exploit people who are here illegally and can be sent back as soon as they make any trouble -- like asking for a living wage or safe working conditions.

Semantics. Whatever. North American Union - you know to which union I'm referring.

[Theophylact]

Semantics. Whatever. North American Union - you know to which union I'm referring.

Indeed I do.

I don't know why you guys take such pride in your slovenly use of your native language, since you usually demand that everyone else speak it.

[The Real Bingo]

Indeed I do.

I don't know why you guys take such pride in your slovenly use of your native language, since you usually demand that everyone else speak it.

I'm so sorry that I can't be perfect, like you, at all times.

Dis I mention George Bush (or any other politician, for that matter)?

Typo, or are you practicing your ebonics?

[chipbgt]

You obviously have no understanding of the process. He was a minor, so he couldn't apply for it on his own; his parents weren't permanent legal residents, so they couldn't apply on his behalf, because their status was in question the whole time. So blame him, of course. Sheesh.

Thanks for proving my point. He is not eligible for citizenship so he shouldn't have been allowed to be here anyway. Under no circumstances was he eligible to be here. Maybe the rules will change and he (or future kids in the same situation) will be able to stay. We have laws for a reason, and we have a process to change laws for a reason. Maybe things will change because of his situation. But right now, he isn't eligible.

The real problem is that it took this long to sort the whole thing out. It is disappointing that he is getting deported right now but just because it might be emotionally upsetting doesn't mean the laws should be overlooked.

[Theophylact]

I'm so sorry that I can't be perfect, like you, at all times.



Typo, or are you practicing your ebonics?

Typo. I see you're practicing your racism.

[The Real Bingo]

Typo. I see you're practicing your racism.

You got it.

[Chuckiechan]

But because he has Dianne Feinstein as a Senator, you think he's worthy of deportation.

I said nothing of a kind. My point was he has some heavyweight representation paying attention to his plight.

They have the power to get the wheels moving, especially now that the press is on it. Where were they before?

[xelnanga]

Some quotes from the article worth mentioning when discussing this issue:

Mark Silverman, director of immigration policy at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco, said Arthur Mkoyan's case illustrates why Congress should have passed the Dream Act. The act would have allowed students who excelled in school and stayed out of trouble to become permanent residents and attend college or enlist in the military

"There's something very wrong with the immigration laws when our government is deporting our best students," Silverman said.

Rick Oltman, national media director of the Santa Barbara-based Californians for Population Stabilization, sees it differently.

The Dream Act "would take away seats from American students, legal immigrants and foreign students legally here on visas," said Oltman, whose group favors limiting immigration. "There always seem to be some excuse why the law should not be enforced. Everybody should obey the law."

Now, I agree with the first quote. And here is my reason why.

Immigration currently is based upon favoritism. Basically, if an immigrant has a college degree, middle-class or well off, etc. etc., they are more favored than those who are not.

Based upon this same system, if an illegal immigrant or others who are in this country like in this case, display that they are perfectly capable of becoming very successful in life as intelligent and law-abiding people, then I believe they should be given permanent residents.

I've debated this over and over again in this forum about illegal immigration and I think people understand my point now. If an illegal immigrant is worthy of receiving the permanent residency, he/she should be able to get it, because they are actually more beneficial to the American society.

[The Real Bingo]

Not to get into this argument - again - but why do you believe that an illegal immigrant (who, by definition, is a lawbreaker) is beneficial to American society?

[Gomer]

Not to get into this argument - again - but why do you believe that an illegal immigrant (who, by definition, is a lawbreaker) is beneficial to American society?

"By definitition," I doubt there is a single American amongst us that isn't a lawbreaker Bingo.

[The Real Bingo]

Ahhh, another apologist. If we all break laws, why bother making 'em, right?

[xelnanga]

Not to get into this argument - again - but why do you believe that an illegal immigrant (who, by definition, is a lawbreaker) is beneficial to American society?

In my previous post, I mentioned illegal immigrants who are perfectly capable of becoming very successful in life as intelligent and law-abiding people to be granted permanent residency.

It doesn't make sense that American government uses this favoritism in picking out who can enter and who can't, but can't really use that same system for those who are already here.

I know for a fact that there are more than plenty of young students like this High School Valedictorian around in NY here. The most typical example I find is that their parents come over here with their babies, who were not born in U.S. The babies grow up and succeed in academics, athletics, etc. etc.

Then they have to be deported. ?!?!?!

And I understand perfectly why you may oppose to any form of illegal immigration because they are breaking the law. But, if these illegal immigrants are given a chance to fully integrate into the American society and work for a better future, I am all for it.

Notice the bolded word in my previous sentence, to refer to the same type of immigrants I've italicized in the beginning of this post. Hence, I am not lobbying for all illegal immigrants, and certainly not those who are causing distress, criminal unrest, etc. etc.

[him61]

Ahhh, another apologist. If we all break laws, why bother making 'em, right?

Because it's a bad law, and it takes an example like this for people to wake up and realize that it needs to be changed.