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Valedictorian Faces Deportation

CNN
Posted: 2008-06-06 14:03:59
Filed Under: Law News, Nation News
(June 6) -- A high school valedictorian's plans to study medicine at a California state university have run headlong into the federal government's attempts to return him and his family to Armenia.

"I haven't been in Armenia since I was 2, so I don't really know anything about the place," said Arthur Mkoyan, 17. "All I've seen is just videos my mom has watched on the Internet."

Arthur Mkoyan
CNN

Arthur Mkoyan

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Mkoyan's long-term plans were turned upside down one morning in April when two immigration officers arrived at the door of his family's house.

"They took both of my parents, and they released my mom because she had to take care of us, since me and my brother are minors," he recalled. "But instead they took my dad away to a detention center in Arizona."

Mkoyan, who has a grade-point average above 4.0 -- extra credit for Advanced Placement classes makes that possible -- is set to graduate next week from Bullard High School in Fresno, California.

Ten days later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to deport him and his family to the Armenian capital city of Yerevan, the same city his family fled in fear 16 years ago.

Back then, Mkoyan's father, Ruben Mkoian (he and his son spell their last names differently), was a sergeant in an Armenian equivalent of a department of motor vehicles, according to a court document.

"He was approached with a bribe to register stolen vehicles. He refused. A co-worker took the bribe. Mkoian reported the incident to the chief of the DMV, who told him to mind his own business," the document states.

"Subsequently, he and his family were subjected to attacks he believed were attempts to silence him about corruption at the DMV."

In what the family considers one such attempt, their house was set on fire in 1992. That led the father to send his family to Russia and then to the United States, Arthur Mkoyan said.

They arrived in the United States in 1995 on six-month tourist visas, according to Virginia Kice, a public information officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The family settled in Fresno, where Mkoian worked as a truck driver and his wife worked in a jewelry store. They set about living their lives, which soon included a younger brother for Arthur.

But after the visas expired, the family's application to remain in the United States was denied. In 2002, an immigration judge ruled that they had no legal basis to remain in the country, Kice said.

After their application to the Board of Immigration Appeals was rejected, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year denied their petition for a hearing.

The court was unpersuaded by the father's assertion that he might still be subject to reprisal if he were to return.

"Mkoian's fear that Armenian officials would be unable or unwilling to protect him seems unfounded because he provided little evidence that they were unable or unwilling to protect him in the past," the appeals court said.

To Kice, it's a simple matter of enforcing the law.

"I would remind people that this family had ample access to due process," she said. "The case has been in litigation for more than 10 years. Immigration experts on every level determined that they had no legal basis to be in the United States."

She noted that the government agreed to delay their deportation so Arthur can graduate with his class.

Arthur's schoolmates at Bullard are shocked that his academic achievements haven't helped his case.

"It's really hard to get good grades in this school," freshman Alex Stewart told affiliate KGPE. "It's a challenging school, so to get a 4.0, you really gotta try."

Still, a longer-term reprieve remains possible, if unlikely. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, may attempt to pass a "private bill" that would allow the family to remain in the United States.

"Our office is looking into the case," said Scott Gerber, a spokesman for the senator.

But the odds against it are long. There is "almost no chance" that the family's quest for a private bill will succeed, said Daniel Kowalski, editor-in-chief of Bender's Immigration Bulletin.

"Very few are being passed," he said.

In fact, of the 21 private immigration bills introduced last year, none was enacted. In 2006, 117 were introduced, and none was enacted; in 2005, 98 were introduced, and four were enacted.

But the filing itself would buy the family time, since it suspends any efforts to deport the family until the bill's fate is determined.

Arthur appeared undaunted. He appealed to a reporter to publicize his e-mail address (artmkoyan@gmail.com) so he can forward any letters of support to Feinstein.

Meanwhile, the academic skills he has displayed in Fresno may not easily translate to college in Armenia. Arthur said he understands only a few words of Armenian.

2008-06-06 09:57:39
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oofeliaa1220 07:25:45 PM Jun 11 2008

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Let's not forget that this glorious country was built by immigrants: the best talents from around the world. So before we begin judging and labeling, let's remind ourselves that with the exception of a handful of people, everyone here was, at one point, an illegal immigrant. Now, we have the tradition and history of utilizing the best and brightest from around the world. A valedictorian sounds to me like the best and the brightest...

herb671999 10:11:41 AM Jun 11 2008

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Congress at its finest. There is no clear cut immigration laws only this and that where Congress bowed to special interesta for money and votes. The decrepid self serving agencies of Homeland Security cannot get their work done within a reasonable time, charge exorbanate fees and allow thousands of Illegals cross our bordersat will. What will it be for you?

oofeliaa1220 01:34:50 AM Jun 11 2008

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prbreeze22 01:26:52 AM Jun 09 2008
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dd3075
In order for this "special, "unique" "chosen by God", "once in a lifetime" illegal Armenian family be able to work in this country, they must either have a fake SS# Card, of stolen it from someone elses, just like any typical illegal person in this country. Do they pay taxes, yes they do, just like any other typical illegal person in this country. What makes this chosen by God Armenian family deserve special amnesty or treatment just because they are white and the student wants to become a doctor? How many illegal hispanic people are here dreaming of having an education too? I dont see you advocating in their favor? Ignorant!.

-------------------------------------
Actually, according to the article, the family applied legally for asylum. When you apply, you are granted a SSN and work permit so that you can work, live and LEGALLY pay taxes. Check your facts.

stareal3 06:09:37 PM Jun 10 2008

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prbreeze22 01:05:31 AM Jun 09 2008 wrote: How many illegal hispanic people are here dreaming of having an education too?

Where the heck are you from, their kids are going to school, we are paying billions to teach them. I think you should show citizenship or a birth certificate to be able to go to school here. Enough already

stareal3 06:06:41 PM Jun 10 2008

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it has to racial bias.... CORRECTION ......it has NO racial bias

stareal3 06:06:01 PM Jun 10 2008

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prbreeze22.......you sound like you know how to work the system. How do you know soo much about the way illegals work??? Some one should keep their eye on you.
See once we start making exceptions, there will always be a sob story. Illegal is illegal, it has to racial bias....there is just more mexican than the others. Oh and I do work in the construction industry ... for a General Contractor, we do State work and let me tell you, there are NO illegals on the jobsites. Its people like YOU allowing them to build your house because it saves YOU a buck that is the problem. IDIOT

wtimm25457 12:24:42 PM Jun 10 2008

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White, black, yellow or brown. Illegal is illegal give him and his family the exit door.

mmtilley 10:35:05 AM Jun 10 2008

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THIS PISSES ME OFF!!!! THE IMMIGRANTS THAT STUDY AND MAKE SOMETHING OF THEMSELVES WE SEND BACK
BUT THE ASSWIPES THAT ARE ON WELFARE AND USE OUR COUNTRY FOR WHAT IT IS WE KEEP AND GIVE CITIZENSHIP TO

THE BOY HAS LIVED IN AMERICA SINCE HE WAS TWO STRAIGHT A STUDENT WANTS TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
LET HIM STAY

I CAN THINK 1 MILLION OTHER IMMIGRANTS WE CAN SEND BACK TO MEXICO

papaed20 03:26:33 AM Jun 10 2008

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Why not take all COMMENTS I didn't swear, maybe it was't to you racist liking

papaed20 03:24:23 AM Jun 10 2008

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If he was hispanic they'd give him the boot, doesn't that tell you something ?? Get your f***n head out of the sand or are you ideas inbread . Also trace your family back to check for green cards, you never showed us any . " RACISTS ARE LOSERS " Is that what the space program is about, another place to spread it .

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