Chief Delphi - Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

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Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

I think I should share this story with everyone, he's not from my team, but it is an interesting story. Just goes to show you how lucky some of us are, and how tough it can be for some teams and individuals.
From the NYTimes

Quote:

Student's Prize Is a Trip Into Immigration Limbo

By NINA BERNSTEIN
Published: April 26, 2006
A small, troubled high school in East Harlem seemed an unlikely place to find students for a nationwide robot-building contest, but when a neighborhood after-school program started a team last winter, 19 students signed up. One was Amadou Ly, a senior who had been fending for himself since he was 14.

The project had only one computer and no real work space. Engineering advice came from an elevator mechanic and a machinist's son without a college degree. But in an upset that astonished its sponsors, the rookie team from East Harlem won the regional competition last month, beating rivals from elite schools like Stuyvesant in Manhattan and the Bronx High School of Science for a chance to compete in the national robotics finals in Atlanta that begins tomorrow.

Yet for Amadou, who helps operate the robot the team built, success has come at a price. As the group prepared for the flight to Atlanta today, he was forced to reveal his secret: He is an illegal immigrant from Senegal, with no ID to allow him to board a plane. Left here long ago by his mother, he has no way to attend the college that has accepted him, and only a slim chance to win his two-year court battle against deportation.

In the end, his fate could hinge on immigration legislation now being debated in Congress. Several Senate bills include a pathway for successful high school graduates to earn legal status. But a measure passed by the House of Representatives would make his presence in the United States a felony, and both House and Senate bills would curtail the judicial review that allows exceptions to deportation.

Meanwhile, the team's sponsors scrambled to put him on a train yesterday afternoon for a separate 18-hour journey to join his teammates from Central Park East High School at the Georgia Dome. There, more than 8,500 high school students will participate in the competition, called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) by its sponsor, a nonprofit organization that aims to make applied sciences as exciting to children as sports.

"I didn't want other people to know," Amadou, 18, said, referring to his illegal status. "They're all U.S. citizens but me."

Most team members learned of his problem only yesterday at a meeting with Kristian Breton, 27, the staff member at the East Harlem Tutorial program who started the team, inspired by his own experience in the competition when he was a high school student in rural Mountain Home, Ark.

Alan Hodge, 18, echoed the general dismay. "We can't really celebrate all the way because it's not going to feel whole as a team without Amadou," he said.

Amadou's teammates have struggled with obstacles of their own. When Mr. Breton called a meeting of parents to collect permission slips last week, only five showed up. One boy's mother had a terminal illness, Mr. Breton learned. Another mother lived in the Dominican Republic, leaving an older sibling to manage the household. One of the six girls on the team said her divorced parents disagreed about letting her go, and her mother, who was willing to approve the trip, lacked the $4 subway fare to get to the meeting.

But Amadou's case stands out. As he tells it, with corroboration from immigration records and other documents, he was 13 and spoke no English when his mother brought him to New York from Dakar on Sept. 10, 2001. He was 14 when she went back, leaving him behind in the hope that he could continue his American education.

By then, he had finished ninth grade at Norman Thomas High School in a program for students learning English as a second language. But his mother left instruction for him to take a Greyhound bus to Indianapolis, where a Senegalese woman friend had agreed to take him in and send him to North Central High School school there.

"It was the same thing when I was in Africa," he said, describing a childhood spent shuttling between his maternal grandmother and the household of his father, a retired policeman with 12 children and three wives.

The woman in Indiana, who had four children of her own, changed her mind about keeping him after his sophomore year, and he returned by bus to New York in the summer of 2004. "I had to find a way to help myself for food and clothes, and to buy some of my school supplies," he said, recalling days handing out fliers for a clothing store on a Manhattan street corner. "I ended up living with another friend — I'm under age and I can't live alone."

Taking shelter with a taxi driver, a friend of the family who could sign his report cards, Amadou enrolled in 11th grade at Central Park East. Under Supreme Court decisions dating to 1982, children have a right to a public education regardless of their immigration status, and in New York, as in many other cities, a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to legal status has prevailed for years.

But after the 9/11 attacks, practices around the country changed. On a rainy highway in Pennsylvania on Nov. 7, 2004, Amadou met a very different attitude when he had the bad luck to be a passenger in a car rear-ended by a truck. The state trooper who responded questioned his passport and school ID, and summoned federal immigration officers, who began deportation proceedings.

There is no right to a court-appointed lawyer in immigration court, and though Amadou's friends hired one for him at first, records show that the lawyer soon withdrew. "We really couldn't afford to pay," Amadou explained.

By the time the case was finally sent to a special juvenile docket in federal court after several adjournments, Amadou had already turned 18, closing off some legal options that can lead to a green card for juveniles, said Amy Meselson, a Legal Aid lawyer who took on the case last week.

At this point, she said, his best chance is probably a long shot: a measure included in an amendment to many Senate immigration bills, known as "The Dream Act," which offers a path to citizenship to young people of good moral character who have lived in the United States for five years, been accepted to college, or earned a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Opponents say the measure will encourage illegal immigrants, and subsidize their education at the expense of American children and their taxpaying parents.

But mentors for the team that calls itself "East Harlem Tech" seem to have no ear for such arguments.

"He's been a hard-working and diligent student with mathematical ability and a scientific mind," said Rhonda Creed-Harry, a math teacher at Central Park East. But though he has been accepted at the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, he said he could not attend because he does not qualify for financial aid.

Ramon Padilla, a team mentor who stopped a year short of a college degree himself and now works in the audio-visual department at Columbia University, called the news that Amadou faced deportation "overwhelming."

"I'm telling you, he's a great kid, a very talented kid," he said, adding that Amadou played an important role in building the robot, with help from Frank Sierra, a buddy of Mr. Padilla who repairs elevators. Starting from a standard set of parts, each team had six weeks to design a robot that could move down a center line and throw balls into a goal. In the last round of the competition, Amadou helped his team form a winning alliance with teams from Morris High School in the Bronx and Staten Island Tech, which both advanced to the finals as well.

Mr. Breton, who made last-minute trips to the Bronx to gather parental permissions, said he was determined not to leave Amadou behind. "I started with 19 people, and I want to take 19 people to Atlanta," he told the student. "I want to make sure that everybody has the full opportunity, because I feel you've earned it."

Amadou returned the compliment. "Because of him, it happened," he said.

Yet on the train to Atlanta, accompanied by another staff member, Amadou was still worried. Bloomberg L.P., which is underwriting the full cost of the team's trip to Atlanta, plans to display its robot at the company's headquarters in New York and invite the team up to celebrate their achievement. He said he was afraid that he might be turned away for lack of the right ID to enter the building.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

so wait, you can go to high school in this country while being in this country illegally? I learned something new. Sounds like a terrible flaw. There has to be some section of the "rule book" for dealing with situations like this, no?

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

wow! what an incredible story and situation.

It really underscores the twilight limbo world that illegal immigrants live in. They come here hoping they can pull themselves up and make something of their lives

but if they succeed too well and they end up with public attention then they risk deportation.

This is a real FIRST underdog-Cinderella team story!

What can we do to keep Amadou here legally, and to get him into college?

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

here is the link to the NY times, with photos:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/ny...rtner=homepage

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Yes, both California and New York have provisions for all children to attend schools. It is meant for us to share our resources, education, and other such things with the rest of the world.

Amadou is a perfect example of the American immigrant - he's hardworking, skilled, smart, and willing to weather hardships in the pursuit of an education.

As an immigrant myself, I support people like him who immigrant, work hard, and get themselves an education.

Currently, a bill going through the senate known as the "DREAM" Act will provide amnesty for those students who have arrived before the age of 16 and grant them a 6 year permanent residency. This will allow those most in need to follow there dreams.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

What team number is this kid on?

edit/ looked and found out it is team 1880. cool! i will have a chat with them down in atl!

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

That is one amazing story - not only for the aspect of FIRST but the idea that this young man has been fending for himself and succeeding in what he does. It really has made my morning to read this article.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quite a story. Shows how FIRST can impact a person's life, but also how well someone can perservere.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Touching story. As an immigrant myself(non-citizen and without green card but still legal) and knowing some illegal immigrants around me, I hope that the current issue with new rules for illegal immigrants will be settled with something like the Dream Act. I should cut it right about here in order to restrain myself from writing 3 pages about my sympathy.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

What can we do to keep Amadou here legally, and to get him into college?

Indeed.

Folks, Ken's comment is where the rubber meets the road. We can all sit in our comfortable lives and sigh "Tsk Tsk this poor kid is gonna get sent back to Senegal. What a pity" or we can DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I am, unfortunately, not an immigration lawyer, nor am I even moderately informed as a layman. But, with how many thousand FIRSTers out there, who is or knows an such an expert that might consider helping this kid out?

Is your mom or dad an immigration lawyer? Uncle Louie? The neighbor down the block? Talk to them. Please. Explain FIRST. Explain GP. See if they can help, or call in a favor to get someone to help. Even a little.

The Times article has contacts galore in it, or just find them in Atlanta. Heck, I'll drive to Harlem to find them...

Can anyone help??

Don

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

I don't post here too often, but I think this story deserves some attention, front page New York Times is quite a journalistic honor. FIRST will, no doubt, receive an enormous amount of attention as a result.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

This story just gave me a real big inspiration that FIRST is something that every kid needs that don't have the ability to have, I would love to meet Amadou now with this story I am amazed FIRST is for everyone and Amadou i wish him luck.

Sign: The Goober!!! :D :D :D

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

What team number is this kid on?

edit/ looked and found out it is team 1880. cool! i will have a chat with them down in atl!

1880 is in Archimedes. So are 47, 103, 120, and 191 -- just to mention HOF teams.

Can someone (in Archimedes or otherwise) please go over to 1880's pit, find out what's up with Amadou, and let us know (out here in CD land) what we can do to help? I like Ken's idea about kicking in some lunch money to hire him a good immigration lawyer.

Thanks!

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

This is a truly an amazing story about people and their lives especially for this young man and his life so far. Many of us are fortunate to have homes and not be shipped around like him, trying to survive. It's really great though to know he has found himself in the world of FIRST. FIRST seems to be great in fostering the good around the world and people. FIRST gives us chances. I'm grateful for what I have and I wish this young man the best. If I was in his shoes I'm not sure how I would have pursued my life.
I hope there is a way we can help him and his team. I'm sure within this great community of people something will be done. :)

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Ive been thinking about this over the last day or so.

No matter how you feel about Amadou's immigration status, he was left in this country by his mother, he fended for himself, he has done well in HS and has been accepted into college

but more importantly, WE (the FIRST community) have been telling young people: study math and science and technology because it will enrich your life, and improve the standard of living of all of us.

Amadou listened to us, he believed our message, he joined his HS FIRST team, and they won their area regional and are now at the Championship.

Amadou is one of us. Now he needs our help.

I know his team and mentors are in Atlanta today, so there is not much we can do for the next few days, but when they get back home next week we need to find a way to:

1. Get him legal help so he can stay in the US and finish his HS education.

2. Find a way for him to attend college here (funding, scholarships and legal assistance).

3. Find a way for him to become a citizen if that is what he wants to do.

Amadou believed in us. He believed in the message of FIRST. Now its up to us to stand behind him and show that what we shout from the high places is also true down on the street.

Resources & More Information

We have a couple of options here when it comes to helping this team out legally, both seem to have been suggested in so many words. First we can get a lawyer (presumably with ties to the FIRST community) to take the case pro-bono. Second we can set up a legal defense fund for him.

There might also be legislative routes to attacking this problem. Representative Charles Rangel represents most of East Harlem, and based on where he stands politically should be a strong advocate for Amadou. State and local officials do not have much say in immigration hearings but it can't hurt to contact them as well. The NY Assemblyman representing Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell IV, posts almost all of the articles on his website in both English and Spanish, the latest of which is titled "Immigrants Rally for More Rights". The relevant state senator is either Jose Serrano or David Paterson (or both). East Harlem's city council representatives are Inez Dickens and Melissa Mark Viverito. There is also Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Organizations already aligned with the team include the affiliated Central Park East Secodary School and East Harlem Tutorial Program, and the title sponsors NASA and Bloomberg LP. Weichert Realtors Peters Associates also sponsors the team and provides several mentors. New York City First is the regional FIRST organization. According to the article, the team's founding mentor Kristian Breton is a FIRST Alum from Mountain Home AR, which means that he probably knows somebody on FRC Team 16 Baxter Bomb Squad and somebody on Team 16 knows him.

Finally, there is City Tech, the college that accepted Amadou. Petersons puts the annual estimated cost at $9922 for in-state residents as of the 2002-2003 school year. Amadou lives in New York and attended high school there for two years, so he is eligible for in-state tuition rates according to the New York Immigrant Coalition FAQ. According to the same site, to claim in-state residency he must file an affidavit stating intent to file an application for legal residency, and he must demonstrate proof of domicile (a high school transcript will do). The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund has a list of scholarships that are available to the undocumented.

The team has a newsletter up on their webpage.

Re: Resources & More Information

Hi everyone,

I am so glad so many people have already begun to look into ways to help our fellow FIRSTer out with this situation. Although I've never met Amadou, I now find it quite remarkable some of the ways our lives crossed paths, and can cross paths.

I'm an alumni of FIRST (99-03). I attended this year's NYC regional and saw my former high school Staten Island Tech (375) join forces with Morris HS and Amadou's East Harlem Tech to win the regional. The excitement that rookie Harlem team had for the competiton was incredibly contagious, and I was so glad that they received an opportunity to participate in the Championship event.

Now for how I plan to help out. While I'm not familiar with immigration law, I just so happen to attend the college Amadou wants to attend, New York City College of Technology. I am going to make sure everyone from the President, to the admissions office, to the financial aid office is made aware of this story. The school is incredibly diverse with students from all over the planet, and I know as an active FIRST participant, he will thrive in the program of study. I'm also going to contact the team and offer to help him deal with any of the levels of bureacracy he might have to deal with at the college.

Just to clear up a little error above, in-state tuition is 2000 a semester, assuming he can claim New York State residency.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

I worked with Amadou and the East Harlem Techs, as well as several other teams in NYC. And on behalf of the NYC FIRST, thank you for all your kind words and offer for assistance. This story has moved us all, but there are many similar stories here in New York City. Over the past few weeks, I'm sure you've also realized that many other cities in this country are facing similar dillemas due to the recent media coverage. And we will do whatever we can here in New York City to help Amadou and many other students like him achieve his/her dreams and reach his/her full potential in America.
JOHN PARK

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

This article just came out this morning. Thank you all for the outpouring of support regarding this issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/ny.../02deport.html

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

As I walked around the pits at nationals, I saw Team 1880s pits, and let me say..it was quite a spectacle. If I recall correctly, the BBC, CNN, FOX News, and many other news agencies were all there with their camera crews covering the story.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by jparkteach

This article just came out this morning. Thank you all for the outpouring of support regarding this issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/02/ny.../02deport.html

This is wonderful news!!!
:)

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

I had to register with the NY Times to read the article. The outpouring of help from across the country has been incredible.

I wont cut and paste the article because its is © but this part bears posting:

Quote:

At first, East Harlem Tutorial Program, the after-school organization that started the robot-building team in partnership with Central Park East High School, began collecting donations on Amadou's behalf. But as pledges and inquiries poured in, more formal steps were taken. Donors were asked to write checks to "Amadou Educational Fund," in care of Laura Hirschfeld, Esq., Weil Gotshal, 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y., 10153, or to address inquiries to her at laura.hirschfeld@weil.com.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

If I dig up the article*, i'll post a link, but you are not required by law to show ID to board a plane. If you fail to provide ID, the only thing they can do is tag your luggage so your luggage will no board the plane unless you do as well.

*The arcitle was about a man who has flown numerous times since 9/11 without an ID and how the process went.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTorak

interesting since they have a no-fly list: if you are on the list you dont fly

so how can they let you on the plane without ID? Does that mean all people on the no-fly list have to do is say "My name is John Doe" and they have to let you on the plane?

somethings not adding up here ?!

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

To fly on a plane, they check your passport. On the passport, they check the stamps to make sure you are allowed to be at your starting point. Also, they make sure you are allowed to be at your destination. If they are a non citizen, they go through your passports more thoroughly. If something doesn't add up, as in Amadou's case, they even more thoroughly check through all of the traveler's documents, and either let them go, or prosecute them (depending on the circumstance, obviously) and possibly deport them.

ps. I don't know if it's too late or not, but if anyone wants to host a website to promote this, I am more than willing to help; just email me or pm me.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Folks,
Did you see this video titled Senegalese Student Faces Deportation on PBS- The NEWS HOUR with Jim Lehrer? The coverage is pretty good.

http://vvi.onstreammedia.com:80/cgi-...hour&tid=email

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Wong

Folks,
Did you see this video titled Senegalese Student Faces Deportation on PBS- The NEWS HOUR with Jim Lehrer? The coverage is pretty good.

http://vvi.onstreammedia.com:80/cgi-...hour&tid=email

Rich,

Does the audio in the clip work for you? I can't hear anything.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Rich,

Does the audio in the clip work for you? I can't hear anything.

Yes. For me, the audio works fine with the Windows Media at 220K.

http://vvi.onstreammedia.com:80/cgi-...hour&tid=email

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

This was also the story that was on CBS for their "Assignment America" segment on May 5th.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTorak

If I dig up the article*, i'll post a link, but you are not required by law to show ID to board a plane. If you fail to provide ID, the only thing they can do is tag your luggage so your luggage will no board the plane unless you do as well.
*The arcitle was about a man who has flown numerous times since 9/11 without an ID and how the process went.

From the TSA website -
To access Security Checkpoints, you will be required to present a BOARDING PASS and PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

From Northwest Airlines -

What identification do passengers need at the airport?
All passengers age 18 and older will be required to present valid government-issued photo identification (federal, state, or local). Example: driver's license or passport.
In the absence of government issued photo identification, two forms of identification will be required, one of which must be government-issued. Example: social security card and a WorldPerks card.
U.S citizens traveling to Canada must be prepared to prove their citizenship before boarding the plane. One of the following documents will be accepted as proof of citizenship:
Passport
Birth certificate*
Certificate of Naturalization or Birth Abroad*
Consular Report of Birth Abroad*
* Documents that do not incorporate a photograph should be accompanied by supporting government-issued photo identification. Identification that does not prove U.S. citizenship will not be accepted. Driver's licenses and credit cards are not acceptable forms of identification for proving U.S. citizenship.

These are both compliant with Public Law 107-71, so it would be interesting to know how someone is flying without ID....

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

When we flew to Atlanta last month my ID was not requested when I received my boarding pass (I had it handy but it was never requested nor was it checked). I thought it was odd but maybe it's not a requirement?

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathieK

Last time I flew I got my ticket from an electronic teller at the airport, but I had to show my drivers license to get through the security checkpoint.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathieK

You need a photo ID when you check your bag. If you are checking in via e-ticket and have no bags to check, you might be able to get your boarding pass without presenting a photo ID.

You also need to present a photo ID with your boarding pass to enter the security gate to access the departure lounge.

At random intervals or during heightened security levels, you may be asked to allow your carry on bags to be hand inspected. If so, you will once again be asked for photo ID.

That you got on a plane without presentation of a photo ID is a serious lapse of security at the airport you departed from.

Mike

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

The Amadou story continues:

I just received a call from Amadou's legal representative. She is seeking letters of support for Amadou. There is a hearing next week. There is not much time, so if you know or met Amadou or wish to write a letter of support for him, please mail it to:

Amy Meselsen
Legal Aid Society
199 Water St.
NY, NY 10038

There are over 10 million undocumented aliens in our country. Let's at least keep the brightest, hard-working, self-sufficient, moral young men and women who were brought here by their parents. We need more smart people, not less.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag

It is not a flaw. According to the law, your status in this country cannot affect your education. That's why most colleges cannot require you to give them your social security number. Many people come to the US for an educating and the government decided not to fight them but to be on their side.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

Quote:

so wait, you can go to high school in this country while being in this country illegally? I learned something new. Sounds like a terrible flaw....

it depends on whether you think you are giving something away, or getting something.

The underlying principle of a free public education is that, in the big picture, our society will be better with an educated population. As a matter of fact, students are required by law to attend some form of school until they are 16.

If illegal aliens are here, I would much rather have them be educated, than ignorant.

Re: Student's Prize Is a Trip [To Atlanta for Natationals] Into Immigration Limbo

I think this is a huge issue, I think as long as immigrants want to study and work hard and try to make things legal it shouldnt be a problem and about the ID they didnt ask for it when I got my bording pass and the security I passed it with my school ID with no problem I guess it was just that since 9/11 in New York and important areas like that they want more security.
I hope everything works fine for all of the imigrants in the US that want to work hard for their dreams!!
-natalia