[Jon236]

Thanks to all who helped raise awareness of Amadou Ley's problems with the INS.

From the Associated Press:

U.S. to let illegal Senegalese teen stay on student visa


NEW YORK A lawyer says an illegal Senegalese immigrant who attracted national attention after his success in a high school robotics contest in Atlanta will be allowed to stay in the United States on a student visa.

Eighteen-year-old Amadou Ly, who had been in the middle of deportation proceedings, can now pursue his goal of studying math and computer science at the College of Technology in Brooklyn.

His attorney, Ilona Cohen with a Washington firm, said -- quote -- "He already told me that he started picking out his college classes and he's dreaming of his future as a computer engineer."

Ly's bid to stay in the United States received the support of leading lawmakers, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congressman Charles Rangel and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, many of whom wrote letters to immigration authorities on his behalf.

His story came to public attention earlier this year, after he told members of his school robotics team that he couldn't fly with them to Atlanta to compete in an international robotics championship at the Georgia Dome because he didn't have proper identification.

The team, East Harlem Tech, had defeated New York City's elite schools to enter the international FIRST Robotics Championship. Ly took an 18-hour train ride to attend the contest. Although his team didn't win, his story reached the media.