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

[KenWittlief]

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.

[sw293]

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.

[Mike375]

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.

[jparkteach]

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

[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

[nparikh]

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.

[Rich Wong]

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!!!

[KenWittlief]

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:

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.

[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.

[KenWittlief]

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.

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 ?!

[Rohan_DHS]

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.

[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

[Tom Bottiglieri]

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.

[Rich Wong]

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

[Kristian Calhoun]

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