Princeton scholar fighting for legal immigration status

[babylonsister]

Are we going to kick out the best and brightest? His parents brought him here at age 4. Thoughts?

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--illegalimmigrant-0604jun04,0,3051573.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) _ Princeton University professors say Dan-El Padilla has the potential to become one of the top classics scholars of his generation.

But as the 21-year-old native of the Dominican Republic prepares to graduate from the Ivy League school this week and deliver the traditional salutatorian address _ in Latin _ at its commencement, a long-held secret that he kept from even his closest friends is now clouding his bright future.

Earlier this year, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Padilla revealed that he is an illegal immigrant. He is now seeking to win legal U.S. residency and has the support of numerous friends and professors, who have raised more than $10,000 for his legal defense fund.

Padilla recently filed an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, asking for an exemption that would grant him a belated student visa. His lawyer say his extraordinary childhood made him unable to apply as a child.

snip//

Padilla said he decided to acknowledge his secret after winning a scholarship to study classics at Oxford University in England after he graduates from Princeton. He wants to go, but fears that if he leaves as an illegal immigrant he would be unable to return for at least ten years under existing laws.

snip//

[wakeme2008]

1. And if he was Cuban ... No problem

:grr:

[babylonsister]

2. PM kick. nt