Teenage Illegal Aliens: What Happens After High School?
The issue of illegal immigration has reached a fever pitch. But what about those who are caught in the crosshairs and didn’t even know it?
Economists at Bear Stearns, a leading Wall Street firm, tell us that there are nearly 20 million undocumented people living in the United States. Many of them are school-age children.
Angel, a 17-year-old senior from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, CA, came here from Guatemala at the age of 4. Twelve years later, he realized that he was undocumented. “I was going to get this job, so I needed my Social Security number,” he explains. “My mom said I didn’t have one. It was crazy; I’ve been here most of my life.”
You are not alone. According to a recent article by Anne Ryman of The Arizona Republic, nearly 4,000 college students in Arizona were denied in-state tuition because they were unable to prove their legal residency. Like Angel, many teenagers who have been in the United States for most of their lives suddenly find it difficult to stay here in this country they have called “home” for so long.
“It’s like, I’m glad [my parents] He brought me here, but I don’t know what I’m going to do next, “says Angel.
The pressure is on
More than 185,431 people were deported from the United States last year, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah have passed new legislation that will make it harder for undocumented immigrants to live and work in those states. Immigration law has become a hot topic for politicians across the country.
There is hope
While it may seem overwhelming, the US offers several pathways to legal residency. In the right circumstances, even so-called “illegal aliens” can legally obtain a United States visa. The good news for teenagers is: as long as they are under 18, the government does not blame them for being undocumented. There are options available for these children. But the faster they act, the easier it will be. Adults over the age of 18 may also have a good chance, especially those who have at least one family member who is already a US citizen. Hardship exemptions, which can allow an undocumented person to legally remain in the U.S., are approved by immigration officials with surprising frequency.
Knowing the ins and outs of US immigration law can be tricky, but successfully navigating through them is the best chance of staying in the US for undocumented teens like Angel.