This'll "frost your cookies!"

[azsnowman]

The DREAM Act!! Whatta crock!

Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 29, 2003 12:00 AM


Four high-achieving Phoenix students facing deportation to Mexico gained another reprieve Friday when a U.S. immigration judge postponed their hearing for 10 more months, essentially giving the students one last shot at gaining legal status through legislation pending in Congress.

By moving the hearing to Sept. 23, U.S. Immigration Judge John W. Richardson appeared openly sympathetic to the plight of the four students but warned there would be no more extensions after that.

"Either this legislation has to pass or it's pretty clear they (Congress) are not going to pass it. . . . By then the tea leaves should be pretty clear," Richardson said, referring to two bills pending in Congress aimed at allowing tens of thousands of children of undocumented immigrants the chance to gain legal status.

Sarah Hartnett, a federal immigration attorney, told Richardson she opposed continuing the cases any further, pointing out that 14 months already had passed since the students first appeared in court. She also argued there is no guarantee the legislation ever will be approved by Congress.

But Judy Flanagan, a lawyer representing the four students, told the judge she hopes the legislation will pass in the coming months, and pleaded with the judge for even more time. Without the legislation, the students have no other way to qualify for legal residency, Flanagan has said.

In October, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed, 16-3, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, the DREAM Act. Arizona Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, both Republicans, support the bill, which would grant permanent residency to undocumented immigrants who entered the United States before they were 16 and have lived in the country at least five years. To qualify, they would have to graduate from high school and complete either two years of college or two years of military service.

A similar bill, the Student Adjustment Act, has been introduced in the House.

Flanagan also said in court she believes the students were denied their rights when immigration officials questioned them during a field trip to upstate New York nearly 18 months ago and determined they were living in the United States without documents.

The four students, Yuliana Huicochea; 18, Luis Nava, 19; Jaime Damian, 18; and Oscar Corona, 18, were representing Wilson Charter School in Phoenix in an international solar-powered boat competition when they decided to make a side trip to Niagara Falls in Canada. They all have since graduated and are attending college.

The four Phoenix students sat nervously through Friday's half-hour hearing, surrounded by about a dozen supporters, but left the courtroom relieved.

"I think he understands what we are going through and what the consequences would be if we were to get deported," said Huicochea, referring to the judge's decision.



Dennis