Recent High School Graduate

       In Reading, Ohio 18 year old Bernard Pastor who graduated last year from high school was arrested last week after he was caught driving without a license. According to Pastor's lawyer, Firooz Namei "Pastor and his family came to America from Guatemala when he was three for religious asylum but was denied in 2001. His family has been in the appeal process since... he has not been in contact with the family because they are in hiding for fear of also being taken into ICE custody and possibly deported" (Fox).

     If the Department of Homeland Security agrees to reopen the family's case, he will be able to remain here. Pastor, according to the school superintendent, "was a 4.0 student, played soccer and never caused any trouble." Pastor's potential removal was "delayed Tuesday night after local politicians urged the government to reconsider his case" (Fox).

    "The DREAM Act would allow a six year period for young undocumented immigrants to earn a permanent visa and work toward a U.S. citizenship" (Fox). According to Congressman Steve Driehaus, (unseated by Republican Steve Chabot in midterms) the legislation would protect people like Pastor who pose no threat to the country- unlike those criminally convicted that I discussed in a previous entry.

     I hope that Pastor is allowed to remain in the country, he has been here since he was three, he has attended school here and ought to be granted citizenship. If he is granted citizenship he will be able to further contribute to society through paying taxes and being a legal, active citizen.