Illegal Teen Faces Deportation
oThe events involving illegal immigration have been making headlines in the news for quite a while. Recently, Manuel Bartsch, a teenager who arrived in the United States in 1997 from Germany, has been one of the central attentions in the controversy. Like many 18-year-olds, Bartsch has dreamed of graduating from his high school in Ohio and attending college in order of becoming a successful person in life. Plans, however, did not go as he intended.
Bartsch has been living with his step-grandfather, an American citizen, who arranged for Manuel's coming into the country following the death of his grandmother in Germany, who was his legal gardian. He had also suffered a difficult childhood with his alcoholic mother. There was a huge problem, however. Manuel's step-grandfather never legally adopted Manuel, who had only come to the country on a temporary visa. According to the news, Manuel never truly knew that he was considered an illegal immigrant until a meeting with his local immigration office, where he was arrested and kept in jail for about 2 weeks. He now faces deportation.
Manuel Bartsch has been receiving a lot of support from friends, teachers, and even the Ohio Senator Mike DeWine. DeWine has pushed for a change in Manuel's status in the U.S. saying: "Through no fault of his own, Manuel is not a legal resident of the United States. Had his step-grandfather adopted him, Manuel would be an American citizen today. And, if his step-grandfather had moved to legalize Manuel's status at some point before he turned 18, he would not be subject to deportation today." Other politicians have also joined in Bartsch's defense.
Immigration has been a controversy in the United States for quite a long time. From the Great Migration in the 1630's to today, it seems to be a problem that cannot be solved. An attempt of solving part of the "immigration problem" occured in 1882, when President Chester Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which closed American doors to Chinese immigrants for about 10 years. This act, however, did not fully stop the influx. It was renewed in 1902 and not until 1943 was if finally removed.
Bartsch has been living with his step-grandfather, an American citizen, who arranged for Manuel's coming into the country following the death of his grandmother in Germany, who was his legal gardian. He had also suffered a difficult childhood with his alcoholic mother. There was a huge problem, however. Manuel's step-grandfather never legally adopted Manuel, who had only come to the country on a temporary visa. According to the news, Manuel never truly knew that he was considered an illegal immigrant until a meeting with his local immigration office, where he was arrested and kept in jail for about 2 weeks. He now faces deportation.
Manuel Bartsch has been receiving a lot of support from friends, teachers, and even the Ohio Senator Mike DeWine. DeWine has pushed for a change in Manuel's status in the U.S. saying: "Through no fault of his own, Manuel is not a legal resident of the United States. Had his step-grandfather adopted him, Manuel would be an American citizen today. And, if his step-grandfather had moved to legalize Manuel's status at some point before he turned 18, he would not be subject to deportation today." Other politicians have also joined in Bartsch's defense.
Immigration has been a controversy in the United States for quite a long time. From the Great Migration in the 1630's to today, it seems to be a problem that cannot be solved. An attempt of solving part of the "immigration problem" occured in 1882, when President Chester Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which closed American doors to Chinese immigrants for about 10 years. This act, however, did not fully stop the influx. It was renewed in 1902 and not until 1943 was if finally removed.
posted by Anonymous | 9:52 PM
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