| Many US teens are finding their legal status isn't | | | | work in those states. Immigration law has |
| what they thought it was. | | | | become a hot-button issue for politicians |
| The issue of illegal immigration has reached a | | | | throughout the country. |
| fever pitch in the media and in the country as a | | | | There Is Hope |
| whole. But what about those who are caught in | | | | While it can seem overwhelming, the US does |
| the cross-hairs and didn't even know it? | | | | offer several paths to legal residency. Under the |
| Economists at Bear Stearns, a leading Wall Street | | | | right circumstances, even so-called "illegal aliens" |
| firm, tell us there are almost 20 million | | | | can legally obtain a Visa or Green Card. The good |
| undocumented people living in the United States. | | | | news for teenagers is: as long as they are under |
| Many of those people are school-aged kids who | | | | the age of 18, the government does not hold |
| came here with their families through no fault of | | | | their undocumented status against them. There |
| their own. | | | | are options available to these children - but the |
| Angel, a 17 year old senior at El Toro High School | | | | quicker they act, the easier it will be for them to |
| in Lake Forest, CA, came here from Guatemala | | | | get legal status. Adults over 18 may also have a |
| at the age of 4. Twelve years later, he realized | | | | good chance, especially those who have at least |
| he was undocumented. "I was going to get this | | | | one family member who is already an America |
| job so I needed my Social Security number," he | | | | Citizen. Hardship Waivers, which can allow an |
| explains. "My mom said I didn't have one. It was | | | | undocumented immigrant to stay avoid |
| crazy- I've been here most of my life." | | | | deportation, are approved by immigration officials |
| He's not alone. According to a recent article by | | | | surprisingly often. |
| Anne Ryman of The Arizona Republic, nearly | | | | Learning the in's and out's of US Immigration law |
| 4,000 college students in Arizona were denied | | | | can be complicated, but successfully navigating |
| in-state tuition because they failed to prove legal | | | | through them is the best chance for staying in |
| residency. Like Angel, many teenagers who have | | | | the US for undocumented teens. Government |
| been in the US for most of their lives are | | | | websites and resources are not very helpful in |
| suddenly finding it difficult to stay in the country | | | | the regard, however. The vast majority of |
| they call "home". | | | | information readily available is written for a typical |
| "It's like, I'm glad [my parents] brought me here, | | | | immigrant who has gone through the immigration |
| but I don't know what I'm going to do later," says | | | | process correctly from the beginning. Policy |
| Angel. | | | | exceptions do exist, but up until now, these legal |
| The Pressure Is On | | | | loopholes have been reserved for those |
| More than 185,431 people were deported from | | | | immigrants that can afford legal counsel. Poorer |
| the US last year, according to the Department of | | | | immigrants who lack financial resources often |
| Homeland Security (DHS). Arizona, Oklahoma, and | | | | overlook avenues that would otherwise be |
| Utah have passed new legislation that will make it | | | | available to them. |
| tougher for undocumented immigrants to live and | | | | |