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Reaching out to my flist here--anyone have any ideas?
My daughter's best friend Courtney's family took in a friend of their son's. His mother died, and his father abandoned him--sent him on a bus to Courtney's mom (who had moved from Las Vegas to Minnesota, but when they lived in Las Vegas the boy mostly lived with them).
The kid just turned 16. Turns out, he would've had to have been adopted at 15...which Courtney's mom VERY much wants. They were unable to accomplish that before his birthday thanks primarily to his father (who now can't be found), and now he is facing deportation to the Philipines.
He is 16. He has no family here but Courtney's, he has no family there. And, he is gay.
Any advice on how to keep him here would be appreciated. He has a lawyer and they are trying to do anything and everything they can but our government thinks it is more important to send a 16-year-old gay young man with no family or skills to a country he hasn't been to since he was a child.
Thanks flist--I have no idea how this kid can be saved and he is terrified, beyond terrified. I am heartsick for them all.
My daughter's best friend Courtney's family took in a friend of their son's. His mother died, and his father abandoned him--sent him on a bus to Courtney's mom (who had moved from Las Vegas to Minnesota, but when they lived in Las Vegas the boy mostly lived with them).
The kid just turned 16. Turns out, he would've had to have been adopted at 15...which Courtney's mom VERY much wants. They were unable to accomplish that before his birthday thanks primarily to his father (who now can't be found), and now he is facing deportation to the Philipines.
He is 16. He has no family here but Courtney's, he has no family there. And, he is gay.
Any advice on how to keep him here would be appreciated. He has a lawyer and they are trying to do anything and everything they can but our government thinks it is more important to send a 16-year-old gay young man with no family or skills to a country he hasn't been to since he was a child.
Thanks flist--I have no idea how this kid can be saved and he is terrified, beyond terrified. I am heartsick for them all.
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Date: 2009-12-19 11:30 am (UTC)Number one, I'm neither American nor a lawyer and working on what I hope is common sense here, so this may be a long shot or indeed impossible. However, the first thought that sprang to my mind after reading that 16 is too old to be adopted was: 'Doesn't that suggest that 16 is old enough to apply for citizenship in his own right?' If he's been in the US for over five years (I believe it's five, based on some research I once did for a character who needed a green card), he may be able to get citizenship himself. As stated, though, I'm not exactly a legal professional, so do look into it before going after false hope.
Failing that, could he apply for asylum based on the fact he would be persecuted if he was sent back home? That might at least buy him some time.
I do wish the kid and Courtney's family all the very best of luck, and will keep them in my thoughts.