Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Ohio Loves White Foreigners
School backs student facing deportation
PANDORA, Ohio β The Pandora-Gilboa school board met in special session yesterday to throw its support behind a senior facing deportation to his native Germany.
Superintendent Dale Lewellen said the board unanimously agreed to ask federal immigration officials to delay the deportation of Manuel Bartsch, 18, of Gilboa until he graduates from Pandora-Gilboa High School this spring.
The board also agreed to suspend βon a temporary basis any existing board policy that would be in conflict with this resolution, in order to allow Manuel Bartsch to remain and graduate.β
Mr. Bartsch came to the United States in 1997 on a 90-day visa waiver with his step-grandfather, who was his legal guardian at the time. He has been enrolled in the school district since fourth grade.
After turning 18 this summer, Mr. Bartsch began to investigate obtaining citizenship but was jailed on Dec. 21 after showing up in Cleveland for a meeting with immigration officials.
His deportation was delayed on Friday when an immigration judge in Arlington, Va., granted an emergency motion asking that Mr. Bartsch be allowed to have a bond hearing. That hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
PANDORA, Ohio β The Pandora-Gilboa school board met in special session yesterday to throw its support behind a senior facing deportation to his native Germany.
Superintendent Dale Lewellen said the board unanimously agreed to ask federal immigration officials to delay the deportation of Manuel Bartsch, 18, of Gilboa until he graduates from Pandora-Gilboa High School this spring.
The board also agreed to suspend βon a temporary basis any existing board policy that would be in conflict with this resolution, in order to allow Manuel Bartsch to remain and graduate.β
Mr. Bartsch came to the United States in 1997 on a 90-day visa waiver with his step-grandfather, who was his legal guardian at the time. He has been enrolled in the school district since fourth grade.
After turning 18 this summer, Mr. Bartsch began to investigate obtaining citizenship but was jailed on Dec. 21 after showing up in Cleveland for a meeting with immigration officials.
His deportation was delayed on Friday when an immigration judge in Arlington, Va., granted an emergency motion asking that Mr. Bartsch be allowed to have a bond hearing. That hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
