More on Anthony Zehyoue
by Richard Pittman on Mar 11, 2009 9:00 AM CDT
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We have mentioned the limbo that former LSU walk-on Anthony Zehyoue is in. I would like to know how it got this way? According to Dennis Dodd's article on the subject, Anthony's father, Anthony Sr., has been in the United States at least since 1990, having escaped war-torn Liberia.
Anthony Sr. is a Ph.D and a teacher. Anthony Jr. is pursuing teaching. The family is educated and productive. They have been staying here for almost 20 years under special laws that protect Liberian immigrants and other refugees from war-torn countries, laws which are set to expire very soon if they are not renewed.
This blog takes special care not to get into politics, as the topic can't help but to divide and alienate, but we can bend the rules here because this seems so uncontroversial. While immigration is definitely a hot-button issue in America, the Zehyoues are not exactly the poster family for bad immigration policy. Anthony Sr. came to the United States apparently already highly educated, and has raised a productive and law-abiding family that seems to want nothing more than to stay here and to continue to be productive and law-abiding. Frankly, America needs more people like the Zehyoues.
What's more, they have been able to do so through at least two changes of political leadership in Washington D.C. From the George H.W. Bush presidency through the Clinton presidency through the George W. Bush presidency (not to mention through more Congressional changes than can be easily counted), there appears to have been little trouble with them getting the authorization to continue staying here. Now, despite apparently having the help of at least two sitting Senators from the majority party, their immigration status is in serious jeopardy.
The only argument I can see for what appears to be happening is, "Liberia is not as bad as it was in 1990, and while America needs people like the Zehyoues, Liberia needs them more." Fine, but it's hard to even say that Anthony Jr. is Liberian in any real sense of the word. He was born in Liberia, but he is about 24 years old and has been in the United States for almost 20 years. Culturally, he is as American as I am. One of his siblings was actually born here and is, therefore, an American citizen. She would not have to leave, but she is a minor and may not have much realistic alternative.
I would say it's a "sad" situation, but it's worse than that. It's a situation that could be very easily corrected, and there seems to be little reason not to correct it. After all, why is it America's responsibility to send some of its best to a country they don't want to go to just because they happen to be from there?
I'd like to issue a call to action, but I don't know what kind of action is required, or even what would be helpful. I welcome suggestions.
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This is a shame.
I would hate to loose the kid over this. I did a little digging and it looks like (if anyone wants to help) the best thing is to call your Senator or Representative. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island is heading up the efforts to allow Liberian’s under Temporary Protective Status to declare themselves permanent residents – which they currently cannot do. The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas has more information for anyone who is interested.
by janepriceestrada on Mar 11, 2009 10:09 AM CDT reply actions
Help
Just go to your senators’ or representative’s web site. Send off an email or call them NOW. It is a shame that this could happen to a very educated family. More importantly, he wants to become a teacher and we need good teachers. Thanks for the info. Call/email now………
That's not Anthony Zehyoue's picture
I know Anthony a little bit, and it’s the wrong picture. You guys can tell for yourselves in the picture attached to Dodd’s article.
I certainly don’t understand why America hasn’t renewed their visas. Even if it’s not as bad, that doesn’t mean refugees should be feel totally safe in returning. If they don’t feel safe in returning and prefer to stay here, we should be welcoming to that and shouldn’t force return on a family that has eagerly obeyed all of our laws and been model citizens.
As for doing something about it, I’ll send letters to Vitter & landrieu as well as my rep. Even so, one can only hope that this is a transition/economy oversight and will soon be remedied.
I'm proud of my damn strong football team. Have a great day!
Temporary Visas
The worst thing about this is that the family is being punished for being proactive. Had they waited until Liberia totally disintegrated, they would be refugees. But they are not becuase when they left, Liberia was still a functioning nation (sort of). Instead, they are under the gun to be deported back to a war-torn nation that they worked hard to escape.
This isn’t about the Zehyoue’s, it is about all people who have come to these shores yearning to be free. These are the immigrants this country desperately needs: hard working, family-orineted people who believe in the American dream.
God, I hate our immigration policy.
There is a section of the immigration code which allows for a PhD due to his educational experience and the lack of otherwise qualified domestic applicants in the field (which in education there is a lack of teachers) to receive Lawful Permanent Resident status foregoing the quotas and waits which are posted monthly in the visa bulletins. Mr. Zehyoue’s employer will have to fill out some of the paperwork, but there should be no reason why with the help of someone with immigration experience that this could not be done, given the facts as stated in the article cited and those stated above. Unfortunately, the duration for which Mr. Zehyoue has been in the United States actually hurts his case, because immigration officials look at it as though the applicant has not begun the process sooner, so that applicant is not serious about ultimately seeking naturalization. Regardless, Mr. Zehyoue should not be removed at this stage, the immigration and customs enforcement is in a transation period and no one knows if they will continue with draconian policies which have marred the post 9/11 period and sullied our history of being generally accepting of multicultural immigrants. While the terrorist attacks were perpetrated by immigrants lawfully present in the united states, I personally do not believe the alleged “correlation” between “securing boarders” and fighting terrorism. The two seem mutually exclusive to me, but ICE on their website consistently makes xenophobic statements to the effect that immigrants are more susceptible to influences of terrorist organizations. Sorry about the length of this post, but this is a topic about which I am passionate, and my heart aches for the Zehyoue family. I hope soon we will be able to once again truly embrace the passage:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
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