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Undocumented Harvard Student May Be Deported

Teen crossed border 15 years ago, says he'll fight to stay

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 13, 2010 5:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – A Harvard undergraduate who entered the US illegally as a 4-year-old is facing deportation after being detained at a Texas airport last week following a visit to his mother. "I’m very worried, to be honest," Eric Balderas, who just finished his freshman year and says he lost his Mexican passport, tells the Boston Globe. “I’m willing to fight this, of course. I’m just hanging in there."

Balderas, a biology major on a full scholarship, grew up in San Antonio and considers English his first language. "I honestly never thought I’d make it into college because of my status, but I just really enjoyed school too much and I gave it a shot," he says. Harvard is expressing support; a spokeswoman says Balderas "has already demonstrated the discipline and work ethic required for rigorous university work."

Eric Balderas, 19, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., where he just finished his freshman year of college, on Friday, June. 11, 2010. Balderas, a Mexican citizen, may be deported.
Eric Balderas, 19, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., where he just finished his freshman year of college, on Friday, June. 11, 2010. Balderas, a Mexican citizen, may be deported.   (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
Eric Balderas, 19, a Mexican citizen and Harvard student, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., on Friday, June. 11, 2010. Balderas is facing deportation.
Eric Balderas, 19, a Mexican citizen and Harvard student, in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., on Friday, June. 11, 2010. Balderas is facing deportation.   (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 160 comments
karen22222
Jun 17, 2010 9:49 PM CDT
For the individuals that are stating that is his fault and that "he should have work harder to get a green card" your thinking is inaccurate, unfortunately even if the person entered the country at two months old illegally, there is no immigration law that would grant the person [who came through no fault of his/her own] a path to citizenship. Hence, this is the reason that we need an immigration reform, one of them is the DREAM ACT, which would grant students who came at an early age a path to citizenship. Please get informed prior to making assumptions, the fruits of negative feelings is ignorance.
Snarfeh
Jun 16, 2010 4:04 AM CDT
Ah...what would jesus do?
HotCopy
Jun 15, 2010 2:30 AM CDT
He is here through no fault of his own, is at the top of an educational system that is basically spewing dog dung, leaving our country in the dust compared to the work-readiness and work ethic of about every other developed country on earth. If we deport our best, regardless of their origins, we are only setting our country back. Let him stay! Deport the lazy ass White bastard in my neighborhood who is leeching off people after flunking out of high school because he was too busy buying, selling and using drugs to apply himself. He has more ties to Mexico than this kid.

 
illegal immigrant • Texas • San Antonio • illegal immigration • immigrant • Harvard • undocumented immigrant • Eric Balderas

 
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