Today's Most Popular Video
Sep 10, 2009 10:17 pm US/Central
Paperwork Snag May Send Minn. Teen Back To Vietnam
SILVER LAKE, Minn. (WCCO) ―
-
-
The Hallahan family wants to adopt Win Tran. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the paperwork and his legal status in the U.S. expired on his 16th birthday.
CBS
A Minnesota teenager just started his senior year of high school, but he could be deported before he gets the chance to graduate.
Patrick Hallahan and his family thought they had legally adopted Win Tran, but because paperwork was not processed in time, the adoption is not being recognized.
Win was 14 and in the ninth grade when he came to the United States from Vietnam to live with Hallahan and his family. During his freshman year, he attended Holy Trinity High School in Winsted where Hallahan was teaching.
A document called an I-20 made it legal for him to study in the U.S.
"He went home that summer and came back and expressed interest of maybe staying here permanently. That's when my wife and I made the offer to try to adopt him to help him out so he could finish his education in the United States," said Hallahan.
But there was a catch. The adoption process had to be completed by the time Win turned 16. An attorney assured the family that would not be an issue, so they and the school let the I-20 expire.
The problem was the final paperwork didn't get signed until after Win's 16th birthday, which voided the adoption.
The immigration office has since told Hallahan that Win is in the country illegally and has to go back to Vietnam. Until that happens Hallahan is searching for ways to keep him in the U.S.
Win is now 17 and a senior at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria. He plays soccer and baseball and his dream is to go to college in the U.S.
But being in the country illegally with an expired I-20, Win is worried that may never happen. Worst of all, he worries about losing the Minnesota family he has grown to love.
"I love living with them. They are really nice to me and treat me like their own family member," said Win.
"He is a very good son. If I had him myself as my own birth child, you couldn't ask for more. It's not right. We are not going to break the law. We are going to send him back if that's what we have to do. I just don't feel its right," said Hallahan.
Win can re-apply for an I-20 but he has to go back to Vietnam to do that and the process can take five months, meaning he would miss most of his senior year. The Hallahans have contacted Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office to see if she can help.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Letters To Santa Sent To Sex Offender?
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
