Ralph Isenberg DREAMs of a Day When Deported Saad Nabeel Can Return to Frisco

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Aug. 2 2010 at 11:39 AM

Categories: Immigration, News

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For those unfamiliar with the story of Saad Nabeel, there's quite the extensive Wikipedia page -- but long story short, he's the Bangladeshi-born 19-year-old who, till recently, had been in the States since he was 3, when his folks came here seeking political asylum -- a request repeatedly denied. And thus, Saad was here illegally: The government told him, fine, he could stay in Frisco, where the family moved in 2002, till he was 18 -- but after that, adios. He'd be deported. And he was. And just like that, the Liberty High grad with a scholarship to the University of Texas at Arlington was gone. He tells his story in this YouTube video.

His friends here are trying to bring him back to North Texas -- there are, of course, the requisite petitions and Facebook pages. But this morning, Campus Progress checks in with Nabeel and writes about his last, best hope for returning to the U.S.: Senators Orin Hatch and Richard Durbin's DREAM Act, which would offer the children of illegal immigrants a way to citizenship. Former Dallas City Plan Commissioner-turned-immigration activist Ralph Isenberg has asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to amend the act, allowing students who've been deported the opportunity to return to the U.S. Says Isenberg, "There are not hundreds but thousands of these cases going on across the United States." In the meantime, Nabeel waits. And, writes Kristi Eaton, he's scared:

Saad Nabeel is afraid to leave his apartment. He lives in a small apartment with his parents in Dhaka, Bangladesh. But Nabeel doesn't know anything about Bangladesh. He doesn't speak Bengali, the country's official language, or understand Dhaka's local culture. Even its laws are a mystery to him. Because Nabeel looks and acts American, he feels that if he were to go out alone he could be kidnapped for ransom, something that happens fairly often in Bangladesh.

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First of all let's get something straight, neither Saad nor his family have green cards. All they have is an approved I-130. The I-130 clearly states it does not convey any type of immigration benefit. The family must qualify for visas...which they do NOT. Saad Nabeel and Isenberg continually misrepresent the facts in the case. Bogus asylum claim+illegal presence= No immigration benefit. Even if they wait out the 10 year ban, Saad will age out as a derivative on his dad's case. Saad needs to start learning to speak Bangla because he will never legally get into the US.
As a legal immigrant, I do not feel it would be a slap in the face for Saad to be allowed to enjoy the use of his greencard. That said, I'm sure 10 years feels a lot longer to an 18-year-old than it does to this 30-year-old, and he might benefit from some time and schooling in Bangladesh. If he's forced to stay there for 10 years and will then come back to a greencard, he's frankly better off, time-wise, than many who (like me) took the path of legal immigration.
This is a nation of laws? You pontificate of all that Saad "stole" from a land that was itself stolen from its native people. This is a nation of immigrants. How have you profited from what was stolen?
Ayn Rand, when you click on Eisenberg's name in the piece, that is the first story among many about him that appears.
@Jay Your nuance argument has no merit. This is a nation of laws, not a nation of "do what makes you feel good". Saad stole his residency for 15 years. Saad stole taxpayer's money for his education. Saad stole a scholarship that should have went to someone of legal residence. Saad was not entitled to any of the above. He and his family stole it all. They ignored the courts. The played extend-extend-extend. Maybe if Saad was related to Obama, he could have stayed. Obama's aunt played the same extend-extend-extend game and is able to stay. She lives in public housing and receives public healthcase, all on the taxpayer dime. But that is what happens when this becomes a nation of men, instead of law. Those in power just do "what feels right". It is a disgrace that Jay advocates more of such.
@Ayn Rand We live in a world with immense knowledge and technology at our fingertips. The idea that we can send men to walk on the moon, probes outside the solar system, clone lifeforms, and map our genetic structures, yet aren't sophisticated enough to measure nuance and know when an exception might be required to a rule of law is childish and ignorant. In other words, if you look past the reflexive black and white interpretation you'll see your argument about other cases have no bearing on the merits of THIS particular case. @Hesiod You bring up a great point, and I'm mystified why the argument is not used more often. There are computer scientists working at Starbucks & Wal-Mart for benefits, when hundreds of jobs are open in developing nations. The jobs pay less, but the cost of living is also less to the extent that you could move there and actually enjoy a higher standard of living than debt riddled Americans are eking out. They would have as good a chance of "integrating" as this kid...So that argument goes both ways. I do think this is the future. At least I certainly hope so as I've bet so money on it, figuratively speaking.
@Amanda - Stop telling half the story. The family already had an outstanding deportation order from 2002. They ignored the order, using Saad as an anchor kid until reached 18. The Nabeels were almost successful in gaming the system. Fortunately, the rule of law was finally followed and all were deported. Had the Nabeels stayed, it would be a slap in the face to all those awaiting immigration via the legal route.
@Ayn Rand... The family's green cards WERE approved and arrived in the mail AFTER they were deported. From the article you obviously didn't read: In November 2009, Nabeel�s father called immigration officials asking to extend their stay by two months, until the arrival of their green cards in January. �The deportation officer decided, instead of giving him two more months of time, that he would deport our family. Two immigration officers came to our home and took my dad to jail,� Nabeel says.
The parents were denied political asylum and ignored orders to return to their country. The children cannot benefit from the illegal acts of their parents. There are many others waiting for legal entry into the USA. It is unethical to allow lawbreakers to cut ahead of those following the proper path. Case closed
Everyone in the world can't live here. Where would we put them all? Why not stay and Bangladesh and make a career trying to improve that little slice of heaven. Truly, what is the point of having laws if they are waived anytime some got-rocks thinks there is a compelling reason for an exception?
so if the DREAM act is passed does this provide a way for the parents to get back into the states? once again there are unintended consequences resulting from the decisions one makes. Fine let this guy come in and get an education, but make him go through the same legal hoops that a legal immigrant has to go through.
Be mad at the parents, not the US...........
He's better off. Soon all the jobs he would have been trained to do at UTA will have been offshored to Bangladesh, India, China, etc.. This way he might actually have a chance of finding steady employment, instead of going to 4 years of college, only to find himself on the dole! He can learn Bangladeshi. Better emigrate to where the jobs are, not to try to be where the jobs are leaving in droves!