Las Vegas Sun, NV
Jan 31 2005

Editorial: Girls’ ordeal should never be repeated

The injustice was apparent the moment Emma and Mariam Sarkisian were
taken from their family in Las Vegas and placed in a federal holding
cell in Los Angeles. Emma, 18, is a recent graduate of Palo Verde
High School and Miriam, 17, is still a student there. Immigration
authorities learned last July that the two had no legal status to be
in this country. After receiving word that Armenia, the girls’
country of birth, would accept them, officials on Jan. 14 abruptly
took them to Los Angeles and prepared to deport them.

We were among many people and organizations calling upon the federal
government to use discretion in this case. The girls were brought to
this country by their father when they were 4 and 3. This is the only
country they’ve ever known. Immigration law is not so strict that
discretion cannot be used when warranted. As we saw it, how in the
name of justice could two girls be torn from their American home and
dropped, penniless, into a country whose customs and language are
alien to them, and where they have no family, friends or jobs
awaiting?

Twice the girls were minutes away from being boarded onto a flight,
and only fortuitous circumstances — including one day when the plane
was full — prevented their departure. With publicity and appeals
from the public growing, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.,
intervened on the girls’ behalf. He called Homeland Security Director
Tom Ridge, whose department oversees immigration services. After two
weeks in custody, the girls were released and they rejoined their
family on Friday. Their case is still under review, but it’s likely
now that they will be able to remain here and eventually gain
citizenship. “In the end, common sense and good people — they
prevail in America,” said the girls’ overjoyed father.

This is a quote that should be posted in block letters in all
immigration offices. Occasionally a case will come along such as this
one, where strict enforcement of the law would result in an obvious
injustice. There should be a review procedure for such cases, so that
justice doesn’t hinge on the timing of a well-placed phone call.