CENN: – February 21, 2005 Daily Digest

CENN – FEBRUARY 21, 2005 Daily Digest Table of Contents:

1. Announcement — The Caspian Development Advisory Panel

2. BTC Hoped to Alleviate Dependence on Arabia, Russia

3. Georgia: Black Gold, Hard Times?

4. Japan’s Shimizu To Launch Warming Gas Emission Rights Business
in Armenia

5. annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

6. Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

7. SoS, Help, We are Being Assassinated

8. EIA Reports

1. Announcement — The Caspian Development Advisory Panel

The Caspian Development Advisory Panel (CDAP) invites you to attend a
dial-in briefing on Wednesday, March 23 concerning its 2004 Report to BP
on the BTC pipeline and related BP-led investments in the Caspian
region. The Panel’s 2004 Report and BP’s Response were both released
earlier this week and are available on CDAP’s website, together with
copies of earlier CDAP reports and communications ().
The dial-in briefing will begin at 9:30 a.m. (Washington/Eastern
Standard Time); 14:30 (London); 17:30 (Tbilisi); 18:30 (Baku) on March
23.

As you may be aware, BP established CDAP at the beginning of 2003 as an
independent external panel focusing on the social, environmental and
economic impacts of the BTC pipeline project as well as BP’s related
activities in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The Panel visited all
three BTC countries in late October 2004, and its latest report to Lord
Browne, chief executive officer of BP, summarizes its findings and
recommendations. The Panel has benefited greatly from its extensive
interactions with interested NGOs and representatives of the SRI
community, and the Panel looks forward to a substantive discussion on
March 23.

If you are interested in participating in the March 23
briefing/discussion, please respond to this email and dial-in
instructions will be circulated. Interested parties are also invited to
attend the briefing in person at the Washington, D.C. offices of the
CDAP Secretariat, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (11th Floor). Please also
RSVP if you plan to attend in person.

Please feel free to pass on this invitation to other groups or parties
with an interest in BP’s Caspian investments.

Thank you.

Caspian Development Advisory Panel Secretariat

c/o Covington & Burling

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

[email protected]

2. BTC Hoped to Alleviate Dependence on Arabia, Russia

Source: The Messenger, February 18, 2005

One of the greatest hopes had been the former Soviet Union that now
produces more oil than Saudi Arabia, and especially it’s Caspian Basin,
whose fields are located in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The
pipeline through Turkey starts in Baku and carries oil from Azeri
fields.

When the pipeline was being developed in 2001, “there was a lot of
excitement that non Middle Eastern oil, especially from the Soviet
Union, would be an alternative source of oil,” said Bulent Aliriza, an
analysts with the Washington based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. “The hype at the time was that the oil of the
Caspian would rival that of the Middle East.”

Oil Companies looked for a way of bringing the oil to Western markets
and US officials insisted that for political reasons a pipeline should
be built through Turkey, by passing the Middle East and Russia.

But many Caspian estimates proved to be unrealistic, at least in the
short term. Experts now say the Caspian should in coming years pump some
four million to five million barrels per day, on par with Iran.

3. GEORGIA: BLACK GOLD, HARD TIMES?

Source: Eurasianet, February 18, 2005

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline could prove a vital source of revenue
for cash-strapped Georgia, pumping an estimated $50 million per year
into government coffers. Yet as construction on Georgia’s portion of the
1,760-kilometer-long pipeline winds down, residents affected by
construction are wondering whether the benefits of the project will
outweigh the costs to them.

“Look, we’re not against this pipeline. The only thing we would like to
know is the status of our compensation money,” said Zura, one of about a
dozen protestors taking part in a November 2004 picket at one of the
pipeline’s construction sites near the village of Agtakla in
southwestern Georgia.

With a completion date slotted for the second half of 2005, the litany
of complaints shows no sign of decreasing. Orchards have been damaged
and grazing meadows for cattle and sheep blocked by construction work,
Zura said. “The sums we were allotted by the local government and
British Petroleum [a leading member of the pipeline consortium] are a
joke, really,” he said. Compensation for landowners ranges from $1,500
to $5,000 – a hefty sum in a country where annual per capita income
hovers around $2,300. At the same time, many compensation recipients
remain frustrated.

Much of that frustration comes down to misguided expectations, said
Manana Kochladze, who leads the Tbilisi-based non-governmental
organization Green Alternative Georgia. With some 60 percent of the
population grappling with poverty, jobs in Georgia, whether for casual
laborers or university graduates, can be hard to come by. When local
authorities initially announced plans for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC)
pipeline, Kochladze said, “they made a big deal about employment, and
soon you had these rumors about up to 100,000 jobs that were going to be
created. Britsh Petroleum is not fully to blame for that.”

The rumors are in keeping with the project’s economic weight. Only 245
of the pipeline’s total 1,760 kilometers will pass through Georgia, but
related construction still accounted for most of the country’s 8.4
percent economic growth rate in 2004, according to the Georgian Economic
Trends, a quarterly report issued by the Tbilisi-based Georgian-European
Policy and Legal Advice Centre. Once the pipeline is complete, the
Georgian government will receive an estimated $50 million per year in
transit fees, about one percent of its gross national income for 2003.

Recently, the project, long dogged by controversy over its environmental
impact, cost and technical shortcomings, has made efforts to show that
it is giving more than transit fees back to Georgia’s economy. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In late 2004, the BTC
consortium signed two protocols with the Georgian government that
envisage grant programs totaling more than $46 million to fund social
and economic projects in the pipeline area. British Petroleum has also
announced that it will invest $10 million in Georgia in a range of
projects, including education, healthcare, cultural heritage, energy
sector revitalization and the promotion of business and civil society
links between Georgia and the European Union. On February 1, the
Georgian government received the first $9 million of the BTC grant.

But in the Akhaltsikhe-Vale sector, the last Georgian portion of the
pipeline before it crosses into Turkey, little benefit is expected from
the BTC project once construction ends. In this impoverished, relatively
remote border area the pipeline has become a magnet for job seekers, who
otherwise depend on small-scale agriculture, animal husbandry,
remittances from migrant workers and limited border trade for their
cash. “Well, of course I’m glad to have this job. There’s not an
overload of alternatives around here,” said 23-year-old construction
worker Sergei, one of an estimated 250 locally hired temporary employees
on the project. “Our part of the job will soon be done, however. I have
no idea yet what will come for us after that.”

An employee of one international organization who asked not to be named
agreed that the pipeline “has not brought much sustainable employment”
to the region. The income derived from renting apartments and houses to
non-Georgian pipeline construction staff evaporated when the project
decided to relocate their staff to a trailer camp on the edge of town,
commented one Akhaltsikhe-based businessman who gave his name as Samuel.
At the same time, he said, the fact that fewer jobs were created than
expected – locals cite an initial figure of 1,000 – have caused many
residents to feel shortchanged.

The presence of about 300 foreign workers, mainly of South Asian origin,
in the Akhalkitskhe-Vale sector provide further cause for
dissatisfaction. Residents claim that the imported laborers performs
tasks that Georgians could do just as well. The BTC project’s Public
Affairs Office in Tbilisi did not respond to requests for comment about
hiring practices in Georgia, but, according to British Petroleum, a
total of 5,308 people worked on the pipeline in Georgia as of mid-2004.
About one-third of these workers were locally recruited, mainly as
manual workers, welders, machine operators, drivers, night watchmen and
cleaners. Once construction is completed, maintenance and operation of
the pipeline and related installations will require only 200 local
staff.

Potentially positive changes, however, have resulted from the project,
the international organization employee added. When the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ezurum natural gas pipeline comes online in 2006, local
residents hope to benefit from cheap natural gas for heating – an
environmentally friendly alternative to the firewood currently used.
British Petroleum has also repaired bridges and roads, and the amounts
landowners have received as compensation for property loss could be put
to good use as investment in local agriculture, observers say.

Samuel, the businessman, agreed. “[A] couple of hundred people hired is
not that bad, really. If they manage to save some money and invest it
well that will be good for the area. However, there’s no guarantee that
that is going to happen on a large scale. ”

“I’m indeed worried about what’s going to happen once we’re gone,” said
one foreign, Akhaltsikhe-based British Petroleum engineer who asked to
remain anonymous. “Once the pipeline is ready and operational, the
number of sustainable jobs will remain even more limited than they are
now. I can imagine that it will lead to more frustration.”

Editor’s Note: Bruno De Cordier is a research assistant at the
University of Ghent’s Conflict Research Group in Ghent, Belgium.

4. JAPAN’S SHIMIZU TO LAUNCH WARMING GAS EMISSION RIGHTS
BUSINESS IN ARMENIA

Source: Asia Pulse, February 16, 2005 Shimizu Corp. (TSE:1803) intends
to team up with Mitsui & Co. (TSE:8031) and Hokkaido Electric Power Co.
(TSE:9509) to start greenhouse gas emission rights business in Armenia.
The major construction company is hoping the joint operation will be
approved as a clean-development-mechanism (CDM) business, which allows
companies to gain emission rights in exchange for cooperating in efforts
to reduce emissions in developing countries. CDM is featured in the
Kyoto Protocol, which takes effect Wednesday. If the project is approved
as a CDM business, it will be the first such operation in Armenia. The
company expects to gain approval by the middle of this year. Under the
plan, Shimizu will build a power generation plant to produce electricity
from methane gas piped in from a waste material disposal site. The firm
intends to spend about 800 million yen on the project. Shimizu expects
the facility to eliminate about 135,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year,
which will enable the company to acquire emission rights.

5. PRESENTATION OF TAVUSH AND GEGHARKUNIK MARZES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON FEBRUARY 21

Source: ARKA, February 18, 2005 Presentation of Tavush and Gegharkunik
Marzes development programs will be held in Yerevan on February 21.
According to the Public Relations and Press Department of RA Government,
the main objective of the programs is the assistance to administrations
of the regions and implementation of RA Government strategic poverty
reduction program. This event will be a final opportunity to discuss the
Regional Development Plans before they are submitted to the Cabinet for
approval. This should take place next month. The meeting will mark the
completion of the first phase of the Armenia Regional Development
Programme, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID)
and implemented by the British consultants Oxford Policy Management.
Hovik Abrahamyan, the Minister for Territorial Administration, and
Thorda Abbott-Watt, the British Ambassador, as well as RA NA Deputies,
representatives of RA President’s staff and central and regional
government agencies, the donor community, embassies, NGOs, contractors
and other potential development partners will take part. DFID provided
the funding to draw up the Regional Development Plans and has also set
aside ?2 million for their implementation in Tavush and Gegharkunik
regions of Armenia (?1 million for each). The main goal of the program
is to render assistance to the administrations of the regions,
development and implementation of the strategic program of the RA
government on poverty reduction. The program will last for 54 months, 18
of which will be spent on the development of the program. DFID has been
operating in Armenia since 1996. The main goal of DFID is to contribute
to the government of the republic in the issue of poverty reduction.

6. annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

The US based Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is now accepting
submissions for its annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment. The
awards recognize the best environmental journalism in newspapers,
magazines, newsletters, television, radio and online. SEJ accepts
entries from anywhere in the world, as long as they include a complete
and accurate English translation.

The entry deadline is April 1. Each entry should be a story
predominantly on an environmental subject. The story must have been
published or broadcast between March 1, 2004, and February 28, 2005.

SEJ will hand out US$1,000 awards in nine categories. The organizers
emphasize that interested participants should choose the submission
category carefully, as only one may be selected per entry.

Entry form and details:

7. SoS, Help, We are Being Assassinated

Dear CENN Readers,

Norway has a new form to tourism; this is assassinate babies seals to
blow. Canada kills them too.

Is this a sport?

Please see the attached file.

8. EIA Reports

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublica” (“Republic of Georgia”), February 19,
2005

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Martoili” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of first category -Oil and Oil
Products Processing Mini Factory in Gardabani Region, Village Martkopi.

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Kapira” Ltd. submitted EIA
report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of second category -Development
and Management of the Hunting Farm “Kapiar” in Ambrolauri Region.

In accordance with the Georgian legislation, “Mamuli MPT” Ltd. submitted
EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain an
environmental permit for the activity of first category -Oil Processing
Mini Enterprise of Periodical Activity in Senaki.

EIA reports are available at the Service of Environmental Permits and
Licensing of the Ministry of Environment of Georgia (15 A, Tamarashvili
Str., Tel: 39 91 81). Interested stakeholders can analyze the document
and present their comments and considerations until April 5, 2005.

Public hearing will be held on April 5, 2005 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment. 68 A, Kostava str., VI Floor.

*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

http://www.sej.org/contest/index.htm.
www.caspsea.com
www.caspsea.com
www.cenn.org

New ALMA director has big plans for museum

New ALMA director has big plans for museum
By Ericka Crouse/ Correspondent
Friday, February 18, 2005

Watertown TAB & Press, MA
Feb 18 2005

Berj Chekijian, an active member of Boston’s Armenian community
and former fiber optic engineer, was named the new director of the
Armenian Library and Museum of America.

“A museum is a mirror of your culture, of your history,” said
Chekijian, “We as Armenian-Americans are very fortunate to be here
in Watertown, which has been an Armenian hub. The city has given use
an opportunity to prosper, and we’re giving that back to the city by
putting this mirror here.”

Chekijian, whose leadership roles in the Armenian community include
helping to found Boston chapters of Armenian youth and cultural
organizations, believes that his background in engineering will help
him to help ALMA become an accredited museum. To earn accreditation
from the American Association of Museums, an institution must ensure
certain standards of quality and must catalogue its collection.

“It’s a project that methodically has to be done, and as an engineer
I have done those things for my company,” said Chekijian.

Haig Der Manuelian, chairman of ALMA’s board of directors and member
of the selection committee for the position, said of Chekijian, “He’s
deeply rooted in Armenian tradition and history and culture. He’s
conversant in the language. He even teaches the language.

“He has great, mature judgment,” said Der Manuelian, “He brings a
lot of ideas. We look forward to great things from him.”

Long anxious to serve the Armenian community and to protect and teach
his cultural heritage, Chekijian is implementing some new initiatives
at the museum to make the information available to more people. He led
the drive to change ALMA’s hours to include evening and weekend hours
“so that it will be accessible to working people,” he said.

Chekijian is also involved in creating the museum’s new Web site, which
will include a catalogue of all the books available in the library
as well as a rotating exhibit of pieces from the museum’s collection
of over 20,000 cultural artifacts, books, photographs and art.

Chekijian is replacing Robert Parsekian, who left the directorship
to go into the real estate business with his father.

Endorsements Announcement

Armenian National Committee – Glendale
721 S. Glendale Ave
Glendale, CA 91205
Tel: (818) 243-3444
Fax: (818) 243-3009
E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release ~ Febraury 18, 2005
Contact: Alina Azizian – 818.243.3444

ANCG ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FOR CITY ELECTIONS

Glendale, CA — The Armenian National Committee of Glendale announced
Thursday its list of endorsed candidates for the Glendale City
Municipal Elections. The endorsements include candidates for Glendale
Unified School District Board of Education, Glendale Community College
Board of Trustees, City Clerk and City Treasurer. The committee is
holding off on endorsements for city council until a later date.

“With 19 candidates in the City Council race, the endorsement
process is inevitably taking a few weeks,” stated board member
Armond Gorgorian. “We really want to make sure we take the time to
meet with candidates as well as community members in order to make
a well informed endorsement decision.”

Regardless of the City Council race, the ANCG went ahead with
it’s endorsement of 8 candidates for various races. In the highly
publicized City Clerk race, the Armenian National Committee of Glendale
endorsed Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian. The committee endorsed incumbent
Ronald Borucki for City Treasurer along with all three incumbents
for the College Board of Trustees: Armineh Hacopian, Anita Quinonez
Gabrielian and Victor I. King. Finally, for GUSD Board, the ANCG
endorsed incumbents Greg Krikorian and Chuck Sambar as well as Nayiri
Nahebedian for the remaining seat.

“The Armenian National Committee of Glendale believes that these
8 candidates are the best candidates for their respective races.
We are confident that these candidates bring with them the experience
and leadership skills necessary to improve our city and serve our
community,” announced Alina Azizian, Executive Director of the ANCG
(or stated the announcement).

The endorsements come less than 2 months before the April 5th
elections. The ANCG will spend the next 6 weeks encouraging people
to register to vote and get active on campaigns, Azizian stated.
The ANCG will also be launching a voter education campaign to inform
voters about the candidates, the issues and the voting process.

For more information regarding the candidates or ways to get involved,
please contact the Armenian National Committee of Glendale at
818.243.3444 or <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected].

#####

Annual clergy conferences bring clergy together for reflection

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 17, 2005
___________________

LENTEN RETREATS GIVE CLERGY CHANCE TO FOCUS ON FAITH

Clergy throughout the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) are in the middle of their annual Lenten retreats, this year
focused on helping clergy find a balance between their pastoral duties
and their personal and family obligations.

“Clergy must be a leader for the community, a father for the young, and
a comforter for the ill and troubled, but at the same time they must be
sure to be all those to their own family as well,” said Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese. “Today’s clergy find
themselves pulled in all directions, but we must never forget the
importance of one’s family.”

The first regional retreat was held from February 14 to 16, 2005, for
the 12 clergy in the Mid-West region and Southern parishes. It brought
clergy from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, and Texas to the
Chicago suburb of Mudelein, IL.

The guest leader of the Midwest retreat was Rev. Anthony Yazge, pastor
of the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Terre Haute, IN, who has
been a leader in youth ministry in the Antiochian Archdiocese.

The 16 clergy from the New England region — Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Watervliet, NY — will meet in Shrewsbury, MA,
for a session lead by Rev. Joseph Purpura, who has served as the youth
director for the Antiochian Church for more than 10 years.

The 25 clergy from the Mid-Atlantic region — New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia, and Connecticut — will meet from
February 28 to March 2 for a retreat lead by Fr. Alexis Vinogradov, a
pastor with the Orthodox Church of America who has worked on church
architecture and in youth ministry.

The annual Lenten retreats for clergy are organized by Fr. Karekin
Kasparian, coordinator of the Diocese’s Pastoral Support Ministry, which
is charged with assisting pastors in doing their jobs well.

— 2/17/05

# # #

www.armenianchurch.org

BAKU: OSCE chairman to visit Baku

OSCE chairman to visit Baku

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 17 2005

The OSCE chairman-in-office and Slovenian Foreign Minister, Dimitrij
Rupel, is expected to visit Baku in April as part of his tour of the
South Caucasus region.

During the visit, Rupel will meet with President Ilham Aliyev to
discuss issues relating to democratic development, human rights
and freedom of press, as well as preparations for the parliamentary
elections due in Azerbaijan in November.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh and the role
of the OSCE in the conflict resolution will be in focus as well.
The OSCE chairman is due to meet with the Milli Majlis (parliament)
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Armenian orgs of Krasnodar preparing for measures dedicated toArmeni

PanArmenian News
Feb 14 2005

ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS OF KRASNODAR PREPARING FOR MEASURES DEDICATED
TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90-TH ANNIVERSARY

14.02.2005 17:16

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A number of Armenian organization acting in the
Russian city of Krasnodar have united in a new public structure named
the Coordination Council of Armenian Organization of Krasnodar, IA
Regnum reports. The new structure aims at coordination of efforts in
holding joint measures and cooperation on other issues. In 2005 the
Council plans a series of measures dedicated to the 90-th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. A cinema festival,
publication and presentation of books on Armenian themes, an
exhibition of works of Armenian artists of Krasnodar, scientific
conference on Genocide and other mass measures are to be held.

Hearings On Current Situation In Armenia To Be Organized In LateFebr

HEARINGS ON CURRENT SITUATION IN ARMENIA TO BE ORGANIZED IN LATE
FEBRUARY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12. ARMINFO. The Armenian Parliament’s permanent
commission on defence, national security and internal affairs
is organizing hearings on the country’s current situation with
the participation of the force and the law structures, informed NA
Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan in the interview to “Haykakan jamanak”
newspaper commenting on frequent cases of bloody quarrels in Armenia.

Baghdasaryan noted that everyone will be given an opportunity to
express his position. “Not the power must restrain the law, but the
power activity must be restrained by the law”, he stressed. -r-

Karabakh Problem Will Undoubtedly Be Resolved On The Basis OfPolitic

KARABAKH PROBLEM WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE RESOLVED ON THE BASIS
OF POLITICAL COMPROMISES: DEFENSE MINISTER OF ARMENIA SERGE SARGSYAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. The Karabakh problem will undoubtedly
be resolved on the basis of political compromises, Secretary of the
Presidential National Security Council, Defense Minister of Armenia
Serge Sargsyan says in response to the questions of the readers of
“Yerkir” newspaper.

He says that there are no doubts that the Armenian party did not
pursue a goal of increase the territories of Armenia or Nagorny
Karabakh when establishing the security zone in the course of 1992-94
military actions. If yielding the security zone would bring safer
conditions for Karabakh people, this topic is subject to discussion.
But, if the point is voluntary yielding of the zone without additional
guarantees for Nagorny Karabakh, <I a subject for discussion,> he says.

Meeting with Dutch MP Rouvoet on his motion on Armenian Genocide

FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS (FAON)
24 April Committee
Weesperstraat 91
NL – 2574 VS The Hague
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Meeting with Mr. Andre Rouvoet
the Chairman of Christion Union faction of the Dutch Parliament

Organized by the 24 April Committee of Federation of Armenian Organisations
of the Netherlands (FAON)

This is an invitation for an information evening concerning the recognition
of the Armenian Genocide by Dutch Parliament. The Chairman of Christian
Union faction Mr. Andre Rouvoet, who introduced the motion on the Armenian
Genocide will be present at this meeting. This evening will take place at
the Abovian Cultural Center of The Hague, The Netherlands, on Wednesday,
February 16, 2005 at 7:00 pm precisely, doors open at 6:30 pm.

Date: Wednesday, 16 February 2005
Time: 7 pm precisely, doors open from 6:30 pm
Place: ABOVIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – The Hague, The Netherlands

Subject: Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the Dutch Parliament
The Motion of Rouvoet of December 21, 2004

Admission: Free

http://24aprilcomite.ontheweb.nl

Las Vegas deportation case illustrates mixed-family issue

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 7, 2005, Monday, BC cycle

Las Vegas deportation case illustrates mixed-family issue

LAS VEGAS

An appeals court ruling has given a southern Nevada family hope they
can win an immigration case and avoid deportation to Mexico.

A lawyer representing Luz Maria Medrano and her family said the
decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco
could set a precedent for families with some members born in the U.S.
or who have become U.S. citizens.

The family’s case hinges in part on the status of 6-year-old Angel
Bacilio, who was born in the U.S. and is the only member of the
family in the country legally.

An immigration law expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd
School of Law said the case illustrates the complexity of immigration
cases involving families with some legal residents and others who are
not.

“Someone born here has citizenship, but can’t sponsor a parent or
family members until he or she is over 21 years old,” said David
Thronson, co-director of the UNLV immigration law clinic.

The new Mexican consul in Las Vegas, Mariano Lemus Gas, said the
issue of mixed-status families facing deportation should be dealt
with uniformly rather than case-by-case.

He said he believes American immigration law should be reformed to
balance industry’s need for immigrant labor with workers’ rights and
dignity.

Lemus Gas said he was tracking about 16 immigration reform
initiatives in Congress.

“I hope your Congress can approve at least some of them,” he said.

When the family appeared before U.S. Immigration Court Judge Harry
Gastley in November, they argued they should be allowed to remain in
the U.S. because Angel has learning disabilities and needs special
therapy. It would be a hardship for him to leave to Mexico should his
parents and older brother be deported, they said.

The judge held that Angel could adapt to life in Mexico and his
condition did not constitute a hardship under the law, Gastley said.

The family – Medrano, 39, Angel Bacilio-Gutierrez, 33, Demian
Martinez-Medrano, 16, and Bacilio, 6 – is now represented by Las
Vegas lawyer Leon Rosen, 81.

Rosen said the appeals court’s Jan. 26 ruling opens discussion about
whether an attorney should be assigned in all deportation cases, like
in criminal matters.

Federal law currently classifies deportation as a civil matter, where
people have a right to an attorney but aren’t guaranteed one.

Medrano, a Mexican immigrant, was divorced, desperate and destitute
when she entered the U.S. illegally with her son, Demian, about 1990.
She made her way to Chicago, where she lived with an uncle and worked
in restaurants before moving to Las Vegas in 1997.

She met her husband, Angel Bacilio-Gutierrez, 33, a Mexican immigrant
who had entered the country illegally when he was 14. She studied
English and real estate, and now works in a real estate agent’s
office.

Demian, who has spent almost all of his life in America, told the Las
Vegas Review-Journal he thinks of himself as an American.

“I go to movies, go bowling, go to school and stuff,” he said. “This
all of a sudden makes me feel like an outsider.”

Las Vegas had another case recently in which two girls were rescued
from deportation to Armenia when U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Tom Ridge intervened at the behest of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Thronson said U.S. authorities increasingly face complex immigration
cases involving families of mixed status.

A recent study by the Urban Institute, a social policy research
group, found 85 percent of families led by non-citizens have members
of mixed status.

Thronson said the Medrano family’s best chance will be to prove they
have lived here more than 10 years, are of good moral character, have
no convictions and would face exceptional and unusual hardship if
deported.

“Saying that life would be harder or that they’d lose opportunities
(in Mexico) isn’t going to be enough,” Thronson said. “But if they
can establish there’s a disability or a need for medical care, that
could do it.”

Bacilio-Gutierrez said he fears the worst if his family loses its
appeal.

“If they send us to Mexico, this whole family is going to be
destroyed,” he said.