Photo-Nick de la Torre Luis Nava, 1 of "Wilson 4"

Time was running out for four honor students from Phoenix who were brought illegally to the United States as small children. They had lived nearly their whole life in the United States of America and they had made their parents proud.

The students, known as the "Wilson 4" were at an international solar-power boat competition in upstate New York in June, 2002. Now all four are between the ages of 20 and 21; Jaime Damien, Yuliana Huicochea, Luis Nava and Oscar Corona. Three of the four either are enrolled in or have completed college. But at the time they were still attending Wilson Charter HIgh School.

They were all members of an award-winning solar power boat team and were hoping for national recognition in the competiton in Buffalo, NY. Unfortunately, they got their wish.

The students were heading over to the Canadian side to see Niagra falls from that vantage point. Their teacher did not know that they were in this country illegally.

Although they did not cross, they were questioned by U.S. Immigration Officials and detained for being in the country illegally.

The four students have little if any recollection of a life other than that which they have lived in the United States. But their dreams seemed to be on the verge of crashing.

It looked like it would take a miracle. U.S. Immigration Judge John W. Richardson, had twice granted them extensions but warned his last reprieve would be the final one. Richardson could give them up to four months to leave.

Now in their 20s, the four overachievers became synonymous with the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Act. First introduced in 2001, the bill would allow undocumented high school graduates brought here as minors and who've lived here for at least five years to apply for legal status. It has yet to make it through Congress.

Outside the courthouse a huge crowd chanted "Save the Wilson 4". Inside a decision was rendered.

In a stiff rebuke of the Immigration Officials and the officers who detained the four and later processed their deportation to a country they did not know; Judge Richardson threw out the deportation case due to blatantly improper actions by the officers.

The officers had engaged in egregious misconduct by stopping the youths only on the basis of the color of their skin which deprived the youths of their due process. They were also questioned, as juveniles, and without an attorney present which is contrary to law.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have yet to decide if they will appeal Judge Richardson's decision.

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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon

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