Suit to aid children of illegal aliens

Micah, 15, is one of the shadow children.

She was born in the United States, which makes her an American citizen.She was born to parents who haven't established legal residency. So the dark cloud of fear lives constantly in her heart.

Immigration laws say if her parents are caught, she faces two basic choices: returning with her deported mother and father to their country of origin, or staying here in an orphanage or foster home.

The thought of immigration officials grabbing undocumented parents from work haunts Micah (not her real name) and many like her.

"I pray each day this does not happen and that my mother and father will always return home from work," Micah wrote in a newsletter for the America Forever Foundation, which Monday filed an injunction in U.S. District Court against the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Attorney General Janet Reno and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, seeking to clarify options for such children and their parents.

"I am so afraid," Micah wrote. "When it begins to get late and they (parents) are not back, I begin to cry until I see them coming. And then I run to them and kiss and hug them with joy.

"We want to be with our parents and we want to live in the United States with them. We are children and we need our mother and father."

Hearing those laments motivated America Forever to file its suit, said Sandra Rodrigues, foundation spokeswoman.

"These kids live anonymously. They fear going to a park because their parents might be taken," Rodrigues said. "They learn to live like little criminals in a situation which is not their fault."

Matthew Hilton of Springville, America Forever attorney, said he filed a complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, calling for a halt to deportation action "without explaining to these minor children and their parents their options and rights under the law."

Russ Bergeron, director of media relations for the INS in Washington, D.C., said, "Clearly we will study the action and respond in the courts to whatever specifics of the suit we need to respond to.

"But any impression that U.S. citizens are forced to leave the country or any impression that the determination as to the disposition and care of these U.S. citizens is made by anyone other than the parents or guardians of those citizens is erroneous.

"All crucial decisions affecting the circumstances and welfare of these children are made by the parents, not by the government."

Melodie Rydalch, press information officer for the U.S. Attorney's office in Salt Lake City, said, "We will not be able to comment at this time until we know more about the lawsuit."