The Law Versus a Child’s Home

The Sun is Also a Star

The family’s immigration case exposes the gap between legal categories and the lived reality of a child who has grown up in the United States.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Visa Overstay A Visa Overstay from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Status Without Choice Staying in the United States The Kingsleys remain after their tourist visa expires, and Natasha grows up without a meaningful role in…

A Visa Overstay from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Status Without Choice Staying in the United States The Kingsleys remain after their tourist visa expires, and Natasha grows up without a meaningful role in…

A Status Without Choice Staying in the United States The Kingsleys remain after their tourist visa expires, and Natasha grows up without a meaningful role in that decision. Hidden Consequences The family’s undocumented status later determines whether she can continue the life she knows.

Samuel’s Arrest Samuel’s Arrest from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Disclosure to Police The Crash After a performance and heavy drinking, Samuel collides with a parked police car.

Samuel’s Arrest from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Disclosure to Police The Crash After a performance and heavy drinking, Samuel collides with a parked police car.

A Disclosure to Police The Crash After a performance and heavy drinking, Samuel collides with a parked police car. Immigration Consequences He tells the officer the family’s history, bringing federal authorities into a crisis the family had kept private.

Cancellation Denied Cancellation Denied from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Legal Standard Hardship Argument The family argues that removal would create extreme hardship for Peter, a United States citizen.

Cancellation Denied from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Legal Standard Hardship Argument The family argues that removal would create extreme hardship for Peter, a United States citizen.

A Legal Standard Hardship Argument The family argues that removal would create extreme hardship for Peter, a United States citizen. A Narrow Definition The judge does not treat uprooting him from his home and life as enough to satisfy the demanding standard.

Voluntary Departure Accepted Voluntary Departure Accepted from "The Sun is Also a Star". The Last Formal Option Counsel’s Advice The family’s lawyer recommends voluntary departure rather than accepting a formal removal on their records.

Voluntary Departure Accepted from "The Sun is Also a Star". The Last Formal Option Counsel’s Advice The family’s lawyer recommends voluntary departure rather than accepting a formal removal on their records.

The Last Formal Option Counsel’s Advice The family’s lawyer recommends voluntary departure rather than accepting a formal removal on their records. A Decision with Consequences The choice still leads to a deadline that Natasha experiences as the end of her American life.

The Order Stands The Order Stands from "The Sun is Also a Star". No Reversal Fitzgerald’s Failure Jeremy cannot persuade a judge to undo the voluntary departure order.

The Order Stands from "The Sun is Also a Star". No Reversal Fitzgerald’s Failure Jeremy cannot persuade a judge to undo the voluntary departure order.

No Reversal Fitzgerald’s Failure Jeremy cannot persuade a judge to undo the voluntary departure order. Law Outlasts Attachment Natasha’s home, friendships, and future plans do not outweigh the legal consequences of her family’s overstay.

when the family’s tourist visa expires

the night of his community theater performance

after the family’s merits hearing

after the merits hearing and failed appeal

late afternoon on the scheduled departure day