Teacher faces deportation, says district didn't help with visa
BEAVERTON, Ore. - A teacher in the Beaverton School District says he'll be deported because the district didn't help him stay.
Mario Vilela's work visa expired just four days ago, and he says the district knew it was coming for two years.
Vilela says Beaverton Schools wanted him to keep teaching but just didn't do anything to help renew his work visa. He could find out in days, or weeks, whether he'll have to go back to Peru.
"Teaching is my passion. It's my life," Vilela says. "I feel my dream is over. It's done. I don't have any dreams now."
Instead, he's fighting to stay in America.
He moved here from Peru in 2006, studied at Portland State University and then worked at Estacada Web Academy. It still says so on his visa, which is the problem.
For the past two years he's actually taught Spanish at Whitford Middle School in Beaverton.
"I was trusting them," he says about the district. "All this time, I trusted them."
Vilela says he thought the district was updating his visa. He says he asked the district about it in 2010. This June he found out that the district hadn't done anything.
In an email, a district spokeswoman wrote KATU: "The District cannot legally employ a non-citizen who does not hold a valid visa." The email also says it was Vilela's duty to apply for an updated work visa, not the district's responsibility.
"The day of my termination was probably the most horrible day of my life," Vilela says. "I was doing my bus duty. The principal came and said this is your last day."
Vilela did send an email to Beaverton schools two years ago about his visa, but it turns out he emailed an employee who wasn't working there anymore. So nobody ever got the message.
On Monday, Vilela and his lawyer will argue their case to the school board executive committee.
BooHoo back to Peru for you.
Just like Odumber.. I didnt do it, wasnt me...
It is his responsibility to get the visa renewed. Why did he wait until is was expired to do anything about it? He needs to be deported for being stupid.
And why did the Beaverscum schools hire an illegal? Wonder how many more are out there...
Teaching is his passion in life? His dream is over? Don't they have schools in Peru?
Mario......when your visa expires it would be best for all if you returned to Peru, do not try to stay in the US once ordered to leave or you will become one of those illegals that US citizens detest some much.......BTW: Don't move to Farmers Branch Texas, just outside of Dallas they now have a law pending before the court to make it illegal to rent to illegals. Chances are good it will become law as the court is conservative.
More of that victim mentality. He is a victim of his own ignorance. He should have taken responsibility for his own needs, not have depended on someone else to do it for him. Since he willing let his visa expire, he should go home to Peru.
Let's see he was educated and intelligent to figure out how to come to this country, access a college education - successfully. And secure a job for himself. But all of those LEGAL REQUIREMENTS he needed to comply with - in order to legally be allowed to remain in this country - were someone else's responsibility. Excuseeeeeee me? Ah, for a public school teacher - two and two are not adding up here. Big time.Â
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Perhaps, sir - Â a legally residing, law abiding Oregonian might just be a better FIT for this teaching position than you. Since you seem incapable of grasping the simplest terms of being privileged to remain in this country. Come back and try again - when you are willing and able to MAN UP and take responsibility and be accountable for your express (in)actions.Â
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After all the legal hoops he jumped through, but still can't figure out how not to get deported. Kind of sad. Now hiring one teaching position.
@englishdaisy good point. I am annoyed that KATU is even making this a headlining story!! what a joke....news reporting has declined so much in the country its sad.
Not up to your employer to help get your visa.. Bye Bye you wont be missed
Why is it not his responsibility to renew his own visa?
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Another illegal who just doesn't want to go home, whining that it's not his fault. I am sure there are lots of US citizens who can speak Spanish that would love a job teaching 13 year olds how to count to 10.
Go back to Peru....we dont need you here......What  a cry baby.
deport. dummy should have taken care of his own VISA duh. we don't need someone that stupid teaching kids. maybe Peru does.
Visa expiered? Go home.
Sounds like there is a job open now for an American.Â
@2012 Hope and Change Uhhh....except for the fact that very few Americans have little or no knowledge of a foreign language...which is just as bad as we Americans criticizing immigrants for not learning our language (and I'm guilty of that too). If any American is that well acquainted with the Spanish language to teach it...do it. But I don't think there are many who can speak outside of just conversing with something other than "tenga el queso en mi taco por favor".
He must be a bad teacher if a sanctuary state like Oregon lets someone like him go.
Why is this even a story??? Come on KATU, get with the program and try to beat the expectations of lameness from a local station.
My dog ate my homework.Â
 @KKStJohn LMFAO!
I'd also like to know if he's tried becoming a US citizen? He's been here at least 5 years, so he can do that. But again, is he like all the others? Doesn't want the citizenship, but most definitly wants all the perks PLUS have us do his footwork for him??? Sorry....but I have two things that grate on me...immigrants who don't bother to becomes citizens, and immigrants who are too lazy to learn our language. In his case, he at least is trying to do something about the last one. But still...become a citizen and all the other problems go away.
Correct me if I'm wrong...bit it isn't up to an employer to babysit your immigration status is it? I mean...all they should be concerned about is that you have the proper documentation at the time of hire. Isn't it up to the person to make sure his papers stay in order? If I'm wrong, then I think that part of it needs to change. Employers have enough to do without having to constantly monitor paperwork to make sure they're still in order. Once a year they should siimply ask to see current immigration papers, and if not current, then give a period of time to get them done or you're out. They shouldn't have to refile for the person...right? And also....doesn't the person get mail or soemthing from the Immigration Department warning them to renew?
If he had voted for obama he would not be deported.....
Am I wrong, but do they not have schools in Peru.
And just as a reminder: a temp. worker visa is NOT an immigration visa. Â "Temporary Worker" means exactly what it says. Â Now, he has the English skills to be a very productive teacher of English to native Spanish speaking people. He just needs to go home and live within the bounds of our rules -- or will he.. "disappear" first? Hmmmm.
My... My... My, There is that "victim mentality" rearing it's ugly head again.
Take a hint dude.
I think I would have made myself a pest and been asking about one every week since 2010 about it. Instead of trusting some bureaucrat in the school system with my career and future.
"I was trusting them," he says about the district. "All this time, I trusted them."
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Big mistake. Never trust others to take care of something this important.
frick raphy, i agree with you too. that's it, i'm drinking tonight!
 @swimmerÂ
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What the hell is going in here? We agree on something. This is just too weird.
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 @Solipsist01Â
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Passing out coats in hell.....8-}
With all due respects to posters who commented (ignorantly) on his lack of personal responsibility, Vilela was on this with phone conversations, personal conversations and emails with district employees (supervisors) over the nearly two years. The district failed to act on its responsibility to change his sponsoring paperwork from Estacada to Beaverton, something the employee cannot do! He had a valid visa and paperwork when he went to work for Beaverton, they mucked it up!
 @Bob Koeth If that's the case, then the school district did not want Vilela on staff. If Estacada or Beaverton wanted him on staff, they would have made efforts to keep him on staff.Â
 @KKStJohn  @Bob Koeth So you're saying instead they committed a fraud, intentionally set out to ruin his possibilities of maintaining his legal status and damaging the possibility he might have in gaining a permanent status in the u.s. because they were too pathetic to fire him two years ago? If we go by the majority comments, one might be inclined to suggest it's institutionalized xenophobia and maybe that should be a bigger concern as to where our children are involved... to deal with the rest of the state, the nation, the world that they would be so malicious in their attempt to screw this guy over and leave it the public to tear him down with their obvious biases because of their own failure - we could probably also attach some claims of racism to that, particularly if the suggestion is going to be presented that the whole reason they hired him was on some affirmative action claim taking a job from a real white backwoods american... is that what you're suggesting?
Do you think maybe this was an easier way for the district to "fire" him? just a thought.
Oh bull.
"Vilela did send an email to Beaverton schools two years ago about his visa, but it turns out he emailed an employee who wasn't working there anymore. So nobody ever got the message."
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If that is his version of "on this" than it's probably a good thing he ISN'T teaching our children now. My ex was a legal green card carrying brit. She made sure she was on top of it with immigration at all times. No where was she lazy enough to sit back and just assume her boss was taking care of her visa. Don't even try to pull this line of absolute crap for excusing his inaction. He had the ability to ATUALLY keep on it and if he had, this would NOT be the situation.
 @Bob Koeth So why didn't he step up and do something himself?
@Acacia Wildwood  Aaahhh but then he couldnt blame someone else. One of the biggest problems we have in this country right now is the lack of personal responsibility. "I am just waiting for someone to do something wrong in my life so I can sue them and collect my money". Total BS.
 @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsPhredE  @whirledworld  @scared_citizen Exactly, PhredE. The SD did cut a bunch of jobs about 4 or 5 months ago I think is when we saw the story. And of course those that have no tenure, are always the first to go. Jump to the front of the line if keeping you means more work for the employer, which in this case it would have.
Good morning PhredE
 @Owt_Raged  @whirledworld  @scared_citizen Wasn't there a story a while back about Beaverton SD enacting a bunch of 'budget cuts' and the like several months ago? If so, letting the contracted/temporary go first is a typical approach in such cases. Hi there Owt.
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 @whirledworld  @scared_citizen Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe the school didn't WANT to change his visa because they were going to let him go? Why should they when this guy obviously got his Visa so he could work for someone else, then bailed there when a taxpayer funded job opened up. Perhaps Beaverton didn't want him screwing them over too?
If they weren't going to retain him, they had no obligation to sponsor him.
 @scared_citizen  @Acacia Oh please. That is totally trite and inaccurate for a problem like this. Bob Koeth has it right: this Peruvian gentleman has to have the employer's participation on this work-visa renewal. The school district screwed him over. Shame on them.
Just out of curiosity, do we have no actual Americans that can teach Spanish? Why are we hiring a foreigner to do ANY job that an American should be able to do just as well? Why are we essentially importing workers when work is so desperately needed by Americans? I understand getting an education here from another country, but then for the love of all things holy, return to your own country to use that education, ESPECIALLY if there are born/bred Americans already here that can do it!
 @OSUx2 There are lots of Americans who teach Spanish, including myself. However, there is great wealth and knowledge in learning from a native speaker and an attractiveness in saying that the schools have one or more teaching. How many "American" Chinese Mandarin teachers have you seen? Native speakers teaching is nothing new. Heck, we send TONS of Americans to Japan and China to teach English every year and we don't hear them complaining!
I respect this man's courage to come here legally , then to go on to be a teacher. I know I dont have the minerals to move to Paru and try to teach kids. I personally LOATH illegal aliens (as they are a drain on our society) , but I have no problem with people coming here legally and being a benefit to the community such as this guy being a teacher ...
Seems he had all summer to work with the district to get the visa renewed. Apparently he did not.
Well, as a teacher he taught classes and instructed students. Now he knows a bit more from experience. If you have something that needs to be done, then you need to make sure it is done the right way...by making sure. He is probably a good teacher, so if he wants to enter legally again, maybe he can.
He entered this country the right and legal way which is commendable.
Good luck!
"Teaching is my passion. It's my life," Vilela says. "I feel my dream is over. It's done. I don't have any dreams now."
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Man... it must really suck that they don't need qualified teachers in Peru. dot dot dot.
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Seriously... dude... you have an education and you think it was THIER responsibility to get YOUR visa renewed? For that fact, YOU didn't bother checking up in 2 YEARS? Oi. GTFO.
Why didn't he drive to the district office to personally ask about his visa progress?Â