Simpsonville Teen's Tortuous Quest for U.S. Citizenship Continues

Murders are a common daily occurrence in Ciudad Juarez, which is wracked by rampant drug-cartel and gang violence. But thanks to a U.S. law that expired in 2001, traveling there to complete the required paperwork and screening process is the only chance that Javier, an honor-roll student and soccer player at Woodmont High, has of becoming a U.S. citizen, according to WSPA.

"Senator DeMint's office passed our case along to the U.S. Department of State, and they said our only alternative is to travel to Juarez," said Brenda Stephens who, along with her husband Thomas, adopted the 17-year-old Javier after he was brought to the United States and then later abandoned by his birth parents at age 3.

The Stephens adopted Javier without benefit of him having a green card or birth certificate, an error for which the couple blames the state Department of Social Services, which approved the adoption. That lack of documentation has created years of legal struggle to attain citizenship, culminating in the upcoming trip to Juarez. Compounding matters, the trip must happen before Javier turns 18 in December; otherwise, another round of legal, bureaucratic, and financial hassles will likely result, his parents said.

"Javier is innocent. It's not his fault he was here illegally. It's unfair for him to have to put his life at risk to be a citizen and to contribute to society, to pay taxes," his mother said. "I'm very worried for their safety. It's a dangerous situation."

The risk of traveling to Juarez is not overstated, according to the Stephens' Atlanta-based immigration attorney, Irene Steffas.

Steffas told WSPA that a colleague of hers sent a family to Juarez and the father was murdered in a drive-by shooting.

"I don't want to have to send my clients to the most dangerous city in the world," Steffas told the TV station. "But at this point, that's about the only alternative."

More on the Stephens' struggle HERE.