Keep Maryland High School Valedictorian in U.S. for College

Petition Background

Jireh Lee Silva was this year's valedictorian at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., but she has no green card of her own -- and a recent hiccup interfered in processing her mother Nerisa's green card.

Nerisa brought her daughter to this country four years ago legally, as a dependent under her visa.

And while Jireh has dreams of becoming a doctor and has been accepted into a number of colleges, she doesn't have the means to pay for them.

And Jireh can't apply for financial aid because she does not have a Social Security number.

She says all the accolades she's worked to achieve mean nothing now that she can't stay in this country.

She's packing her things and getting ready to head back to the Philippines by next month in order to start college there.

Watch her story: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video/#!/news/local/Valedictorian-Must-Leave-U.S.-for-College/158850925

Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Wise-High-School-Valedictorian-No-Green-Card.html