Manuel Bartsch Watch - Graduation!

It didn’t look like he would finish High School. At least not in the United States. But with some help he has managed to finish and attend Graduation. It was a joyful moment as he spent the last months wondering just what would happen.

To me the American dream means to be able to stand up for what I believe is right,” Bartsch said. “This community did exactly that, and for that I want to thank each and every one of you for being behind me 110 percent.”

Bartsch learned he was in the U.S. illegally in December when he was jailed for 16 days after trying to find out his Social Security number so he could take a college entrance exam.

His case prompted an outpouring of support for the teen, and at the graduation ceremony, Bartsch grew emotional when he thanked Cleveland immigration lawyer David Leopold, who took his case free of charge.

He is already accepted at a local college in Allen County Ohio.

He has been accepted at the University of Northwestern Ohio but is awaiting an immigration hearing to determine if he will be allowed to stay. Leopold said the hearing should come within a year.

We will keep you posted on further developments. Perhaps the next article could be “Manuel Bartsch Goes to College.”

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