Russian Teen Exchange Student Wants to Defect to US

[Independent voter]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/wo...ylum.html?_r=2

Okay, this is the best line from the article:

"According to reports in the Russian media, the boy, 16, was living with an American family in Michigan when he met a gay couple, both military veterans, at church."

Apparently they are helping him apply for asylum.

[Garnier Fructis]

Russia officials accused the United States of endangering the welfare of a child

Well said. I mean, how can you beat a kid until he's straight if he doesn't return to Russia?

[Deleted]

Well said. I mean, how can you beat a kid until he's straight if he doesn't return to Russia?

Yeah, I think Putin might have to invade the US to "rescue" the child.

[taliey]

He'll get it - just not because of altruism on the US part.

I'm willing to bet that the US is going to give this kid asylum just so they can spite Russia for Snowden. And then some.

[Arlon]

Seems like a successful tactic to stop the brain drain from Russia and paint USA as the villain from the perspective of Russian culture. Im not sure if they even needed a scapegoat, Russian media can just make shit up(as witnessed about Ukraine) and people will be all over it.

[Elegiac]

Seems like a successful tactic to stop the brain drain from Russia and paint USA as the villain from the perspective of Russian culture. Im not sure if they even needed a scapegoat, Russian media can just make shit up(as witnessed about Ukraine) and people will be all over it.

I'm not exactly sure why we want to attract the sort of people who think it's ok to oppress minorities.

[oxymoronic]

I'm not exactly sure why we want to attract the sort of people who think it's ok to oppress minorities.

can care less about their moral convictions and more about the "brains" part - when you get to the level needed for new inventions and technology there is only a few in the whole world that can achieve it.

[Gumboy]

How do we know the couple he met at church don't want to groom him into a sex slave?

" when the bereft mother flew to the United States to plead with her son to return home, she was forced to hold the meeting in the presence of his two lawyers who were “also of nontraditional sexual orientation.”"

They lawyered him up, why did they have to be two gay lawyers?

/sarcasm

[Arlon]

I'm not exactly sure why we want to attract the sort of people who think it's ok to oppress minorities.

That's reaching. Not every Russian feels about this the same way, much less has the will to act upon said beliefs. Those people are also sampled from a very large size of students and i really doubt that the majority of those chosen hold many negative views about it. These students are supposed to be some of the best. I also doubt that they are stupid enough to run their mouth about homosexuality in USA at the top universities, even if they would feel negative towards it.

[Elegiac]

That's reaching. Not every Russian feels about this the same way, much less has the will to act upon said beliefs. Those people are also sampled from a very large size of students and i really doubt that the majority of those chosen hold many negative views about it. These students are supposed to be some of the best. I also doubt that they are stupid enough to run their mouth about homosexuality in USA at the top universities, even if they would feel negative towards it.

#noteveryrussian

Again, it's not an excuse to deny asylum to people that ask for it.

[Arlon]

#noteveryrussian

Again, it's not an excuse to deny asylum to people that ask for it.

Im not sure i follow... What is it that you're discussing here?

[Shalcker]

The fact that Americans are willing to ignore international agreements and essentially allow kidnapping of underage kid by illegally putting him up for adoption while he has actual family in other country (even if he himself agrees he is still underage in both Russian and American legal systems) just to strike points against Russia is certainly not going to win them any sympathy.

[Baneth]

The fact that Americans are willing to ignore international agreements and essentially allow kidnapping of underage kid by illegally putting him up for adoption while he has actual family in other country (even if he himself agrees he is still underage in both Russian and American legal systems) just to strike points against Russia is certainly not going to win them any sympathy.

How about a trade then? Snowden for the russian teen.

[Shalcker]

How about a trade then? Snowden for the russian teen.

All US had to do to get Snowden is to not revoke his passport... especially considering that they could bring down even president planes on suspicion of having him, nevermind normal flights he was actually planning to use.

But then if US special agencies were actually competent they would prevent his whistleblowing effort before it happened in the first place...

[Olo]

The fact that Americans are willing to ignore international agreements and essentially allow kidnapping of underage kid by illegally putting him up for adoption while he has actual family in other country (even if he himself agrees he is still underage in both Russian and American legal systems) just to strike points against Russia is certainly not going to win them any sympathy.

"Since 1994, United States immigration law has recognized persecution on account of sexual orientation as a basis for asylum. Transgender individuals and HIV-positive individuals have also won asylum cases. Moreover, some people who have engaged in LGBT or HIV rights activism in their home country and fear persecution on that basis may be eligible to apply for asylum under a “political opinion” category."

Maybe russia should focus on the fact that their children fear for their safety.

[Baneth]

All US had to do to get Snowden is to not revoke his passport... especially considering that they could bring down even president planes on suspicion of having him, nevermind normal flights he was actually planning to use.

But then if US special agencies were actually competent they would prevent his whistleblowing effort before it happened in the first place...

Well if you'd rather not give snowden up, that's fine. We'll just keep the Russian teen wanting asylum in our country in the meantime.

[Shalcker]

"Since 1994, United States immigration law has recognized persecution on account of sexual orientation as a basis for asylum. Transgender individuals and HIV-positive individuals have also won asylum cases. Moreover, some people who have engaged in LGBT or HIV rights activism in their home country and fear persecution on that basis may be eligible to apply for asylum under a “political opinion” category."

Maybe russia should focus on the fact that their children fear for their safety.

But only after prolonged interaction with homosexual couple?

...certainly nothing stopped him from applying for asylum before that if he actually felt threatened.

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Well if you'd rather not give snowden up, that's fine. We'll just keep the Russian teen wanting asylum in our country in the meantime.

Why, just sign extradition treaty with Russia and you'll have him in a heartbeat! :P
...while we'll get many criminals hiding in US and protected by US government from international arrests.

[Olo]

But only after prolonged interaction with homosexual couple?

...certainly nothing stopped him from applying for asylum before that if he actually felt threatened.

It's unlikely he would know his rights. And without a support network it would be an extremely difficult decision.

or maybe they've brainwashed him and plan on turning him into a gay sexslave?!?! /russianmedia

[Cybran]

can care less about their moral convictions and more about the "brains" part - when you get to the level needed for new inventions and technology there is only a few in the whole world that can achieve it.

Exactly. Who cares about morals.

Without Von Braun the American rockets would have sucked who cares that he was a nazi responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands slave prisoners and civilian targets of his rockets.

Or when Russia wanted the USA to hand them over the Japanese butchers from the unit 471 to be trailed and executed. The USA kept them alive to use their finds for biological weapons.

These things are simply necessary.

[Rukentuts]

The fact that Americans are willing to ignore international agreements and essentially allow kidnapping of underage kid by illegally putting him up for adoption while he has actual family in other country (even if he himself agrees he is still underage in both Russian and American legal systems) just to strike points against Russia is certainly not going to win them any sympathy.

Way to ignore the situation in its entirety. Kidnapped? That's really funny.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah, I think Putin might have to invade the US to "rescue" the child.

Gotta protect thos ethnic Russians dude.

I am sure some troops are getting a vacation itinerary from their travel agent as we speak.