On November 26th, 2025, Siuzanna Chilingarian, a senior at Grandview expected to graduate by winter break, was suddenly confronted with deportation by ICE.

“I found out there was a problem only after the judge decided in our family case. Before that, I had no idea anything was wrong. We thought everything was going normally, and then we were told our case was denied and three members of my family were ordered [to be] deported,” Chilingarian said. 

Chilingarian was born in Armenia, but when she turned three, her family moved to Russia. They lived there for 12 years; however, as conditions worsened, they decided they needed to move to the United States.

“America is known around the world for its ideas of freedom, the power of law, and equality. In the situation we were in, that “promise” was enough for us to take the risk,” Chilingarian said. “We needed to move to a place where the law has real power, the government can protect the people who need it, and everyone is treated equally. People born here can’t even imagine how valuable it is to trust the law and feel safe.”

In Russia, and as an Armenian, she consistently felt racism to the point where she felt unsafe. Here, for the first time, Chilingarian doesn’t feel like an outsider.

“In the United States, I finally feel like a human being – equal to everyone else. Nothing threatens me, no one pressures me, and I can live peacefully with my family. I can get an education and live like a normal person. I’ve built the strongest friendships at school, ones not built on race. It would be devastating to have to leave,” Chilingarian said. 

Chilingarian dreams of becoming a lawyer, and getting a high school diploma is essential to staying on that path. With ICE not willing to delay the deportation until winter break, she loses sight of her goal. 

“I’ve worked incredibly hard here to keep my grades up and stay on track, so leaving would mean losing everything I’ve been working toward. I wouldn’t be able to get the education I want, the medical care I need, or keep the community I’ve built over [the] years,” Chilingarian said. 

Chilingarian said the unexpected nature of the decision has been devastating on its own. She is also grappling with the possibility of not receiving her diploma, something she never thought she would have to face – a reality that made the suddenness of the ruling even more overwhelming.

“The most confusing part was not understanding what was happening or why. Everything was sudden,” Chilingarian said. “Our case seemed to be moving in a positive direction, and then it immediately turned into a deportation order. The lack of clear information and all the unexpected changes made the whole process extremely confusing.”

She believes the main issue stemmed from their first lawyer, who mishandled their case from the beginning, creating complications that surfaced later.

“For us, it was a huge shock. We had finally started a peaceful life that was slowly getting better. You can’t imagine how it feels to wake up calmly every morning after years of stress,” Chilingarian said. “So for my family, this news was extremely sudden and painful.”

As she processes the decision, Chilingarian hopes people understand that her situation is not uncommon and often overlooked.

“Many people here think immigrants come only for money, education, or opportunities. Because of that, they develop resentment – I’ve seen it myself. They don’t understand that many people are here simply to save their lives. Over these three years, I’ve met migrants from many countries who came with one goal: to protect their families,” Chilingarian said. “I want people to understand that every immigrant is going through something difficult. Problems with ICE, court, work, language – everything. And I want immigrants who read this to understand they aren’t alone.”

Chilingarian believes these assumptions often come from not seeing the reality behind immigration cases or the pressure families experience throughout the process.

“When people don’t see the stress, fear, and uncertainty behind immigration cases, they can’t understand how deeply it affects someone’s life. By sharing my story, I hope people become more understanding and supportive.” Chilingarian said. 

Even with the uncertainty ahead, she continues holding onto the possibility that her future here is still within reach.

“No matter how hopeless it seems, there’s always a reason to keep fighting for your future,” Chilingarian said.