Mischief Dashes Citizenship Chance Taiwanese Teen Played Role In Seniors’ Prank At High School

A senior prank that got out of hand cost Grace Lee her high school graduation ceremony and naturalization as a U.S. citizen.

Lee, an 18-year-old Taiwan native who had a 3.3 grade point average, was one of 17 seniors in this Seattle suburb who were suspended and barred from graduation ceremonies for painting the windows, walls and parking lot at Sammamish High School on June 6. Her part was painting part of the parking lot.

The students agreed to pay for the $5,000 in damage, and no criminal charges were filed.

“I know what I did was wrong,” Lee said Friday. “I made a mistake and I took responsibility for it.”

Completing an Immigration and Naturalization Service questionnaire, Lee admitted she had been arrested although she knew her application for U.S. citizenship would be denied.

“It never crossed my mind to lie,” Lee said. “Honesty is a big thing with me.”

As a result, she was unable to be sworn in Wednesday night with her twin sister and mother.

“We are required by law to do what we did,” INS district director Richard C. Smith said, adding that citizenship applicants must be able to establish good, moral character.

The Lee family emigrated from Taiwan 14 years ago.

“Citizenship is important to me,” Lee said. “I’m disappointed because I didn’t become a citizen with my mom and my sister.”

All three had passed their citizenship exams, said Greg Gourley, who teaches a citizenship preparation class in which the family enrolled.

At the time of the swearing-in ceremony, all applicants are given a questionnaire asking if anything has changed since they were last interviewed by INS. Lee answered yes to the question: Have you been arrested?

“Despite the disappointment, I am proud of the way she took responsibility for her actions at Sammamish,” Gourley said. “Americans are very forgiving and I really believe this will turn out just fine.”

Gourley and Smith said Lee could still qualify for naturalization by providing the INS with copies of the police report and the restitution agreement, along with proof that she has paid her share.

She estimated she would owe at least $1,000, including legal fees.

“This has been a very big learning experience for me,” said Lee, who will attend Western Washington University this fall. “I grew a lot. I grew up.”