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Judge will decide if Maine asylum-seeker can compete in poetry contest

A federal judge is expected to rule Friday in the case of a Maine student who's suing to compete in a government-funded national poetry competition.
Credit: McEvoy, Beth
Allan Monga during his winner recitation of a poem at Maine's Poetry Out Loud competition on March 21.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) — A federal judge is expected to rule Friday in the case of a Maine student who's suing to compete in a government-funded national poetry competition.

Deering High School junior Allan Monga is Maine's finalist in this year's Poetry Out Loud contest.

► Maine asylum seeker wins poetry contest, excluded for not being citizen

Monga earned the opportunity to represent the state at the competition in Washington, DC, but event organizers notified him that his immigration status would prohibit him from competing.

Monga applied for asylum in the U.S. but hasn't been granted legal residency. He does have a work permit and a social security number.

The competition starts on Monday.

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