Girl Rejects Gardasil, Loses Path to Citizenship

Simone now has only one thing standing in the way of her goal -- the controversial vaccine Gardasil. Immigration law mandates that Simone get the vaccine to protect against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. But Simone, who has taken a virginity pledge and is not sexually active, doesn't see why she should have to take the vaccine, especially since it's been under fire recently regarding its safety. And none of her American classmates are required by law to be vaccinated.

Since 2008, the U.S. government has required that female immigrants between the ages of 11 and 26 applying for permanent resident or refugee status receive Gardasil. Simone sought a waiver for moral and religious reasons, but the waiver was recently rejected by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

That ruling threatens to separate Simone and her grandmother, and could ruin the teen's plans to attend Pensacola Christian College, where she was conditionally accepted.