A Saturday night party where teenagers were caught drinking alcohol at a Roslyn Heights, NY, home ended with a drunken 14-year-old passed out in the driveway - the boy was taken to the hospital where he is now on life-support. 

An woman who was left in charge of the home, identified herself as the family's "au pair"  and was arrested.  Ms. Newland was charged with violating Nassau County's social host law. The police said that even though the au pair was in the home and aware there was underage drinking, she did nothing to stop it.

Andrean Newland, 30, whose address, 159 Shepherd Lane, is the home where the party took place, was arrested at 12:12 a.m. Sunday April 5 2009 after police responded to a 911 call and found the 14-year-old unconscious in the driveway. 

The 14-year-old boy passed out "as a result of consuming alcoholic beverages," said Det. Lt. Kevin Smith..  The officers on the scene found the back and sides of the house "littered" with empty alcohol bottles. 

Mrs. Miller, the mother who lives at this home, and was out at the time of the party, denies that Ms. Newland is an au pair.  She told police Ms. Newland is a "medical student" who is living with them.  She also told reporters that Ms. Newland was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" and that "Teenagers will be teenagers."

Sounds like Ms. Newland may have been the family au pair at one time, but is no longer in any approved au pair program.  Au pairs who do not return to their home counties after their legal J1-Visa has expired are considered AWOL and are here in the country illegally. 

Au pair agencies do not track the numbers of au pairs who go AWOL, nor do they have any incentive to monitor or report these illegal au pairs.  Their illegal status is a drain on taxpayers and places children at considerable risk, as we can see clearly in this terrible situation.

Why would Mrs. Miller, or any family encourage their au pair to stay and work for them illegally?  

Money.  Host families who drop out of au pair programs, taking their au pairs with them, no longer have to pay the thousands of dollars in program fees. 

However, when these young women get into trouble, they do not have the protection of their agency, who will often pay for most if not all their legal fees (and for any medical expenses if they are injured while legally staying in the country as one of their au pairs). 

Will parents step up and pay legal fees for their illegal au pair?  Most will not pay over a certain amount - they cut their losses and ask the girl to leave.  Where does she go then?  No airfare, no money and no support or a place to live. 

We are not sure if this young woman is an au pair or not, or if she is staying in the country illegally or not.  We have attempted to contact a few reporters to confirm her status - we are still waiting to here back.

However, this incident brings up an important topic and concern:  hiring illegal aliens to work for you. 

You may find that paying for program fees is a considerable bargain compared to the millions you might have to pay if someone gets maimed, diabled or killed as a result of your au pair making poor judgments!

Has anyone ever considered doing this?  Has anyone done this with dire consequences?  What are your experiences with au pair agencies when you do report your au pair staying in the country illegally?  Where you surprised at their disinterest? 

We would like to hear from you!