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White House to Address Petition to Deport Justin Bieber


Revelers take part in celebrations marking Thingyan, a water festival which brings in the country's new year, in Yangon, Myanmar. The four southeast Asian nations of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos started the Buddhist new year.
Revelers take part in celebrations marking Thingyan, a water festival which brings in the country's new year, in Yangon, Myanmar. The four southeast Asian nations of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos started the Buddhist new year.
The White House says it will be responding to a petition calling for the deportation of troubled Canadian-born pop star Justin Bieber.

With more than 234,000 signatures and counting, the deportation request is well over the 100,000 names a petition on the White House website needs before the Obama administration is required to respond to it.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Friday the response will come "relatively soon."

The 19-year-old Bieber has made headlines recently for a series of run-ins with police related to an egg-throwing attack on his neighbor's house in Los Angeles and alleged alcohol and drug violations.

The "We the People" petition calling for his return to Canada was created on January 23, the same day Bieber was arrested in Miami on charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.

The petition describes the singer as "dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing." It says he is not only "threatening the safety" of the American people, but "he is also a terrible influence" on the nation's youth.

The petition also calls for revoking his green card or permanent resident status, although the Grammy-nominated Bieber is actually in the United States on a temporary work visa.

He is best known for his hit songs, including "Baby," "Boyfriend" and "As Long as You Love Me."
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