Heard on CNN this morning that Senator Feinstein has introduced a bill to allow California valedictorian, Arthur Mkoyan, to stay. This bill temporarily puts a stay on any deportation.

70 Thoughts to “Deportation Order on Hold for Valedictorian”

  1. Marie

    Watch this video.

    I am a firm supporter of immigration reform and a stronger supporter of the Dream Act. I certainly hope that our legislators will open their eyes, ears and hearts to the children who were brought here and are as American as you or me.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIoC5o0LR1M

  2. LuckyDuck

    Unfortunately, these types of bills do not pass very often. I think I read last week about his story and remember that no such bills ot his type passed last year and only a handful in the last five years.

  3. Poor Richard

    Agree, in large part, with Robert Samuelson’s op/ed piece in todays WaPo
    when he writes of John McCain, “On immigration he still does not grasp what
    I think is the actual problem: not illegal immigration so much as too many
    poor and unskilled immigrants…”.

    We must continue to accept the best and brightest – those who have the promise
    to give more than they get from our country. Not to do so is to throw
    the baby out with the bath water with a flawed immigration system.

    Arthur Mkoyan is a keeper.

  4. Elena

    Me and Statue of Liberty would have to disagree Poor Richard. Many immigrants have come here unskilled and been able to contribute enormously!

  5. Elena

    I guess the deeper question is this, “what did his parents contibute?” Were they unskilled, were they “best and the brightest” by our American standards? Without his “illegal” parents, we wouldn’t have this shining star.

  6. Poor Richard

    A key question is how many poor and uneducated people can a nation, state,
    or community absorb before it reaches a tipping point and begins to slide
    down hill? Certainly, if well managed, a rich vibrant nation like the U.S.can absorb
    a large, but not unlimited, number.

    Would remind everyone that both the Statue of Liberty AND Ellis Island
    are both part of the American immigrant story.

  7. Rick Bentley

    Validictorians get a pass?

  8. Elena

    Poor Richard,
    How many poor unskilled Irish, Italians, and Germans came to the U.S in the 1900’s? Millions I would venture to say. You posted the most wonderful Baltimore Sun article about the Italians. I saved it to my files it was so great!

  9. Poor Richard

    The Batimore Sun editorial lambasting Italians should serve as a historic
    caution to those who attack large groups based on the actions of
    a few. But, that said, the early 1900’s and the early 2000’s are far apart –
    a decent education is now not just a plus, but a requirement to enter the
    main stream of American life. Who provides this or health care or
    decent housing? Who provides and who pays?

  10. LuckyDuck

    Poor Richard, I agree with you that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are part of the immigrant story – and rightly so.

    But the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are part of the immigration story because
    1. The Statue was placed there to welcome immigrants into..
    2. Ellis Island, which was a legal processing center for immigrants…even undocumented or illegal ones who went through the process there and permitted entry. Not all were allowed in, but those that were had screening conducted.

    The relationship to many of today’s illegal or undocument immigrants is nonexistent. Unless they came on a visa and overstayed, the US Government has no idea who has snuck into this Country. Quite a difference in the immigrant story of Ellis Island and entering through the Texas border while avoiding American authorities.

  11. Poor Richard

    Agree, our national government has failed us on the challenge of immigration –
    the good thing is either Senator Obama or Senator McCain should
    do a far better job than Bush.
    For starters –
    – Secure the borders.
    – Make legal immigration a timely, fair, rational and reasonable process.
    – Provide resources for the most heavily impacted jurisdictions to
    manage high, rapid increases in immigrants. Schools, housing and
    health care should be a focus.
    – Know those without papers are not going to be beamed up by real aliens
    Be tough, find the best possible solution and let’s move forward – the
    sooner the better. May tick off some people on both sides, but that is life.

  12. Rick Bentley

    Neither McCain nor Obama will do a better job.

    Obama in his ironically-titled book “The Audacity of Hope” points out the negative aspects of illegal immigration but then lacks the audacity to want to do anything about it, concluding that we should lie back and enjoy it.

    McCain is fanatically dedicated to providing Amnesty and ensuring wave upon wave of illegal immigrants. Apparently his friendship with ted kennedy is contingent upon it.

    Bush was asleep at the wheel but those two are willfully ignoring the myriad of issues in their stance and repeating the do-nothing mantra “we need something comprehensive”.

  13. Poor Richard

    Rick, know some of you are going to miss Bush – one of a kind – – hopefully.

    “I think that in retrospect I could have used a different tone, a different
    rhetoric,” Bush is quoted in today’s edition of the Times of London
    referring to the U.S. led invasion of Iraq.

    He acknowledged that phrases like “bring them on” and “dead or alive”
    had given the impression he was “not a man of peace”. You think?

    When he took office, the nation was at peace, had a budget surplus
    and a robust economy — he leaves us at war, a huge debt and the nation
    falling into recession.

    Obama or McCain, by default if nothing else, will be better.

  14. Rick Bentley

    Not if suburbs become Spanish ghettos.

  15. Meeester Bentley,

    Actually spanish is a beautiful language. Why wouldn’t you want it to replace english?

  16. Dignidad

    Mackie, I agree, Spanish is a beautiful language. That said, English is the common language of the vast majority of citizens and residents of the USA. It doesn’t make sense to think that it could or should be replaced.

  17. Adam Smith

    The Cato Institute invites you to a Book Forum

    Let Them In:
    The Case for Open Borders
    (Gotham, 2008)

    Featuring the Author
    Jason L. Riley
    Wall Street Journal Editorial Board

    With comments by
    Michael Barone
    U.S. News & World Report

    Moderator
    Daniel Griswold
    Cato Institute

    In a provocative new book, Jason Riley makes the case for welcoming more legal immigrants to the United States. Drawing on history, scholarly studies and first-hand reporting, Riley argues that today?s newcomers are fueling America?s prosperity and dynamism. He challenges the prevailing views on talk radio and cable TV that immigrants are overpopulating the country, stealing jobs, depressing wages, bankrupting social services, filling prisons, resisting assimilation and promoting big government. Comments will be provided by one of the nation?s leading political analysts.

    Wednesday, June 18, 2008
    12:00 PM
    (Luncheon to Follow)

    Cato events, unless otherwise noted, are free of charge.
    To register, visit http://www.cato.org, e-mail [email protected],
    fax (202) 371-0841, or call (202) 789-5229 by 12:00 PM, Tuesday, June 17.
    News media inquiries only (no registrations), please call (202) 789-5200.
    If you cannot make it to the Cato Institute, watch this Forum live online at http://www.cato.org.
    Cato Institute
    1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW
    Washington, DC 20001

  18. hello

    Mackie – “Actually spanish is a beautiful language. Why wouldn’t you want it to replace english?”

    I agree, it’s a beautiful language but do you really think it should replace English?

  19. hello

    If so, where, the US, Japan, Korea, Brazil or all of the above?

  20. hello and Dignidad,

    From a moral standpoint, it doesn’t matter either way if Spanish replaces English. The HSM types who make the preservation of the English language into a moral crusade look like buffoons to me.

    I recognize that those who cannot speak spanish will feel at odds with their neighbors, and I think that this is natural but it’s also a reality that life is full of change. Life is full of discomfort. If spanish replaced english, within 1 generation, all the children would be able to speak spanish and as the older generation died off, the cultural friction would abate.

    Ultimately, it’s nobody’s business what language anyone else speaks in this country. You can tell me to speak whatever language you want, but you can’t force me to speak it. And if you try, I can tell you to **** off in whatever language I want…including sign language.

  21. Mike

    Why is this person being given special privileges through a special bill? I find it unfair since he and his family came into this country illegally. He has only graduated high school – big whoop.

    I and my family immigrated to the United States legally. We had to work very very hard to earn a green card and legal residency, it was years and years of work and waiting and going down to the INS for my family but we did it. What does this say to all the people who enter this country legally and struggle to obtain residency?

    What message do favors to illegal immigrants give to legal immigrants?

    Btw, I had a 4.7 weighted gpa in high school, there were no newspapers praising my family’s legal struggles.

  22. Chris

    Ok.. so here is what I don’t understand. I don’t pretend to know to horribly much about immigration reform and the like so maybe I’m just not comprehending the entirety of the situation…

    We have this kid.. right? His parents bring him here when he’s a toddler.. they spend the next several years working illegally in the United States (which means not paying taxes or anything, correct?).. trying to become citizens. Thats cool. If that is their dream then more power to them. HOWEVER… we have non-citizens defending our country here and abroad… helping to man the front lines in battle and to protect our freedoms… and they have to jump through hoops to get citizenship.. IF they get it.. but here’s this kid who gets straight A’s (an awesome feat to be sure).. and now he’s got Senators trying to get private bills passed for him??? Where are the Senators and politicians fighting for the Soldiers who want to be citizens?

  23. elvis

    this is so wrong..trying to use legislation to forward a moral cause. just because it seems morally right doesnt mean it’s legal or fair. this wont pass and it’s wrong on all fronts.

  24. hello

    I agree, you should be able to speak the language you want, my wife speaks two languages (and allot of Spanish but I wouldn’t say that she could hold a conversation) and my mother-in-law doesn’t speak much English at all. I’m not trying to force anyone to speak English but if I moved to Brazil I would pick up Portugese. I’m not saying everyone here should HAVE to speak English, I just don’t think English should be replaced (here anyway).

  25. hello,

    Sometimes I think we should actively replace the english language in this country, just for the sake that it would toughen up our society and help us find unity through more than just a superficial crutch like language. It would be a good exercise.

  26. Cheryl

    The “majority” of Americans want illegals to go home. I sick of these bleeding hearts. Wake up people – we are being bled to death paying for illegals living in this country! If his parent have been here since 1995, why didn’t they apply for citizenship like thousands of others. Maybe it had to do with getting paid under the table and not paying taxes. Employeers who hired these illegals having been breaking federal laws.

    Your tax dollar paid for this kid to go to school (unless your on welfare and other social programs where you don’t pay taxes).

    Dianne Feinstein. She’s another washington clown who does her own thing. Doesn’t matter what the American people want. I wonder what condtion california would be in if everyone decided to stop paying taxes for these illegals – would that force California to wake up?

    The “majority” of Americans want illegals to go home. Close the boarders. Pretty simple!

  27. Red Dawn

    Mackie,

    You left out braille just kidding.

    Okay, the thing is, I think ENGLISH ( beside my love of MUSIC) is the universal language.

    Why is it that you can find an eyewitness to any account of anything, ANYWHERE on LIVE news and that person speaks English?

    Also, it makes me think of the Native Americans, the Indians, now how often do you hear THAT language spoke? ( and of course, I cannot leave out ME, who botches the English language ALL the TIME ;(

  28. Mike said:

    I and my family immigrated to the United States legally. We had to work very very hard to earn a green card and legal residency, it was years and years of work and waiting and going down to the INS for my family but we did it. What does this say to all the people who enter this country legally and struggle to obtain residency?

    In a certain way, it says you’re suckers to ever expect justice at the hands of those men with nice suits, fancy badges and lofty titles huffing and puffing about their own importance.

    Welcome to the real world. Why do you want to punish illegals for the fact that you placed your trust in the wrong people?

  29. Flower Power

    Welcome Mike, Chris & Cheryl.
    Cheryl,
    You are making some wild assumptions. According to what I have read they were taking the appropriate steps to become legal but were denied. So, to accuse them of not applying is simply untrue. Secondly, in our area, the main funding mechanism for the County budget is real estate assessments. So, if this family either resided or owned a home in the jurisdiction where he attended school then the family contributed towards the cost of his education.

  30. Look at what’s coming:
    http://news.zdnet.co.uk/emergingtech/0,1000000183,39363088,00.htm

    Look at the amazing lifelike and endearing reaction at 2:23 in the video! It’s scary how endearing it is…

    This will be difficult for many of us to fully accept. But our children will grow up with it as normal. Ultimately, though I think we might be better off for it.

    However, here’s something to consider. It can recognize your face and speech and is hooked to the internet. How long before it can record and broadcast audio/video? Or be hacked? Malicious possibilities abound here.

  31. Mike,

    In a just world, those Keystone INS Cops would have just stamped your paperwork and said ‘Welcome to America!’

    Instead, they’ve got people like you running around like herded cattle, jumping through hoops like circus performers, and dancing like egyptian belly dancers whenever they say so. And then…you actually have to pay them to treat you like this. And the rest of us pay the salaries and benefits of their non-jobs.

    Instead of denouncing illegals (who had no time for the triviality of entertaining these self-important men because their children needed to eat) you should be denouncing these INS martinets who forced you to perform more contortions than a human pretzel.

  32. Bob

    Hey FlowerPower, One of my neighbors is a drug dealer. oops, I mean Undocumented Pharmacist. With the money he makes selling drugs he purchased his house, therefor contributing to the tax base sending my kids to school. Maybe even contributed for this illegal kid. He is very good at what he does and owns several vehicles and a lot of other things. Must have paid a lot of sales tax. Guess that makes him a good neighbor.

  33. Elena

    Hello,
    I actually agree that people should have some basic english skills to live in this country. However, learning English has been a struggle for every immigrant group, especially the more advanced in age.

  34. Doug

    There is a difference between immigration in 1900 when there might have been 70 million people in the country and now when there are over 300 million. Do we stop at a billion, 2 billion? Illegal immigration will not stop until we are as poor as the poorest country on earth unless we actually enforce the laws.
    As for references to the Statue of Liberty, when were our policies supposed to be determined by a statue?

  35. Elena

    Welcome Adam Smith and thank you for the link to the forum at the CATO institute.

    Cheryl,
    Welcome. I agree that there is frustration with immigration, but most illegal immigrants pay taxes, either by renting or owning homes, everytime they buy goods, and various other living taxes we all pay to survive.

    Chris,
    Interestingly enough, I posted a thread about illegal immigrants being in the service. I agree with you 100%, we need to come to some resolution regarding immigration, based on facts and not fear.

    Mike,
    Welcome to you too! What Country were you and your family born? I would say, since most of this discussion revolves around latin american and the mexican border, nothing was easy about coming here for these undocumented immigrants. They paid their coyote to get them across the border, having survived a very dangerous journey, they are separated from their families, and seen are a sub class of citizens. I don’t think that sounds like the easy way. I am not demeaning the struggle of your familily’s journey, but there clearly is no “easy” path to America.

  36. hello

    Elena, that is a good point about it being harder for older people which is why my mother-in-law doesn’t speak English (except for the basics, kinda). I guess it just depends on what you want to do here. She happend to find a job where she didn’t have to really know English which if fine, the language thing doesn’t bother me a bit. I take that back… I must admit that I get a little annoyed if I order something and it’s not quite right.

  37. Red Dawn

    Mackie,

    Re: your post @ 11. June 2008, 18:48

    “This will be difficult for many of us to fully accept. But our children will grow up with it as normal. Ultimately, though I think we might be better off for it.”

    Holy snake SH$T!

    The ANSWER/CONCERN is in your THOUGHT!

    “Ultimately, though I think we might be better off for it’

    FORGET the 3D sequel of ” Chucky Comes to Life” LOL

    LOOK up:

    Computer trained to “read” minds

    Look it up on Yahoo or key words …I tried to post the link and got kicked…that happens to when I post stuff…

    I need tech help with MY computer..yeah right, just kidding but it happens when I try to post)

    The thing is THINKING will be OLD SCHOOL and I am sorry, but it has been becoming the thing of the past….THANKS to technology.

    All kidding aside, this is something to worry about and I have LEARNED from ALL those scary movies, if the bad man is in the house and it’s DARK, DON”T go UP the stairs!!!!!

    RUN LIKE HELL…..oh yeah, just like the good ole movie ” RED DAWN” 🙂

  38. Bob said:

    Hey FlowerPower, One of my neighbors is a drug dealer. oops, I mean Undocumented Pharmacist. With the money he makes selling drugs he purchased his house, therefor contributing to the tax base sending my kids to school. Maybe even contributed for this illegal kid. He is very good at what he does and owns several vehicles and a lot of other things. Must have paid a lot of sales tax. Guess that makes him a good neighbor.

    Actually Bob-arino, that sounds like an excellent neighbor to have…especially when one is in the mood for a few puffs of the happy weed.

    Drug dealers might be the only truly free people left in our society. Unlike the rest of us, slaved into the matrix, they recognize the matrix for what it is…a golden cage. They pop into it only when they need to…but otherwise live their lives unencumbered by the small rules. Ahhh…I can almost smell the freedom…

  39. Moon-howler

    Poor Richard said:

    When he took office, the nation was at peace, had a budget surplus
    and a robust economy — he leaves us at war, a huge debt and the nation
    falling into recession.

    I think those are very important words. The day Bill Clinton left office, I felt this feeling of impending doom. Nothing has proven to me that the feeling was wrong. Poor Richard, the contrast is very sobering. Things have to get better.

  40. junkyard dog

    Bob,

    And did you call the cops on your drug dealing neighbor? If not, why not?

    How do you know he deals drugs?

  41. Elena

    Hey Hello,
    Is the annoyance any different when the person speaks perfect english and they still don’t get your order correct? 🙂

  42. Richard pauvre said:

    When Bush took office, the nation was at peace, had a budget surplus
    and a robust economy — he leaves us at war, a huge debt and the nation
    falling into recession.

    I would agree that Bill Clinton left office 9 months too early. If he could only have been allowed to stay on board 9 more months, he would have been at the helm on 9-11. And history would have rightly ascribed to him the overwhelming responsibility he holds for the disaster on 9-11. A disaster, I might note, that handed Cheney and the neocons the political leverage they needed to create a monumental disaster in Iraq. Good Job Bill!

    Between May of 98 and May of 99, William Jefferson Clinton had up to 10 chances to capture or kill Bin Laden. If he had placed protecting American lives above…fawning for the adoration of europeans, groveling at the feet of the human rights hecklers, and cutting international business deals that made his administration look good on the economy…3000+ americans who perished on 9-11 (many of whom undoubtedly voted for him, and went to their deaths unaware that they had helped to put into power the man who’s moral cowardice cost them their lives) would still be alive today…to watch the sunset with their spouses…to hold their childrens’ hands…to pass on their wisdom to their grandchildren…

  43. Lucky Duck

    Mackie, you have always been on the edge of the gyroscope to me with your opinions, but this is a tolerant blog and I can the respect the right of others to have a different opinion, but your post of 19:48 endorsing drug use is over the line. I can only hope you are attempting some sick attempt at humor, otherwise I truly hope you are on the inside of the door when the flashbang goes off and the swat team breaks down the door.

  44. Moon-howler

    I find the remarks about Bill Clinton unsubstantiated and more to the taste of the Black Velvets than over here. We all have different opinions of our leaders, past and present. I find the one made about Bill Clinton odious and offensive. I believe I might even find it offensive is said about George Bush, and I certainly am no fan there.

  45. Me

    Why should we jump through hoops to accommodate every single immigrant group. Today we all need to learn Spanish so what are we going to have to learn tomorrow? In fact where I live no-one speaks Spanish- or if they do they speak English as well.

    As far as these people go- Why were they denied citizenship?- Sounds a bit fishy to me- but I’m not a big immigration person.

  46. Lucky Ducky said:

    Mackie, you have always been on the edge of the gyroscope to me with your opinions

    “on the edge of the gyroscope”…I like this quote…it’s got soul…I sense the name of a future autobiography…

    but this is a tolerant blog and I can the respect the right of others to have a different opinion, but your post of 19:48 endorsing drug use is over the line.

    In your self-righteous rush to contradict yourself in attacking me you failed to notice that I never endorsed drug use by anyone except myself. Your morality is your problem, not mine. I accept no responsibility for your immorality.

    I truly hope you are on the inside of the door when the flashbang goes off and the swat team breaks down the door.

    Usually the word hope is reserved for wishing well upon another or ones self. It’s quite curious that you chose this specific word to describe your desire to see me incapacitated and then crushed by jackbooted nazis. Hardly the words of a tolerant soul…wouldn’t you agree?

  47. Red Dawn

    Let’s not get disoriented (both sides) in a “flashbang” especially over weed that has become legal in some states as medicinal. For the record, I am NOT a smoker and unlike Clinton, I will tell the truth. I puffed, inhaled and don’t like it. It sends me into a panic attack, what FUN is that? 🙂

  48. Bob

    I guess sarcasm is lost on-line. My intent was to show two different people, my fictitious neighbor ( the undocumented pharmacist ), and the illegal immigrant. Flowerpower seemed to think that if they owned a home and paid taxes, they had contributed to their illegal sons education, and that made everything ok. If its ok for them to break the law ( stay in this country illegally), why do we have to follow any other laws. Can we pick and choose which ones we like, or feel are fair, or whatever other criteria you want to apply to them. Why do so many people think this is acceptable when it comes to illegal immigrants. Is it ok, because we feel sorry for them, to sanction their illegal activities. I feel sorry for the drug addict. He may have made a poor choice to pick up the drug, but now the addiction controls his actions. Can I forgive him when he gets caught with an illegal drug? Give him amnesty? Most will say no. He broke the law, no matter the reason for his addiction ( maybe a vet with mental problems). We can force treatment, but we will deal with him in some way. What about the person who robs a bank, or steals some other way, because they have a family to feed. Oh, the kids were hungry, so let’s let him go this time. We’ll just explain food stamps to him and all will be ok. There must be ramifications for illegal actions. I see no reason there should not be ramifications for illegal immigration. The correct result should be deportation. Thats the law. If you don’t like the law, lobby for change. But it should not be retroactive, or a reward for having broke the law in the first place.

  49. Moon-howler said:

    I find the remarks about Bill Clinton unsubstantiated and more to the taste of the Black Velvets than over here. We all have different opinions of our leaders, past and present. I find the one made about Bill Clinton odious and offensive. I believe I might even find it offensive is said about George Bush, and I certainly am no fan there.

    I find it odious and offensive, not to mention an insult to the deceased of 9-11, that a man like William Jefferson Clinton isn’t denounced daily as the man who had the most opportunity to stop 9-11 and did nothing.

    In fact, we saw the incredible unreality of this same man, with all that blood on his hands, openly campaigning for another presidential candidate.

    And if you think the remarks are unsubstantiated, you have some research to do:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTtoHx-ia8A

    And you’ve assumed wrong if you’re implying that I’m defending the Bush Administration. Someday, when we build the gallows to exercise justice upon those who led us into a disastrous and wholly unnecessary religious war, I hope they are the first in line.

  50. Emma

    What a sham, having a U.S. senator intervene on behalf of a lawbreaking family. I guess if the kid was a mediocre or a poor student, we could deport his tail for his lack of intelligence? Unbelievable. I’d like to agree that this will never fly, but I have my doubts. Just another case of a politician flipping the bird at law-abiding citizens.

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