American isn’t the land of opportunity for everyone. For some, it is a land of confusion and mixed messages.
I am speaking of the children of illegal immigrants who were not born in this country. Walk a mile in their moccasins. Often, those kids have citizen brothers and sisters, to add insult to injury. Their brothers and sisters do not share their problems. These kids live in no man’s land. they live in America. They feel like Americans. They go to school and pledge allegiance daily to the red, white and blue flag flying in front of them. They are Americans in every way except one and that is the paperwork.
From here on out note I am referring to Latino kids. Yes, there are other kids but my focus is on the Hispanic population today. Many nay-sayers want to “send them home.” What does this really mean? Most of these kids speak fluent Spanish. We assume that they can also read it. Most cannot. They can read and write English very well but they cannot read Spanish. They also can’t spell in Spanish. It’s not something you think about. Unless they have been taught, it just isn’t something intuitive. So where do they go?
Many Latinos go through school as excellent students, soaring to the head of their classes. They have been taught and have grown up thinking if you worked hard in school and learned a skill, you could go on to college or out into the work force and earn a good living. Their teachers reinforced that idea daily.
Such is not the case if you cannot get a drivers license, can’t go to college and can’t enter the work force legally because you are out of status. The immigrant haters scream at them to go home and get in line. Unfortunately, there is no line. That is a bumper sticker. Meanwhile they continue in school, daily, striving to excel. At graduation, they bump into that glass ceiling. As this year’s graduating class received diplomas, some of each class clearly understood one thing: It’s the end of the line. No college, no real job, no documentation so they can do all of the things that public school has prepared them for and that their citizens friends are going to be able to do.
This is pretty much what life is like for the children of illegal immigrants. They fit no where. They are children without a country, through no fault of their own. Can you put yourself in their shoes for just a minute? What must that be like, to belong no where?
We are better than this. We don’t treat kids like this. We are leaving kids behind, by the thousands. Today, President Obama changed all that. He used executive powers to defer deportation so these kids don’t have to live with that kind of fear, as long as they work hard and are crime free. He also opened up other necessary paper work for them so they can live out of the shadows. It’s about time.
The New York Times:
Under the change, the Department of Homeland Securitywill no longer initiate the deportation of illegal immigrants who came to the United States before age 16, have lived here for at least five years, and are in school, are high school graduates or are military veterans in good standing. The immigrants must also be under 30 and have clean criminal records.
Young people, who have been highly visible and vocal activists despite their undocumented status, have been calling on Mr. Obama for more than a year to stop deporting them and allow them to work. Many of them were elated and relieved on Friday.
“People are just breaking down and crying for joy when they find out what the president did,” said Lorella Praeli, a leader of the United We Dream Network, the largest coalition of illegal immigrant students.
Republicans reacted angrily, saying the president had overstepped his legal bounds to do an end run around Congress. Some Republicans accused Mr. Obama of violating the law. “The president’s action is an affront to the process of representative government by circumventing Congress and with a directive he may not have the authority to execute,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It seems the president has put election-year politics above responsible policies.”
Not all Republicans dislike the idea of deferring deportation for kids. Some are rejoicing the same as the rest of us. It is against the human spirit to deny those who work hard and keep their nose clean the same chance everyone else gets.
I have spent a life time trying to educate kids. Many of them were illegal immigrants. Some were the nicest, most hard working young people you would ever want to meet. I spent a lot of years down in the trenches so I don’t want to hear anyone’s spin on this subject if you haven’t worked with these kids. I found those with the most to say against these kids are the ones who have had the least exposure to the subject. This executive order makes me very happy. NO kids should have to live under threat of deportation when they are doing all the right things. These kids are an asset to our country. Yes, President Obama, it is the right thing to do.
Obama lacks the leadership and moral authority to define what the “the right thing to do” is for me. MH was already convinced that this was the right thing to do, but a good measure of leadership is the ability of a person to change public opinion or get opponents to reconsider their positions. That is not going to happen here, just as it has not happened in his presidency to date.
Pandering for votes is not a sign of good leadership either. How do I know this is pandering? Because he waited until his presidential campaign had started. If this was such an important moral imperative, he could have taken action earlier in his first term. If it is the right thing to do now, it would have been the right thing to do in 2009 also.
@Kelly, they were trying to get the Dream Act through.
Let’s face it, everyone is pandering for votes now. Why do you hold Obama to higher standard than you would anyone else? What is Romney trying to do? Get elected. He is pandering for votes. Obama is pandering for votes. Congress is pandering for votes.
If you have noticed, you have not heard me say much bad about Romney. He is just doing what he has to do to try to get elected, just like Obama.
I have unwaveringly said this is the right thing to do. I want to get rid of the thugs and bums and keep the hard working kids.
And how exactly are these ‘slightly illegal’ immigrants suppose to prove that they were brought here at a very young age? I guess we’ll just ask them to which the majority will of course reply “Si”. So if they come forth as truly having been brought here at an early age by illegal immigrant parents, then does that not document the fact that their parents are here illegally? So now what will the government do with that information? Save it for the next election I guess!
@SA, their school records would show when they were in this country if there was any question. If you were in first grade in AZ, that would do it.
“How do I know this is pandering?”
Because it happened a week before Obama and Romney are both scheduled to address the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in Orlando, Fla.
What do you expect them to do? It was going to happen. I am just glad it finally did. ACtually, Obama issued orders several months ago signaling this was coming.
I don’t care if he is pandering or not. It needed to happen.
My question is this? Why weren’t the families deported earlier, when this would not have been a problem? If we had good enforcement, prevented business from hiring them, made the environment difficult, and stopped ignoring their existence because “its too difficult” to process them….such as doing the catch and release of expecting them to voluntarily show up for deportation hearings.
The “kids” will now be de facto amnestied and legal. And because of that, THEIR PARENTS will also be undeportable. And more illegal immigrants will enter because of the new incentive of “5 years and free”
In the mean time, illegal immigrants get income tax credits for children that they say they have back in the home country.
But, again, we’re debating the Dream Act instead of the real problem. And that’s the usurpation of Congressional authority in making law.
” Why do you hold Obama to higher standard than you would anyone else? What is Romney trying to do? Get elected. He is pandering for votes. Obama is pandering for votes.”
There’s a bit of a difference. When Romney panders right now, it doesn’t cost me anything. When Obama panders, he does it with our laws and our tax dollars, and it has an immediate impact on the nation. He’s the one in the position of power, and he’s abusing it for electoral gain.
If we use that standard then no incumbant can do anything. I don’t see why this new policy is going to cost you any money anyway. They can concentrate on thugs.
Why are we assuming that only Congress can ever do anything. Presidents have all sorts of executive priviledge. He can tweak policy on lots of things.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/us/mexican-immigration-to-united-states-slows.html
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, thevratebof illegal immigration from Mexico has slowed down appreciably. States like Arizona have made being here so hostile there is not the flood of illegals.
The kids are not “legal and amnestied”–you can claim this all you want but that is NOT what the executive order says. As already noted, illegal immigration has slowed down. Imdon’t know how you came up with “five years and free”–this order expires in two years. The president hopes congress will finally get their act together and fo the roght thing which is doubtful unless the makeup of congress changes materially.
Please provide law quote that says illegal immigrants get tax credit for anything much less children living in a foreign land. What Kool Aid have you been drinking?
Hey Moon, you jumped all over MarinM about using this term! Do you even want to TRY to be fair?
Of course school records can’t be falsified … Right! So 200 people wind up going to the same school that only graduated 85 that year … interesting. Don’t say it won’t happen, and if you believe it won’t, then I’ve got some unused SSN numbers I’ll sell you. Besides, how many people who are constantly on the move, even have their grade school papers. For that matter, how many grade schools even have those records on file? We’re back to needing documentation just as it has always been. Papers please, you can’t avoid it.
Transcripts are held by schools. Copies of official transcripts are only sent to other schools. Its fairly hard to falsify something you can’t get your hands on.
Who is it and what is it that you think is going to get something they don’t deserve?
There are transcripts kept on elementary students. I believe it is mandated by federal law that those records are kept.
If I buy in to what you are saying, no one’s high school diploma is worth crap. Neither are their grades.
SA, these are good kids. Did you read the story on Heydi from Richmond area? She was a good kid, going in to nursing. She worked hard, was a good citizen. Behaved herself.
Why do you begrudge her a decent life when there are so many POS Americans who squander the education they are given, drop out of school and lay drunk or high and wont work?
I actually don’t get it. I would deport them if I could. No one would want them though.
@SlowpokeRodriguez
Don’t be a second grader and tattle. I didn’t even see it. George, please don’t say illegals. It drives Elena and me up a wall. Slowpoke tattled. I didn’t see it.
@SlowpokeRodriguez
What term? Oh, I get it–illegals. How about “undocumented”? Does that work better for you?
@Moon-howler
I think Sa’s comments soak for themselves–obviously doesn’t know much about how school systems work and he/she (can’t tell sex by the nom de plume) is challenging a teacher!
I’m not begrudging anyone who deserves a break. I’m complaining that the people handing out the permits are not going to be that meticulous in checking the documents possibly submitted to them by undeserving unscrupulous individuals. Please tell me you don’t think that could not possibly happen. Granted, if the documents are traced through the school system, then yes all is well, but if some person at some counter is simply glancing over the papers as if at the DMV, then look out. As far as the GSH comment, you’re right, I don’t know how today’s school systems work, but I sure am aware of how illegals are forever being caught forging documents!
I don’t know how it is going to work. I expect ICE or a agnecy close to ICE will handle it. Schools or the military will be involved.
Rather than thinking a gang member is going to slip through the cracks, look at the decent young people who will be serving our country.
Yes, it is an emotional topic fo me. Put a face on things you revile. It changes your opinion. I have known lots of illegal immigrants. Hundreds. Some are good. Some are not so good. Good kids out of status because of their parents deserve separate consideration if they are on a course that will make them productive members of our society.
SA, the schools will verify that those seeking academic assylum are what they say they are. It also might give incentive to others to stop screwing off and to take advantage of that free education. Right now, there is almost no incentive to behave and do the right thing, yet approximately 800,000 kids are.
The age 29 is to scoop up kids who were left out but are still deserving. Their records are probably sitting down in the bowels of Independent Hill warehouses as we speak. I don’t know if the records are hard copy still or if they have beemn converted to digital.
The turn coat republicans for the DREAM Act, i.e. Lindsey Grahm and John McCain, altered their vote because they said the border had to get under control. Well, Obama has done more for Border security, deported more illegal aliens than any previous adminstration. Now IS the time. Oh, and BTW, in what world is Obama’s move a voting ploy? Immigration is VERY contentious, I actually think it WAS a non election move, not one you employ in a close race.
I used to have some regard for Lindsey Graham. Now I just think he is contemptible. Yes, their border excuses are so bogus and disingenuous.
I’m posting this for Emma, Slo and SA–am sure they will enjoy it:
It is from the Borowitz Report
A Letter from Mitt Romney to his Former Gardener
About the New Immigration Rules
The Borowitz Report has obtained the following letter from Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to his former gardener, José Salazar:
Dear José:
I’m writing to you today with some exceptionally good news.
As you probably remember, a few months back I fired from you from your job mowing the lawn at my house. If I remember correctly, my exact words were, “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake, I can’t have illegals.”
Well, here’s the good news: now I can.
Thanks to President Obama’s executive order regarding immigration, I’m happy to report that I can hire you back to your old job, as long as you’re under 30. Am I right in assuming you are? You looked pretty young to me, especially for a person who spends so much time in the sun and isn’t allowed to come inside the house.
You see, as much as I like firing people, I’ve come to regret letting you go, José. Ann and I miss you. The young man we hired to replace you, while “legal” and all, just doesn’t mow the lawn as well as you do, and he insists on being paid “on the books,” which rubs Ann and me the wrong way.
So I hope you’ll consider my offer to come back. The only teeny hitch – and I hope you’ll agree that it’s just a teeny one – is that I’ll have to fire you again come January. I’ll be President then, and I’ll have to reverse everything that Obama did, for Pete’s sake.
But there’s a lot of mowing to be done between now and January, José, and Ann and I think you’re the man do it. If not, I suppose we’ll have to go out and hire ourselves a Greek fellow. I understand they work for nothing, or drachmas – whichever’s less. (Laughing Out Loud.)
Sincerely,
Mr. Romney
NOTE FOR ELENA AND MOON: I didn’t use the word “illegals”, Borowitz did. ;-0
It is interesting to note that the UlS. has some 3.7 million jobs in the sciences, engineering and the like that require masters to doctorate level degrees. We are unable to fill them. Interestingly enough, more than half the degrees at this level are earned by foreign students but are they staying here? No. Why? Because it is too difficult to get an H1B visa and in addition, Canada, Australia, Singapore, China and India are wooing them to come there. Many of the students are simply returning home.
In addition, the latest Pew Hispanic Center report says that not only has the immigration from Mexico slowed to a trickle, it seems more may be returning to Mexico than are coming here. Poor economic times here, draconian immigrant laws, and better economic times at home are some of the causes. On a per capita ratio, Canada and Australia now have more foreign born residents that the U.S. and many of them are in the highly sought after science, engineering and other technical fields.
A number of bloggers on this site would deny this country the same opportunity despite the fact that we can’t fill the 3.7 million high level jobs we have within our own ranks. An interesting way to become a second rate nation eventually.
Oh, BTW China has launched a three person crew into space and returned them safely, meantime we have to hitch a ride with the Russians. China has plans to go to the moon and beyond and for some inane reason, I am beginning to believe they will accomplish it sooner than we might expect.
We look like a nation of cheap skates. I go back to brinksmanship of paying our debts. We protect over billionaires from tax increases. They have convinced the middle class to whine on their behalf which I will never ever understand.
Many foreign students simply aren’t allowed to stay here after completing a degree,. We usher themn off because policy dictates it. Lawmakers have caved to a bunch of loud-mouth FAIR talkers who are basing their information on NON-fact.
Citizens United ensures that corporations and anonymous rich people will be chosing our leaders in the future. Why doesn’t the Congress fix this problem with laws defining personhood and I don’t mean as it pertains to fetuses or illegal immigrants…I mean as to rights. Congress wont do anything because those same anonymous donaors are paying them to keep their mouths shut and to do nothing.
Mediocrity? We should feel lucky to stay at that level.
I have been accused of looking at student immigration policy emotionally. Yup. guilty as charged. It is an emotional issue to me. I have seen hard working young people, through no fault of their own, go smashing into the glass ceiling. No job, no college, no paperwork, no drivers license. These are kids who often sound like you or me. I have been thinking about the comment all day. It was intended to insult me and to be a slur. I am proud that I still have human feelings about people.
I expect if I had lived in Germany 70 years ago I would have probably also been emotional when I saw my Jewish neighbors denied rights around them too…man made laws that said they couldn’t go to schools or certain stores or live where they wanted.
Discrimination of Jews was very legal in Nazi Germany. Sometimes people have to change because it is the right thing to do–to protect the innocent. Yes, I am emotional about students who have worked their entire lives to better themselves only to be slapped down.
Let’s hear the howls and protests because I used the Nazi word. Let’s hear the “There it is…”
I feel it is prejudiced and unAmerican to deny hard working kids who function as Americans a place at the table.
@MH Illegals come to America to steal jobs, education, and other privileges of citizenship for themselves and their children. They should not benefit from their parents’ thievery. This is comparable to the case of Bernie Madoff in which the family has to return its ill-gotten gains ($255M) and is not allowed to benefit from the crimes of the father.
@Kelly,
It is nothing like Bernie Madoff. How many of these kids have you ever met? They are kids, for God’s sake.
Do you really think that is why most immigrants come here? I think most immigrants come here to work because 1. they can find work, regardless of how menial and 2, They get better wages. We aren’t talking drug cartels here.
I bet you are one of those people so far removed from the world of illegal immigration that you would have no idea how to even reliably spot it. Operative word, reliably. It is a very sad situation.
There is far too much misinformation being floated around by our friends at FAIR. With most of these kids you would never know that they were here illegally. I see this as a form of meanness and a form of legalized prejudice and discrimination.
Bet lots of folks would be tripping over themselves back slapping if Rubio had beat Obama to the punch and got his mini dream act together. Nothing stopping him. I would love to see it permanent.
Well, that would be preferable. Rule of law is rule of law. Personally I wouldn’t mind if they chose not to pursue deportation on a case by case basis i.e. let’s not deport undocumented peeps if they win the bronze star or graduate as the valedictorian – those are future leaders.
However, to put in place a blanket policy of not enforcing laws is not rule of law and sets up a very dangerous precedent. Consider how you’re going to feel when a Republican gets into office and issues executive orders on contraception and other so-called women’s health issues. Abuse of executive power has been going on since 2001 on both sides and needs to stop.
@Cato, then there would be rioting in the streets. Thank goodness for Griswold. They aren’t being deported now unless there is something random going on. They just have real limitations.
We also have to determine if we are talking about laws in place or policy under those laws. I think changing policy is perfectly within the chief executive’s rights.
Let’s face it, we were deporting the worst of the worst since we cannot deport everyone.
@Cato the Elder
“Abuse of executive power has been going on since 2001 on both sides and needs to stop.”
Cato, your memory must be as short as that of a gnat! Only since 2001? Perhaps the BIGGEST abuse of executive power was that by some guy named Richard Milhouse Nixon. But I forgot, he resigned from the presidency to make up for it–the only one ever.
Abraham Lincoln was probably the most guilty of abuse of power with FDR running a close second.
I am not all mushy and gaga over states rights though. My relatives lost that one about 165 years ago. Not complainin’ just sayin’
@kelly_3406
Please re-read my comment at 24. They’re not coming here in droves any more and eventually we will be the worst for it.
@George S. Harris
Good point. Before my time but good point.
You were born after Nixon? When did that dude resign? Seems like yesterday. I think my kids were around for Nixon or at least his remenants.
@Cato the Elder
“let’s not deport undocumented peeps if they win the bronze star or graduate as the valedictorian – those are future leaders.
Although he was not undocumented, Einstein was never the valedictorian and never won a bronze star. Don’t know about his education, but Werner von Braun never won a bronze star and I can only guess he was documented. There are probably many more but the point is winning the bronze star or being the valedictorian has nothing to do with it. I recommend you also go back and look at my comment at 24. We have 3.7 million highly technical jobs we can’t fill; foreign graduates get roughly 50% of the doctoral and masters degrees in science, engineering, etc. and we push them out the door. You don’t see anything wrong with that?
I generally respect a lot of what you write but today you are way out there in left field or as we say on the rifle range–you’re high and to the right/left.
@George S. Harris
Well I used extreme examples, but I think we mostly agree that we should be in the business of identifying exceptional, talented and hard-working immigrants and making it easy for them to become Americans, whether they have documentation or not. Likewise if they’re coming here to traffic in illegal drugs or engage in other organized criminal activity then put them on a one-way bus to the border.
Cato, I don’t disagree with what you just said. I wish we could export/deport a bunch of native born people actually except I don’t know who would take them.
Thank you for the being the conservative voice of reason on here today.
I watch Bulls and Bears most Saturdays. Several of the guests there echoed your sentiments.
Whats ironic is that across the dinner table between myself and my parents (who were for a time not of legal status) and have family or friends who are also not of legal status we don’t use any euphemisms. We call them ‘illegals’. They may be family. They may be friends. But the word fits. It doesn’t in itself carry any bad connotation and I prefer it over the slurs that are sometimes used.
“but I think we mostly agree that we should be in the business of identifying exceptional, talented and hard-working immigrants and making it easy for them to become Americans, whether they have documentation or not”
I’m not totally against that idea but I’d want to see it defined. 3.0 GPA? Maybe not. 4.0? Possibly. Acceptance letter to law/medical/engineering school? Sure with caveats. Enrollment in cosmetology school? Sorry senora. You can go back to your country of origin.
“Likewise if they’re coming here to traffic in illegal drugs or engage in other organized criminal activity then put them on a one-way bus to the border.”
My idea would be to set up a deal with Mexico whereby any illegal caught committing a crime other than illegal entry be sent back to Mexico and for every month they keep the prisoner alive and incarcerated the govt pockets $1000. I don’t care what they do with that person but they have to stay alive and serve their sentence.
I think those here on the radical left would be aghast if a President Palin took unilateral authority in the way that President Obama has.
And sadly we don’t have a Congress with the manbits to do anything about it.
George,
I agree with you, I was never validictorian, not even close I might add. People have many ways to contribute to society!
@George S. Harris
Here’s a link to a news article.
“Eyewitness News shows a massive tax loophole that provides billions of dollars in tax credits to undocumented workers and, in many cases, people who have never stepped foot in the United States. And you are paying for it!
The Internal Revenue Service says everyone who is employed in the United States – even those who are working here illegally – must report income and pay taxes. Of course, undocumented workers are not supposed to have a social security number. So for them to pay taxes, the IRS created what’s called an ITIN, an individual taxpayer identification number. A 9-digit ITIN number issued by the IRS provides both resident and nonresident aliens with a unique identification number that allows them to file tax returns.
While that may have seemed like a good idea, it’s now backfiring in a big way.
Each spring, at tax preparation offices all across the nation, many illegal immigrants are now eagerly filing tax returns to take advantage of a tax loophole, using their ITIN numbers to get huge refunds from the IRS.
The loophole is called the Additional Child Tax Credit. It’s a fully-refundable credit of up to $1000 per child, and it’s meant to help working families who have children living at home.
But 13 Investigates has found many undocumented workers are claiming the tax credit for kids who live in Mexico – lots of kids in Mexico.”
http://www.wthr.com/story/17798210/tax-loophole-costs-billions
I suggest that the loop hole be done away with for everyone. I am not talking about the what ifs. I am talking about good students being granted a waiver from deportation.
Actually I don’t like anyone getting that sort of refund. I don’t really care about someone’s status as long as they are paying taxes.
I doubt if it is as wide spread as that station thinks it is as far as $$ going to Mexico. How is that even provable?
@George S. Harris
OH, and George, go read the definition of DE FACTO.
So, yes. They will be DE FACTO amnestied and legal. The ADULTS, not kids, will not be deported. They WILL be given work permits. How DOES one determine that the 29 year old person getting that work permit meets the requirements?
Adults? Yes… remember, the age group is to 29 years old. So 18-29…..adults.
The complaint against the Dream Act failing is that it needed 60 votes. Apparently, FIVE Democrats decided that the Dream Act shouldn’t be passed. So, its not just the GOP at fault here. It was defeated in a bipartisan vote.
5 democrats (or republicans) is hardly bi partisan. The Republicans threatened a filIt is aimed at kids. I am not ready to declare people 18 adults. Perhaps you would be more comfortable with the expression “younbg people.” Kids is just easier to type.
Cargo, you are trying like hell to find some reason to not like the concept of the Dream ACt.
Going back to the title of this thread.
If it’s the “right thing to do” then go about doing it “the right way”.
@Cargosquid Thanks very much for the info.
@Moon-howler
I don’t have to “find” a reason. I brought them all out the last time the Dream Act was debated here.
But my biggest problem with the ACT is that, while the PR states its “for the kids” the reality is that the cutoff age is 29. So…adults are the target, not kids.
Want to make it for the kids? Have the cut off date as 18. Once you’re an adult, you have to make adult decisions. If they want to “save” these kids, lets have something more limited to the actual kids…… not 27 year old laborers that showed up here at the age of 15.
And yes….18 is adult in the fullest sense of the word, whether we like it or not, whether they can drink or not. Anyone that can join our military and defend this nation, kill other people, get married without permission, form businesses, go to jail after being tried as an adult, and be convicted of a capitol crime and be sentenced to death…. that’s an adult.
When do people graduate from high school? Usually when they are 18. How can you do anything before then? That is a mighty narrow window of opportunity.
Sorry, I am not buying the 18 is full adulthood argument. Many things cannot be done at 18. You can’t rent a car most places. You cannot sign many different forms of loans. You cannot drink alcohol. What you can do is vote. That’s pretty much the magic silver bullet. Anything else, not so much. Now on a real practical note, those of us who have kids who are that age or who have been that age will tell you that 18 year olds aren’t real grown ups. They are still growning in some cases and maturing. Kids at 16 can be tried as adults. So what? That doesn’t make them adults. Being able to join the military doesn’t make one an adult either. Back in my day, plenty of people were in Vietnam who sure weren’t legal adults. That didn’t stop Uncle Sam from dragging them away, like it or not.
Cargo, you are overlooking the fact that many kids have foregone going to school or joining the military because they lack documentation. Those kids might be just as deserving. There’s probably a good chance that they are laborers because they have to earn a living.
I am going to keep asking, how many of these kids have you met or known personally? You keep grasping at straws…well it might be a laborer. So. Being a laborer is an honest way of making a living. That laborer had better have a GED or a high school diploma and no criminal record if he/she is trying to avoid a deportation.
I don’t see why you want to deport good students who behave themselves. It makes no sense and appears that you are so locked into some sort of uber conservatove belief system that it has robbed you of all feeling. It also reveals a certain prejudice on your part because you keep going to the worst case scenario as in “the one who got away,” rather than looking at the thousands of deserving kids it will help.
You are old enough to consider someone 22 a “kid.”
The biggest problem I have THIS time is that the President is attempting to activate the Dream Act by fiat. If laws can be selectively enforced and changed by administrative fiat, then I’m sure that the next Republican or Conservative President can find ALL SORTS of targets.
They probably can and have been time and time again. Various Patriot act issues spring to mind. The problem is that Congress doens’t know any of the kids or really understand the problem. They have this image of dark skinned youngsters standing aorund a 7-11 and that is where the mind stops.
So we selectively enforce immigration laws because “it’s the right thing to do.” I thought politicians weren’t supposed to bring their personal feelings into policy. The law is the law, right? Abortion is the law of the land. We’ve seen the left turn cartwheels anytime a lawmaker tries to do what they think is the right thing in that sphere. So “the right thing” is really only what the left wants it to be, apparently.
Pretty much that is what executive order is.
In the first place, not that many kids who are in this situation are deported. Sadly it is often the college/ student communication that outs them as illegal immigrants. The real bonus is not dodging deportation but getting documentation.
Probably not a well known fact but often ICE hands out work papers to people who are illegal immigrants. I have no idea why but that was one of the beefs with the carolos Martinally family. They all had been given work cards.