"Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Mic. 6:7
She was using the pay phone when I pulled into the parking lot. She replaced the receiver and tried three more times. I pulled along side her and smiled, "Can I help you? Are you having car trouble?"
She was scared - really scared. The child with her was at least six years old and at 1 p.m. should have been in school. She looked at me, her son, the highway and nodded, trembling and jerky as she clutched a small bag of groceries.
"Can you take us home?" she asked.
"Sure. Which direction do you live in?"
"It's that way," she said and pointed.
I asked her name and where she was originally from. She explained that she was from Guatemala. I asked about her son's age and she proudly responded, "He is six years old."
"Why isn't he in school? Do you need help because I can help you if you want?" I already knew this would be a difficult case.
"No, no! I'm leaving tomorrow. We're going to Florida to work. The nursery work is almost finished." Her voice was shaking as she spoke.
"You don't want him to go to school?" I shrugged as I said it.
She hesitated before she replied, "If we're deported, he'll be abandoned. I'll lose him forever." Then she finished firmly, "He stays with me."
We talked about the crops and which state she preferred then I revisited the dilemna of education. "Where was he born?"
"He's American - born in Florida," she said proudly as if it were a true gift and accomplishment.
Gently but firmly, I said, "He needs to be educated."
She responded, her voice again shaky, "This is fine, you can let us out right here."
*******
Civilrights.org and others are posting articles of class action suits across this nation on protecting the quality of life for U.S. citizen children. Please consider getting involved.
As it stands today, according to federal law, the citizen child of illegal immigrant parent(s) has two choices:
A) Be deported with the parent(s).
B) Be reared in foster care as a ward of the state.
Consider the children...
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Comments: 24
I'm not sure how to react to this article. On one hand, I feel sorry for the child involved in this situation. But why is the child faced with this dilema? Is it the fault of the mother, for coming here, giving birth to a U.S. citizen,now having to move form state to state in search of work? Is it our government for their current policies? is it the fault of the governement of Guatemala for not providing better opportunities for it's own citizenry, thus encouraging them to migrate to the U.S.?
The problem that I have with this scenario is: where does it end? We have all heard the arguments, cheap labor keeps cosumer prices low, we need immigrant labor, etc. As I've stated before, I don't buy it. Why should we allow people here illegally to be expoited for the benefit of major corporations? Why can't the Dept of State and DHS push the H2B visas, allowing unskilled nonimmigrant workers to come to the states for a fair wage, thus allowing their children to be schooled while here working?
You know from my previous posts that I am against illegal immigration. There are already avenues in place for individuals to come here legally to work. Many argue the cost of obtaining a visa is too great. How much do illegals pay to be escorted by coyotes? $5000? $10,000? Depends on what part of the world you are coming from.
Like I said, I feel sorry for this child. But in many cases, the child pays the price for the decisions of the parent.
Good point.
First of all, no one "hates" you.
Second, if it's true that you and your mother are now "legal" citizens, you have nothing to worry about. No one is going to deport you unless you commit a crime AGAINST the U.S. However, if your plan now is to help more "illegals" sneak into this country, (i.e. cousins, nephews, friends etc.), then I would advise you to re-think your position on this as it could be deemed as a crime against the U.S. and deportation could become a reality. You say you like America? Then you should read the "Oath Of Allegience" I posted on a few other threads here on Gather, then you should live by it so you won't have to "die for open borders" as you stated on my billboard photo. And remember.....Our U.S. families fought and died for this country that you so freely want take advantage of....YOURS DIDN'T. So next time have a little respect when posting about U.S. veterans.
Do you know the grounds for the civil rights suit? That we as a country, knew they were here and did nothing. I have said it repeatedly, illegal immigrants were reported by the Social Security Administration and IRS as early as 1992. We waited 14 years to begin enforcing our own federal immigration laws.
How is it plausible that we ignore laws we made and then persecute people who ignored them with us?
How is it plausible that we, years later, give the products of our cumulative disregard a choice like this? By law they are United States Citizens. We don't choose our parents, William. We aren't responsible for their crimes or shortcomings.
That child can no more control his position in life than any other child born. I thought we were all, if nothing else, born free with basic human rights, on U.S. soil.
Since when did that change?
JB
HG is on topic. You wrote this article with one of the tags being " illegal immigration", so if you don't want HG to post on your threads, perhaps you should drop the " illegal immigration " tag.
Tim's right, besides, Richard knows why I addressed him.
Maybe 'stay on this article' might be more appropriate? Not my call.
To me, this article is an invitation to experience someone else's struggle. And it is well written and expressed.
Thank you Jackie for sharing your view of those you tend to.
Some how I wonder if my sleepy persistence to stay on course might...
H. G. to keep a balanced view for myself, I pledge to check out your articles too.
Thanks all for allowing this debate.
But it is Jackie's work and writing that I am here for.
H.G. I concede: Please stay on article. Your entry had no bearing on the article posted. If you want to chase Richard around and chastise him for another thread, I respectfully request you do it elsewhere. It's confusing.
If it is a fiance application, the immigrant must return to his/her country, wait on the visa - typically 6-12 months and come back through legally. The paperwork and expense are often prohibitive. If children are already present it creates economic and psychological hardship that many deem to extreme. Also, there are no guarantees.
I hope this helps. If an immigrant wants legal migration to the states - the process can take years, requires several hundred dollars - and may not be approved, ever.
The system is a travesty - for europeans, foreign teachers and doctors, our neighbors on both sides and anyone else.
That's right. The problem was largely ignored. The old "wink and nod" immigration. That's old news. However, I stand by my statement-Many times the child pays the price for the decisions of the parent. Did I say that it was fair? No. But that's life in the big city. You can apply that to numerous scenarios, not just to this one. In MANY cases, a child will suffer as a result of the decisions of a parent. Of course it's not the fault of the child, but that doesn't erase the fact that they will carry the burden of their parents' decisons at times.
I also think your use of the word "persecute" is not appropriate. How is enforcing the law "persecution"? I do agree with you, as I stated earlier, that the problem was largely ignored, which makes the U.S. government extremely negligent in their duties.
How do we now give them a choice like this? Well, what do you suggest? The child is a minor. Since the child was born in the U.S. and is a natural born U.S. citizen, do we give the mother a pass in order to let them both stay in the U.S.? In that case, how many people would come to the U.S., give birth, and then remain here? It is very plausable that an expectant mother could get a visitors visa in her first trimester, come to the States for a 6 month visit and give birth here. Is this what you're suggesting?
As far as your last claim that the cost of a fiancee visa is prohibitive, let's take a look at that. Many illegals, especially those from areas other than Mexico, pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States. I know people from Central America, South America, and a few Asian countries, who paid as much as $10,000 to get here. The cost to apply for a fiancee visa is a whopping $170.00. As a matter of fact, I'm speaking to a friend of mine form Nicaragua right now. She paid $800 to come here in 1993. Her cousin came here in December and paid a coyote $7,500 (he is still paying off the debt). I think that your argument with regards to the fiancee visa is invalid. Now, if you are trying to adjust from within the U.S., then I would agree, it is very cost prohibitive, but comprable to the amount one would pay a coyote to enter illegally. That is, if the person contracts a lawyer, pays the "fine" for adjustment, etc. In that case, it can be very expensive. What do you suggest we do to solve this problem?
Title 8, USC, Section 1324 States in Pertinent Part:
a) Criminal penalties
(1)(A) Any person who -
(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law;
(iii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, such alien in any place, including any building or any means of transportation;
(iv) encourages or induces an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law;
(B) A person who violates subparagraph (A) shall, for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs -
(i) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i) or (v)(I) or in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), or (iv) in which the offense was done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both;
(ii) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(ii), (iii), (iv), or (v)(II), be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both;
(iii) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) during and in relation to which the person causes serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 of title 18) to, or places in jeopardy the life of, any person, be fined under title 18, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and
(iv) in the case of a violation of subparagraph (A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) resulting in the death of any person, be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined under title 18, or both.
Looks like the mother isn't the only one who broke the law.
However, I didn't know she was illegal until AFTER she was in my vehicle. Also, I am protected under the Civil Rights statutes that protect all civil employees.
You know the ones: The ones that prevent ambulance personnel and doctors and lawyers and nurses and teachers and teachers aids and social workers and non-profits from being persecuted under ANY law....
We're exempt, my dear.
Please arm yourselves with the correct information before pouncing. I am the equivalent to any other civil servant - and was "very much" on the clock, searching for farm workers.
Sigh.......It runs that deeply, does it, William? It's that bad. So now educators and hospital personnel will soon be scared out of helping immigrants?
okay. Do your worst. All I can do is hope there are more of me than there are of you.
BTW, I checked with my buddy. Deportation officers are still part of INTERPOL, if indirectly and still under the scrutiny of the Office of Professional something or other....I'll keep you updated, but it looks like major ethics violations.
Sounds to me like you are a pretty bitter person. Sorry to see someone so passionate about an issue always claiming to be a victim. Keep up the good work!
Now, what else, William?
LOL...I am the least bitter person I know!
Bottom line is this; ICE is deporting criminals, not farm workers - according to you and ICE....so what exactly is your bitch?
You attack me for doing my job, tell me I'm breaking laws - which clearly exemplifies your ignorance with regard to civil rights laws.
So, I guess we both have alot to learn...