Local News Report about "Living Legal" in the USA

[Artegal 1]

WSBTV.com

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Living Legal

POSTED: 5:42 pm EST December 5, 2006

UPDATED: 6:34 pm EST December 5, 2006

ATLANTA -- We’ve all heard the stories associated with more than 400,000 illegal immigrants now living in Georgia. Now, you will hear from a legal immigrant who says trying to function in Georgia the legal way is nearly impossible – because the system doesn’t recognize his paperwork.

You may have been following our stories lately about how illegals have found ways to gain access to our most vulnerable public services – all by creating fake documentation. Hector Marquez is completely legal, but tells us it has made his stay here nearly unlivable.

In the competitive world of Georgia small business, Hector Marquez is an MVP.

“If Hector was not here working in the United States with our company, 15 Americans would lose their jobs,” explains James Lakeman.

But the Mexican native says it’s nearly impossible to succeed in the states when you’re legal.

“I feel frustrated, really frustrated. We have tried to make it the right way,” explains Marquez.

His story starts out in Pueblo, Mexico – where Hector had developed a global reputation.

“We needed a chemical engineer who had knowledge of application of glass to steel and that’s where Hector came in. Hector and I met in Mexico and we began the process to bring Hector to the United States legally. The process, the paperwork, took us over 2 years,” says Lakeman.

But Lakeman tells Channel 2 – that was only the beginning.

“What we have found is that Hector practically lives in a no man’s land here in the United States,” says Lakeman. “It’s difficult for him to acquire a Driver’s License, purchase a house, even open a bank account.”

Consider what happened when Hector applied for his Driver’s License.

“I have my Mexican Driver’s License and I have my Visa H1B type, she checked my papers and said, ‘No, you cannot obtain your Driver’s License because you are not a citizen,” says Hector.

Compare that to what Channel 2’s undercover cameras found at a business in Cobb County -- a broker who caters to illegal immigrants, buying them car tags that get them on the road – never even bothering with a license.

“I think it’s, to me, it’s a tragedy,” says Lakeman.

Here’s what Hector says happened when he went to a bank for a home loan.

“I talked with this lady and she said, ‘Are you legal or illegal?’ and I said, “Legal.’ She said, “I can’t help you, I’m working with illegal people.’ I said, ‘What?’

“And several times when we were going through this dilemma we were told, ‘Hey, just pay $60 and you can have a Social Security Card and a Driver’s License and everything will be fine.’ We didn’t what to do that, we wanted to go legal. We knew that we needed to do it legally. The last thing we wanted to do is build a company, have 10, 20, 30 employees, then Hector’s sent back to Mexico – then where are we? Everybody’s out of a job – you just can’t do it that way,” says Lakeman.

State officials tell Channel 2’s Dale Cardwell that Hector should have been able to get a Driver’s License by presenting his Visa, but acknowledge some state employees are likely unfamiliar with what to do when presented with one. Hector’s current Visa expires in two years.

[rebelheart 0]

government + employee + "huh?" = more pain in the *** of people mostly need their services tsk tsk tsk bureaucracy ......

doesn't matter if they do their best or not on their job ... ONLY matters are the monthly paycheck!!! they gonna received doing or not their job everyday. tsk tsk

Edited December 8, 2006 by rebelheart

[MHandMB 0]

Stories like this really make me angry. It's true, it's easy to give someone money and get them to make fake documents for you. People who do it the legal way feel like they're being punished. Think of all of those people waiting for AOS who can't get mortgages or good jobs because they don't have a greencard.

I hope they figure out how to fix the system.

[rebeccajo 14]

The system is unlikely to be fixed unless more legal immigrants stand up and make their voice be heard. EWI's are getting all the press because they are joining together and forming the political connections to get what they want.

Legal immigrants need a voice in Washington also or we are going to get run over.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Stories like this really make me angry. It's true, it's easy to give someone money and get them to make fake documents for you. People who do it the legal way feel like they're being punished. Think of all of those people waiting for AOS who can't get mortgages or good jobs because they don't have a greencard.

I hope they figure out how to fix the system.

i ran into a very similar situation at the local ssn office trying to get nessa a ssn. all the papers, documents from vj and the ssn website that stated she did NOT require and EAD and it all fell on deaf ears because "their computer said she had to have one".........

[mawilson 2,133]

“I talked with this lady and she said, ‘Are you legal or illegal?’ and I said, “Legal.’ She said, “I can’t help you, I’m working with illegal people.’

LOL

[Dr_LHA 3]

Why the hell can't he get a drivers license? There's no requirement to be a citizen to have a DL, you just need to be here legally and have documentation to prove it, e.g. an H-1B visa! (EDIT: I missed the last line of the story, I guess the Georgia DMV folks are just stupid).

As for the "home loan" and other stuff, isn't he just hitting the brick wall of having no credit score as a new immigrant? That and the issue that if he's after a mortgage, how can he guarantee he's going to be present in the USA for the time it takes to pay the thing off when he's currently a non-resident?

There's a lot about this story that just doesn't ring true to me.

Edited December 13, 2006 by dr_lha

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

Why the hell can't he get a drivers license? There's no requirement to be a citizen to have a DL, you just need to be here legally and have documentation to prove it, e.g. an H-1B visa! (EDIT: I missed the last line of the story, I guess the Georgia DMV folks are just stupid).

As for the "home loan" and other stuff, isn't he just hitting the brick wall of having no credit score as a new immigrant? That and the issue that if he's after a mortgage, how can he guarantee he's going to be present in the USA for the time it takes to pay the thing off when he's currently a non-resident?

There's a lot about this story that just doesn't ring true to me.

I think that comment is a bit unfair, personally. My husband tried for ages to get me put on his bank account but the bank person we spoke to was so unbelievably thick they couldn't understand the legal documents we showed them, or the fact I had an SS number and so on. Eventually we went to another branch of the bank, spoke to a lovely person who actually took the time to listen, and then they signed me onto the account, no problem. The problem is people don't listen, and for some people, not having a green card or being a citizen makes you some sort of a freak and they don't want to know.

As for the home loan, I know from other people that it has nothing to do with the credit score, it has to do with whether you have a greencard or not, and for some folk, having an authority to stay (ie a visa) doesn't work because the greencard is all they know and all they care about.

And the DMV - well, it's the DMV, they couldn't find their a$$ with both hands

IMHO, of course

[Dr_LHA 3]

I think that comment is a bit unfair, personally.

I'm speaking from personal experience of having lived in this country for more than 7 years on non-immigrant visas.

My husband tried for ages to get me put on his bank account but the bank person we spoke to was so unbelievably thick they couldn't understand the legal documents we showed them, or the fact I had an SS number and so on. Eventually we went to another branch of the bank, spoke to a lovely person who actually took the time to listen, and then they signed me onto the account, no problem.

Yes well I've encountered plenty of idiots, I did the same thing as you: move onto the next person until someone says yes.

The problem is people don't listen, and for some people, not having a green card or being a citizen makes you some sort of a freak and they don't want to know.

Never personally had this issue.

As for the home loan, I know from other people that it has nothing to do with the credit score, it has to do with whether you have a greencard or not, and for some folk, having an authority to stay (ie a visa) doesn't work because the greencard is all they know and all they care about.

Yes for the reasons I've stated, the guy has a 2 year visa, who in their right mind would lend money to him over a period of more than that. He's a flight risk until he has his permenant residency, plain and simple. This isn't racism or anti-immigrant (because the guy isn't an immigrant), its simple risk management on behalf of the people giving out the loans.

And the DMV - well, it's the DMV, they couldn't find their a$$ with both hands

IMHO, of course

Very true! Again, move onto the next DMV office, try again.

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

Yes for the reasons I've stated, the guy has a 2 year visa, who in their right mind would lend money to him over a period of more than that. He's a flight risk until he has his permenant residency, plain and simple. This isn't racism or anti-immigrant (because the guy isn't an immigrant), its simple risk management on behalf of the people giving out the loans.

Ooh, never thought of it like that - I didn't realize he only had a 2 year visa.

Thank you for clarifying.

I do think though that Rebeccajo has a point - the only reason illegal immigrants have all the publicity is because they have people willing to band together and be heard on their behalf. Maybe we should all start writing to the media with our story and see if we can't have more publicity on what it is like to be a legal immigrant, particularly from the point of view of those in limbo pending the FBI namecheck...