tough penalties !!! (merged)

[ram_kumar 0]

btw - Obama thinks the current law is too disproportional and pretty cruel and want to reform - we should support too !!!

quote from the article: "While the term suggests a crime of a serious and violent nature, the definition of an "aggravated felony" has been expanded over the years, to the point where it includes crimes that are neither "aggravated" nor "felonies." "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/20/obamas-plan-judges-leeway-deportation/

Edited May 27, 2014 by ram_kumar

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

I consider my green card a privilege. I am aware of the consequences of breaking the law in the US. As to putting families through hardship - yes that's a terrible thing. So why would I, as a green card holder who cares about my family, risk breaking up my family by breaking the law?

(By the way not that I think it's at all relevant to the argument, but a lot of the crimes people were sent to Australia for would not be considered crimes today.)

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I am not in favor of maintaining immigrant status for people that can't follow the law. I am personally against any amnesty for illegals and think that law breakers should be deported immediately and let them use the waiver process to return ( which I think should be made harder than it is )

[phd1974 17]

I doubt anyone would be removed for simply "pulling hair in a fight over a boyfriend." Really.

The laws are quite plain, and pretty simple to follow: Don't steal stuff. Don't deal drugs. Don't hurt other people.

Obey the laws of the country you're in, whatever country it is...they decided this stuff long before you got here. Do this, and everything else will be okay.

That's what the content in the link posted states:

THE PROBLEM:OVERBROAD DEFINITION OF AGGRAVATED FELONY

Before 1996, only the most serious crimes could be defined as "aggravated felonies" under immigration law. However, in 1996, the government significantly expanded what crimes could fall under this definition. It now includes even minor misdemeanor offenses (sometimes 20 years old) that are neither "aggravated" nor "felonies". The government uses this expanded version of the law very aggressively to classify as many immigrants as possible as "aggravated felons."

Offenses that have been found to be aggravated felonies under the current definition include:

- Misdemeanor theft of items of minimal value such as a $10 video game, $15 worth of baby clothes, or tire rims from an automobile

- Writing a bad check for $1500 worth of construction supplies

- The sale of $10 worth of marijuana or pointing out a suspected drug seller to a potential buyer

- Allowing friends to use a car to commit a burglary

- Pulling the hair of another during a fight over a boyfriend

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

all those things that SHOULD lead to deportation If you can't behave like a law abiding adult then go home. Assault ( fighting ) is not the behavior of a normal law abiding adult.

[phd1974 17]

How many fights have you gotten into? O_o

[Merrytooth 5,748]

0, zero. zilch

[phd1974 17]

Well I can tell you, I have never been arrested, never been much in trouble with the law (one speeding ticket, running stop lights, person of interest when I was in 3rd grade of throwing rocks and breaking someone's windshield) ... but I have been in some fights (only enough to count on one hand) ... over 1/2 of them before I hit college. I do not condone fighting, but I do believe in self-defense. Even if you are not the aggressor and are defending yourself, you are still fighting. The fact that you would not get any due process of the law to defend your actions and would be immediately available for deportation is just ludicrous. I would at least expect some sort of opportunity to prove their innocence before being deported or jailed.

Imagine your wife or fiance getting harassed in front of your eyes - what are you going to do? Go searching for the law? Or stand up for her and/or protect her? What happens when you loan your car to a friend, then unknowingly to you, he commits crimes in your car, and then returns it to you. No chance to prove your case? Just an immediate deportation - regardless of the situation? What if your son or daughter that you bought over gets in a petty fight over a boy at the mall? Deport?

That seems somewhat unfair in my eyes. Like I said, hard crimes, drugs, etc are on the table for that, but I believe that an individual should be able to defend themselves in a court of law and have some of these examples of reasons to deport re-examined.

Edited May 27, 2014 by phd1974

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I have had 2 tickets in my 40 plus years of driving. Both facing downhill at a stop with a stick. Sold the last stick shoft car and haven't had a ticket since. Never been in a fight, unless you count the burglar that I hospitalized. ( Haven't had a break in since guess word gets around )

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I understand why US is so strict when it comes to immigrants (legal, or illegal). There are already so many idiots born here. I know this sounds very discriminative, but really. Look just what happened on Frday in UCSB? US has so many criminals (smaller and bigger) why would they need more and let them stay in the country. I would be doing the same. Regardless of how seriously, or less serious a crime is, if an immigrant who were "accepted" to stay in the country (speaking of legal immigrants here) and were approved and welcomed to the country should at least follow the rules and laws and pretend they want the best for this country that gave them an opportunity to stay and have maybe even a better life than in their own home country. I would not give a second chance to any immigrants who commit a crime. There are more than enough citizens who are giving such headache to the US currently. Sorry, I may sound harsh, but this is my opinion.