One Year Later, Villatoro's Deportation Still Resonates

[Webdevman 93]

There's a little known fact that in the fine print it includes "but come so legally" on Lady Liberty ?

Ah the fine print! It will get you every time!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

How much of a fine indeed. Well, what was the current proposed fine that lawmakers were talking about when they were last yelling about ''amnesty''?

Questions we'd need to ask is: has the person paid taxes? If no, they're going to have to pay them.

Have they committed a crime while inside the US? Automatic deportation and no way of getting back in for many different crimes. Too bad, so sad.

The fine is the real question though and of course how we'd expect a person to pay it. Lump sum or installments? A high fine is only going to be good unless the person is able to pay for it you know?

Other consequences: make the fine of any employer that has hired an illegal immigrant very high that it becomes quite painful to 'business'.

No citizenship period (the kids are citizens under the law and kids that have been smuggled in and have been living and identifying as Americans for years should be allowed to stay without penalty unless they have committed a crime. it was through no fault of their own).

How about some sort of mandatory community service?

I'm sure there's some other ideas..

Possibly yes. But nothing involving immigration ever does seem to go over well. I went through weeks of bashing my head against the wall every time I read or heard a talking point about K1 visas during the San Bernardino attack. Every politician and news man was suddenly an expert, when they cared nothing about the program before, and half of the things they were saying were false. Americans don't even understand how our own system works, but yet everyone has an opinion about it.

Cracking down on those who hire them is something we can agree on, but the wall isn't going to do a thing. A wall is an expensive physical object. People must like things they can physically see because they can't be bothered to take the time to understand immigration law as it is now or actually... you know fix what we've got. If you fix what we've got, suddenly the need for objects disappears.

Amnesty is a difficult word. Who for and for how much? A parent or spouse of a USC I believe should have some sort of route for reprieve. I really don't get the threat of no citizenship nor do I see the big deal. So what? Live a clean life and keep renewing a gc every 10 years. I have family who've been here for about 40 years who do this. No intent to ever leave, no intent to become a citizen. The only thing that they're missing is voting really.

[eieio 1,594]

but the wall isn't going to do a thing.

I disagree. There is a reason they build walls around prisons. Highly effective.

[yuna628 9,686]

Amnesty is a difficult word. Who for and for how much? A parent or spouse of a USC I believe should have some sort of route for reprieve. I really don't get the threat of no citizenship nor do I see the big deal. So what? Live a clean life and keep renewing a gc every 10 years. I have family who've been here for about 40 years who do this. No intent to ever leave, no intent to become a citizen. The only thing that they're missing is voting really.

True, but the no citizenship thing always seems to be the sticking point tradeoff that more Conservative minded persons get hung up on when it's not included. It'd probably sweeten the deal.

I disagree. There is a reason they build walls around prisons. Highly effective.

So you're saying America is a prison?

And ya know... walls aren't always too effective around prisons either, considering prisoners keep escaping out of them all the time.

But it's really besides the point, unless you fix the laws on the books and or rework them, people are going to keep getting over, under, or through any physical object that is put in front of them. If it's made so that immigration is more effective and fair and illegal activity deterred through providing better legal pathways and penalty to companies promoting illegal activity, it becomes a much better method than an expensive wall to nowhere project that our tax dollars will have to pay for. Personally I'd like to see our bridges and roads stop falling and crumbling first.

Edited March 21, 2016 by yuna628

[Boiler 45,715]

What is the point about Amnesty if they will not be able to vote Democratic?

[yuna628 9,686]

What is the point about Amnesty if they will not be able to vote Democratic?

You never know, since some are convinced immigrants are voting in mass numbers in elections, if you allow them to stay free votes for Republicans, since they would look like the non-bad guys and they can also be pandered to equally.

[N and J 88]

I am dead against breaking up families in anyway. That is not the answer either. Kids are innocent for the most part in all situations. Do I think he should have been deported for a DWI no, it is nothing that a politician does (drinking and driving I mean) but....Because he had a family and established life....I think he should have been given some leniency. I actually probably am one of the few who think Obama had the right idea with giving people who are here illegally the path to not citizenship but being able to be here legally and work. How do you uproot someone who has a life? How do you rip people apart? I guess I kind of feel this way....From this point on the system needs to be fixed.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

But that could backfire for the devout Catholics who must vote republican for fear of their mortal souls

[OriZ 3,157]

I am dead against breaking up families in anyway. That is not the answer either. Kids are innocent for the most part in all situations. Do I think he should have been deported for a DWI no, it is nothing that a politician does (drinking and driving I mean) but....Because he had a family and established life....I think he should have been given some leniency. I actually probably am one of the few who think Obama had the right idea with giving people who are here illegally the path to not citizenship but being able to be here legally and work. How do you uproot someone who has a life? How do you rip people apart? I guess I kind of feel this way....From this point on the system needs to be fixed.

I agree in theory but the path should be A. Alot harder than Obama wanted and B. Not include the last 5 years or so. The example I gave earlier of the child - she actually believed she was an American until at some point I don't remember how she found out - maybe tried applying for something - found out, the advice she got(A lawyer or something that completely screwed her) made her leave thinking she'll be allowed back, it was a big mistake.

I agree children shouldn't pay for their parents' mistakes, I also think if you convey to people that from now on there will be no more leniency, even if you are lenient towards those who have been here forever, it would still deter enough people. And even those should have to pay in several ways. This will create a situation where if you think about coming in illegally you know that:

1. There's a big chance you will now be deported right away.

2. if for some reason you manage to get away and under the radar and have a family etc, even 20 years from now there will be consequences.

I also do believe in making legal immigration easier. Right now basically the only way is through family or a job. Someone that just wants to move to America for a better life can't do that unless they are considered refugees. I think those people should be screened and allowed, under certain circumstances to become residents. I get there's the diversity visa, but, that ain't quite enough.

Edited March 21, 2016 by OriZ

[eieio 1,594]

And ya know... walls aren't always too effective around prisons either, considering prisoners keep escaping out of them all the time.

But it's really besides the point, unless you fix the laws on the books and or rework them, people are going to keep getting over, under, or through any physical object that is put in front of them. If it's made so that immigration is more effective and fair and illegal activity deterred through providing better legal pathways and penalty to companies promoting illegal activity, it becomes a much better method than an expensive wall to nowhere project that our tax dollars will have to pay for. Personally I'd like to see our bridges and roads stop falling and crumbling first.

So prison walls are just a waste of money

A wall with improved security is a good starting point. Once we stop the leak we can decide what to do with illegals.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/17/politics/donald-trump-mexico-wall/

Interesting video

[Dakine10 5,452]

But that could backfire for the devout Catholics who must vote republican for fear of their mortal souls

As Jesus would have done.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I also do believe in making legal immigration easier. Right now basically the only way is through family or a job. Someone that just wants to move to America for a better life can't do that unless they are considered refugees. I think those people should be screened and allowed, under certain circumstances to become residents. I get there's the diversity visa, but, that ain't quite enough.

There are 40 million immigrants here now, we seem to be adding as many as can be realistically absorbed. Currently you can immigrate through: Family, Job, Refugee, lottery, large investment, and of course illegally.

If we are going to limit the number coming in by how many can be absorbed without creating undue hardship then adding an additional route will strain other routes. The outcome is crazy long queues for those routes not "high priority." which I believe exist now for some that have to wait a decade or more in some cases.

The basic equation would be: The easier and more inclusive the process for letting a person in, the longer the wait that person will have to get the visa.

Of course if we removed the illegal immigrants (12 million - so 25% of the total) that would free up a lot of space

[Expat1 971]

This reminds me of a story I saw once on TV...it was several years ago, this kid's parents brought her to the US illegally when she was little, I don't remember how young, nor do I remember the precise details so I might be wrong on one or two things, but anyway some 30 years later after she's a grown up, spent all her life in the US, has a husband and kids, she was told in order to be legal she would have to leave and come back through some kind of process, she was told she could come back right away. So she leaves and basically they wouldn't let her back. The whole life she knew for 30 years - gone, now she has to pay for her parents' mistakes.

I don't care how you look at it that is just plain wrong.

Yes illegal actions should have consequences, but if the system couldn't find them or deport them yet, they shouldn't have to pay for the system's incompetence. Build the wall I don't care. Declare that anyone who comes in illegally from now on will be deported immediately, anyone who came in illegally in the last 5 years deported immediately. Anyone who's been here longer than that can pay in other ways - fines, community service, etc.

An elequent summary that should be applied to Palestinians. You're pretty generous with our resources, it would be good to see you advocate application of these values in your former country.

As to our laws, if you had been found guilty of a crime of that put you in an excluded category you wouldnt be in the US either. Nobody's calling for the mother to be picked up and deported but if the law was applied to her she would be on the bus too. This family has stretched the limits of what I believe they should be entitled to and should be thankful, not complaining that they feel they are above the law. Dude conciously made more than one bad choice. "Finding Jesus" later is not actually written into the law as an exception.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

A clarification on the situation I was talking about yesterday:

The man and woman are not married but have been living in the US for many years. Neither are here legally.

They have three young children (two in CA , the other in ID) All were born in the US.

As I understand it.. She will be getting a U visa - it does not require the person committing the crime to be an LPR or citizen, it only requires the crime to have been committed on US soil. There is some paperwork required by law enforcement that tends to be difficult to get stating that the person is cooperating fully on helping prosecute the crime.

In this case the violence committed by the boyfriend was done in California which has a new law came into effect in January 2016 that makes the paperwork much easier to obtain which in turn makes the U visa easier to obtain. The U visa also gives the immediate ability to work - even before the visa is granted.

The U Visa is a non-immigrant visa and does not have a direct path to permanent residency - there is however a clause to allow for a green card path to "preserve family unity."

So: The crime (boyfriend beating up the girlfriend) qualified for the U visa. The fact it occurred in California made the form from the police more easily obtainable. The Children she is responsible for will allow for converting the non-immigrant visa to something more permanent.

Qualifying for a U Visa: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-human-trafficking-other-crimes/victims-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status/victims-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status

Story on the CA law: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-immigration-california-idUSKCN0S40N920151010

Fact sheet on the new CA law (SB 674): http://www.ilrc.org/files/documents/sb_674_fact_sheet.pdf

Converting the U visa for permanent residence: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-victim-crime-u-nonimmigrant