Item on our local news today

[Reynaldo 0]

emotional outbursts are a far cry from a national policy.

But they will not have my vote if they run for president...

[Ban Hammer 13,898]

emotional outbursts are a far cry from a national policy.

But they will not have my vote if they run for president...

i seriously doubt anyone who espouses that would have their name on a ballot either.

[Caladan 19]

So, let me get this straight: the church is helping illegals know their LEGALLY afforded rights and protections, the ones that the U.S. government allows even people who are being deported. Not helping them get around anything, just making sure they know what their LEGAL rights are.

How is advising someone of what their legal options are wrong? Isn't this rather like complaining that the court appoints defense attorneys LEGALLY for those accused of crimes? Or that helping someone file a LEGAL 1-601 means you're helping a criminal? (!!11!!one!!!11!)

The relationship between Christianity and the law is complicated but that is so totally not the issue here. The Church isn't breaking any laws by informing people of their U.S.-government sanctioned rights.

[Alex+R 0]

I am glad the Church helped protect the Jews in Athens that they could, even as the Nazis moved in and took most of them to Auschwitz. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

I think those of you saying churches should obey the laws of the countries they are in are being extremely shortsighted and confusing "legal" with "ethical." Not to mention the fact that the churches are NOT helping anyone break the law here. They are helping uphold the laws of the US which some want to discard.

i don't think anyone is trying to send illegals to sniff zyclon-b, alex.

Charles, it wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of how the Church does not always work with the State and how that can be a good thing. I would expect you to be able to figure that out.

Notice that I also pointed out that they aren't aiding illegal immigrants in doing anything illegal. Just helping them know how to handle what could happen to them. Where's the harm to anyone? Only someone so angry and/oe boneheaded that they think these people don't deserve their human rights would object to this.

[pedroh 21]

I am glad the Church helped protect the Jews in Athens that they could, even as the Nazis moved in and took most of them to Auschwitz. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

I think those of you saying churches should obey the laws of the countries they are in are being extremely shortsighted and confusing "legal" with "ethical." Not to mention the fact that the churches are NOT helping anyone break the law here. They are helping uphold the laws of the US which some want to discard.

i don't think anyone is trying to send illegals to sniff zyclon-b, alex.

Charles, it wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of how the Church does not always work with the State and how that can be a good thing. I would expect you to be able to figure that out.

Notice that I also pointed out that they aren't aiding illegal immigrants in doing anything illegal. Just helping them know how to handle what could happen to them. Where's the harm to anyone? Only someone so angry and/oe boneheaded that they think these people don't deserve their human rights would object to this.

yeap, even illegals have human rights.. those exist independently of residency status

[almaty 19]

I am glad the Church helped protect the Jews in Athens that they could, even as the Nazis moved in and took most of them to Auschwitz. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

I think those of you saying churches should obey the laws of the countries they are in are being extremely shortsighted and confusing "legal" with "ethical." Not to mention the fact that the churches are NOT helping anyone break the law here. They are helping uphold the laws of the US which some want to discard.

i don't think anyone is trying to send illegals to sniff zyclon-b, alex.

Charles, it wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of how the Church does not always work with the State and how that can be a good thing. I would expect you to be able to figure that out.

Notice that I also pointed out that they aren't aiding illegal immigrants in doing anything illegal. Just helping them know how to handle what could happen to them. Where's the harm to anyone? Only someone so angry and/oe boneheaded that they think these people don't deserve their human rights would object to this.

yeap, even illegals have human rights.. those exist independently of residency status

they should have human and legal rights brother pedro.

[natty bumppo 297]

I am glad the Church helped protect the Jews in Athens that they could, even as the Nazis moved in and took most of them to Auschwitz. I wouldn't be here otherwise.

I think those of you saying churches should obey the laws of the countries they are in are being extremely shortsighted and confusing "legal" with "ethical." Not to mention the fact that the churches are NOT helping anyone break the law here. They are helping uphold the laws of the US which some want to discard.

i don't think anyone is trying to send illegals to sniff zyclon-b, alex.

Charles, it wasn't a direct comparison. It was an example of how the Church does not always work with the State and how that can be a good thing. I would expect you to be able to figure that out.

Notice that I also pointed out that they aren't aiding illegal immigrants in doing anything illegal. Just helping them know how to handle what could happen to them. Where's the harm to anyone? Only someone so angry and/oe boneheaded that they think these people don't deserve their human rights would object to this.

yeap, even illegals have human rights.. those exist independently of residency status

they should have human and legal rights brother pedro.

will someone please notify the local churches ... to make sure the gov't doesn't trample the rights of these people ? especially after the care and treatment of their 1st class accommodations to houston

http://www.click2houston.com/news/13295723/detail.html

[homesick_american 1]

[A lot of asylum claims are bogus,

Not trying to make trouble just wondered if you have examples/ stats to back that up? Just something I wonder about and wondered what you had to support that.

Bogus asylum claims are a problem in every civilized country that accepts asylum applicants...not only the USA but Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, and particularly Spain all have problems with people fudging documents, lying about what country they're from, etc. Somalia is a popular choice of fake country of origin because we can't deport people to a country with no government.

According to UNRefugees.org, 75% of all asylum applications in the USA are rejected. I'd wager a large number of those are false, wouldn't you?

[Emancipation 2]

According to UNRefugees.org, 75% of all asylum applications in the USA are rejected. I'd wager a large number of those are false, wouldn't you?

Not necessarily.. it could just mean that the US may not be as "refugee friendly" as other countries... I did find some other interesting statistics on there as well.. so thanks for the link..

http://www.usaforunhcr.org/usaforunhcr/dynamic.cfm?ID=73

True & False Questions I found interesting...

#13. Most of the world's refugees are fleeing to the United States.

False

More than 80 percent of the worlds refugees live in developing countries and seek asylum in the neighboring states. The first choice of most refugees is to return home when conditions become safe. The United States is too far away from home, too culturally and socially different, and too expensive to reach to be a desirable resettlement opportunity.

#29. Four times as many asylum seekers sought refugee status in Germany as in the U.S. in 1992.

True

Germany received 438,200 applications in 1992 and the United States received only 104,000.

#31. The United States has fewer refugees per capita than other western countries.

True

Sweden, Canada, and Australia have more refugees per capita.

Edited May 11, 2007 by Emancipation

[homesick_american 1]

yeap, even illegals have human rights.. those exist independently of residency status

Human rights, sure. Constitutional rights? Eh...not to me they don't. They have only one right, and that's to GTFH.

According to UNRefugees.org, 75% of all asylum applications in the USA are rejected. I'd wager a large number of those are false, wouldn't you?

Not necessarily.. it could just mean that the US may not be as "refugee friendly" as other countries... I did find some other interesting statistics on there as well.. so thanks for the link..

http://www.usaforunhcr.org/usaforunhcr/dynamic.cfm?ID=73

True & False Questions I found interesting...

#13. Most of the world's refugees are fleeing to the United States.

False

More than 80 percent of the worlds refugees live in developing countries and seek asylum in the neighboring states. The first choice of most refugees is to return home when conditions become safe. The United States is too far away from home, too culturally and socially different, and too expensive to reach to be a desirable resettlement opportunity.

#29. Four times as many asylum seekers sought refugee status in Germany as in the U.S. in 1992.

True

Germany received 438,200 applications in 1992 and the United States received only 104,000.

#31. The United States has fewer refugees per capita than other western countries.

True

Sweden, Canada, and Australia have more refugees per capita.

Yes, I was already aware of this. I used to be a left-wing radical. Emphasis on 'used to be'.

That does not change the fact that many asylum claims in the US and other countries are, in fact, bogus.

Next question.