American Dream Ends in Deportation

[almaty 19]

People use to be able to come to America for no other reason than wanting a better life. They use to be welcomed. There's a statue in New York that's all about that. Those immigrants made great contributions to American society. Why the isolationist mindset now?

There should be a method of legal entry for those wanting to come for that reason. I firmly believe that.

3 and 10 year bars are, in most cases, ridiculous. The punishment does not fit the crime. Yes there should be a penalty for 'breaking the law' but it needs to be proportionate.

i also agree...i think the current system obviously does not work and there is no means currently or in progress to improve it...the ban is a joke and too punitive and reinforces illegal behavior

[kerewin21 2]

There should be a method of legal entry for those wanting to come for that reason. I firmly believe that.

Isn't that what the Diversity Visa is for? It's unfortunate that it can only benefit those who come from under-represented countries, but isn't that a more fair way to do it, since people in those countries are less likely to have family members who will bring them over?

There's also the H visa for those who have skills or talents to come here legally.

There's no way that everyone who wants to come to improve their situation can come here. We need to try to come up with the most fair way for that. Maybe we should eliminate some of the family visas and offer more lottery spots in those countries that currently don't have them.

[Robor007 0]

Once you are here illegally, you have committed an act that has punishment as a response. To allow for mitigation of punishment by substituting rewards is special treatment.

That's why I say I don't know how I feel in this case. Yes, they did wrong by overstaying their tourist visas but they didn't become criminals or leeches on the government. They're a productive family which is more than some USC's can say. But if their overstay is rewarded it would set an example and more importantly a precedent.

Maybe if there was a better/easier way for people to immigrate here we wouldn't be reading about so much visa fraud and divorce over in the 'Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits' forum?

[Heracles 417]

That's why I say I don't know how I feel in this case. Yes, they did wrong by overstaying their tourist visas but they didn't become criminals or leeches on the government. They're a productive family which is more than some USC's can say. But if their overstay is rewarded it would set an example and more importantly a precedent.

You got that right.. The only workable solution is to uphold the law and make any necessary policy changes to prevent this from happening.. If someone genuinely wants to migrate to a country, why not provide the legal avenue for them to do so.. They should be asked a range of questions like whether they understand the values, culture & laws of the country they are migrating to and should be checked to see if they are of a good character as well as mentally stable. Followed by a 5 year probation period..

Where the above fails is when it comes to terrorists as they are more than willing to abuse any legitimate process..

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

That's why I say I don't know how I feel in this case. Yes, they did wrong by overstaying their tourist visas but they didn't become criminals or leeches on the government. They're a productive family which is more than some USC's can say. But if their overstay is rewarded it would set an example and more importantly a precedent.

You got that right.. The only workable solution is to uphold the law and make any necessary policy changes to prevent this from happening.. If someone genuinely wants to migrate to a country, why not provide the legal avenue for them to do so.. They should be asked a range of questions like whether they understand the values, culture & laws of the country they are migrating to and should be checked to see if they are of a good character as well as mentally stable. Followed by a 5 year probation period..

Where the above fails is when it comes to terrorists as they are more than willing to abuse any legitimate process..

Good idea, well said,

There are legal avenues for people to come here. Those who chose to ignore those have chosen to give up their priviliage of applying for legal residancy. They also put Americans at risk by taking resources away that protect our country!

I agree those who enter legally should not be banned for 5-10 years depending on how long they overstayed and what they did/ received while in the USA

For example if a tourist Overstayed and worked Illegally, Received public assisatance then They should be deported and banned to 5-10 years. because they knowingly defrauded the Govt.

However if someone overstays their Visa does not take public services, does Not work illegally or drive ilegally then those cases should be punished depending on the nature, Duration or reason they overstayed.

You enter illegally- NO Amnesty, deportation 10 year ban + Fines

You enter illegally and have children here- No amnesty, deportation 10 Year ban +fines

You work illegally, 10 year ban, pay back taxes + fines & Deportation.

The fact that there does exist certain populations that wish harm to the people of our country is the exact reason why those immigration policies are in place. If we do NOT enforce our laws then we become volunerable. We also Compromise the legal system and freedoms of our Country. Those who faciliate the violations of our immigration laws Also Support terrorism and acts of violence.

Those who come here illegally or enter and overstay while abusing & Taking advantage of slack immigration loop holes should be made to face the consequenes. Those who work with out authorization, take Public assistance when residing here Illegally are stealing from those with the legal right to those programs.

In addition certain popluations known for their continued failure to obey Immigration laws also fail to assimilate, refuse to learn English do NOT give back to the society, do nothing But Take, take, take expect free handouts with nothing in return. Worst of all they compromise our freedoms, enable terrorism & hurt the future prosperity of our Nation.

Thats why immigratiojn laws IN ALL CASES should be enforced to the letter of the law.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Addie_Goodvibes

[Sofiyya 1,687]

There was an interesting story on the local news yesterday about a Mexican who entered here illegally, worked his way up to Harvard and is now a renowned brain surgeon in the US..

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0207/401117.html

The story I want to see is that of a USC who evades federal taxes for a decade or more, then receives an amnesty allowing him to bypass repayment and punishment. She goes on to use that withholding to amass a fortune that puts her in the top economic 1% in the US. That's a story I could praise, use, and emulate! It would be a benefit for USCs. Those seem to be far and few these days while we're busy paying taxes to meet demands that benefit law-breakers.

In my dreams!

Edited February 28, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[rebeccajo 14]

There are legal avenues for people to come here.

Not very many, really.

Immediate family members and the highly skilled. That's about it as far as the everyday population goes.

[Alex+R 0]

There are legal avenues for people to come here.

Not very many, really.

Immediate family members and the highly skilled. That's about it as far as the everyday population goes.

It's a good point. I don't really understand when people make it sound like illegal immigrants were just too impatient to wait for the widely available legal visas. Asking the illegal immigrants to use the legal channels already available to them is basically asking them to commit family-based visa fraud, since that's the only other means of getting here permanently for an unskilled worker that I can think of.

[Caladan 19]

It seems they did enter legally, and then applied for asylum (it isn't clear when they did this, I'll assume they were significantly out of status); so it's not an EWI, it's a failed adjustment (from tourist to refugee.)

I'd be interested to learn more abotu their case, because it sounds like they tried legal methods to stay, and then when those legal methods failed, their overstay counted retroactively. After that, it seems the real crime is that there was no follow-up on a deportation order for, what, nearly 8 years? Until someone noticed a lot of Muslims in one place? We call that security?

In any case, I think we need more legal routes. We'll still have to limit it by numbers; too much of the planet would want to move here if it were unlimited. Travel is easier than it was when my great-grandparents immigrated.

But most of the abuse of the fiancé visa route, I'm convinced, is due to desperate women trying to find a way to a better life. There's a demand for it, and there should be a legal route. (For one, it would certainly make the family-based classes less contentious, since there'd be much less reason for fraud.)

[Sofiyya 1,687]

You know what? No matter what is done to "improve" immigration, it will never be enough for some people. There are groups championing gay immigration, HIV stricken immigration, immigration for the illiterate, the unskilled, the oppressed by their government immigrant. Why should anyone enter legally? Why not just advocate legal immigration for people who don't feel like doing paperwork, undergoing background checks; immgration for the impatient. We could all benefit from that. Heck, let's start a government agency for those who are willing to give up their jobs to illegals, since the job market and pay scales aren't shrinking fast enough already. There is no real end to this because someone will always want to lower the standards to suit their agenda.

[Addie_Goodvibes 0]

You know what? No matter what is done to "improve" immigration, it will never be enough for some people. There are groups championing gay immigration, HIV stricken immigration, immigration for the illiterate, the unskilled, the oppressed by their government immigrant. Why should anyone enter legally? Why not just advocate legal immigration for people who don't feel like doing paperwork, undergoing background checks; immgration for the impatient. We could all benefit from that. Heck, let's start a government agency for those who are willing to give up their jobs to illegals, since the job market and pay scales aren't shrinking fast enough already. There is no real end to this because someone will always want to lower the standards to suit their agenda.

Majority of those who oppose enfrocement of immigration laws do not understand this.

the more we compromise we lower standards then this nation of prosperity slowly will deteriate. The reasons people want to come here will no longer exist if we continue to allow illegal immigration without enforcement. There must be standards or we become another 3rd world nation.

We must protect our future, protect our freedom and opportunities in order for future generations of LEGAL immigrants to benefit from the American Dream.

Edited February 28, 2007 by Addie_Goodvibes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

And, as far as legal avenues, there are plenty (some of which SHOULD be eliminated):

• temp worker, employer sponsorship for GC
  
• marriage to USC
  
• parent or child¹ of USC
  
• spouse or child of GC holder
  
• sibling² of USC
  

1. Perhaps the "married child of USC" category could be eliminated, let those who fit here qualify on own-merit
   
2. This one should be eliminated altogether, as the waiting times have become unreasonable (between 12 and 22 YEARS)--and it ties up a lot of quota that could be better-used; basically appears to be a "last-gasp" category for those who would otherwise never qualify
   

Edited February 28, 2007 by CherryXS

[rebeccajo 14]

But most of the abuse of the fiancé visa route, I'm convinced, is due to desperate women trying to find a way to a better life. There's a demand for it, and there should be a legal route. (For one, it would certainly make the family-based classes less contentious, since there'd be much less reason for fraud.)

Absolutely.

I really don't understand why many people who did the family based route are so contentious towards those who 'short-circuited' the system.

Rather than crying foul and being so bitter about 'we did it the right way and you did not', why isn't there some understanding? Look at the hoops and hurdles we had to jump - do we wish that on everybody?

After one has been down this path, why wouldn't you feel some genuine compassion for making immigration a bit less complicated and bit more transparent?

I'm not saying we should just open the flood gates. But there's no reason for this system to be so complex. Nor is there any reason for some immigrant categories to be receiving preferential treatment or being able to 'waiver' transgressions that other categories cannot.

There's all sorts of ill-feeling towards illegal immigrants from those already in the system legally. It's my opinion that much of this feeling is based on the incorrect assumption that immigration reform will grant priveleges and rights to the 'illegals' that family based immigrants won't get.

Guess what? Immigration law is ALREADY that way.

It's my opinion we would all be better served it we were pressing our representatives to make sure family-based categories benefit from future legislation. Because they ARE going to pass it.

[Fandango 1,440]

If we took on every person who yearned for a better life, America would become a third world nation.

This is not the 'give me your tired, your poor! etc' of the America from the past....this is now a colonized land with its own people. Simple mathematics can illustrate how the immigration policy of the past cannot sustain itself in future.

But most of the abuse of the fiancé visa route, I'm convinced, is due to desperate women trying to find a way to a better life. There's a demand for it, and there should be a legal route. (For one, it would certainly make the family-based classes less contentious, since there'd be much less reason for fraud.)

Don't forget the desperate men who bring them here hahahahhaha

[DeadPoolX 9]

If we took on every person who yearned for a better life, America would become a third world nation.

This is not the 'give me your tired, your poor! etc' of the America from the past....this is now a colonized land with its own people. Simple mathematics can illustrate how the immigration policy of the past cannot sustain itself in future.

No one's suggesting that everyone be allowed in, but shouldn't there a happy medium between "give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, etc" and "only family members and those with extraordinary abilities allowed in?"

I can definitely understand the U.S. not wanting to flood itself, but I think on some level, it's a bit too difficult to become a permanent resident in this country, let alone a citizen.

Edited March 1, 2007 by DeadPoolX