A story in today's Times details the ongoing saga of illegal immigrant Jorge Chehade and a new bill being put forth by Congressman Jim McDermott to help him stay in the US.
Let me start off by saying that I honestly feel for this kid. He's seems like a good lad: graduated high school with honors, ran his own small business and recently graduated with a degree in business from the UW. By nearly all accounts Chehade is a model citizen and I wish more folks born in the US were like him but whether, in the cosmic sense of the word, it's fair or not, the law is the law and Congressman Jim McDermott can't just go waiving it for one guy, no matter how great he may be. As sad as it may be for Chehade to return to Peru, leaving his family behind (which, by the way, doesn't make sense because I assume, they too, are illegal and should be shipped back with him) it's what he must do.
Throngs of qualified and decent people want to settle here and it would be nice if we could just open our borders, letting in anyone who wanted to enjoy the American Dream. But, because we live in an imperfect world, often times a place I like to call the real world, a place that people like Jim McDermott seem to have left awhile ago, we can't be that magnanimous. There just isn't enough room.
My advice to the young Mr. Chehade would be to follow the law, go back to Peru, and then apply to return legally.
And my advice to our elected officials like Congressman McDermott would be, instead of writing a bill to save one illegal immigrant from deportation, why not focus on the problem at large. Our current immigration system, like much of our government, is a victim of its own bureaucracy. While we need to enforce and perhaps strenghten current laws that are letting illegal immigrants into this country by the thousands, we also need to streamline the system so that good people like Chehade can come here legally and not have to fill out a thousand different forms and wait years before coming here.
Posted by MarkGriswold at September 30, 2009 09:42 AM | Email ThisThat's the law.
And there's nothing legally wrong with a law that allows him to continue living here: it would not be excusing him from any serious crime, again, it's just an infraction.
I don't think it should be done this way -- we should have a broader and more comprehensive reform effort instead of doing it piecemeal for individuals -- but it's no different to the law than waiving a speeding ticket, which happens all the time (usually by the cop at the scene, but sometimes in court too).
Let me ask you this: if a pregnant woman, water broken, were being driven by her husband to the hospital and he was speeding, would you have a problem with the government waiving that ticket? It really is the same thing.
The difference between the two is not in the law, but in the perception of the severity of the consequences: deportation is obviously a big deal to the person being deported. But in the eyes of the law, it's just putting you where you belong, and it is NOT a big deal. (Although coming back illegally after deportation IS a big deal.)
If he had ENTERED the country illegally, that would be a different story. That is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. But overstaying a visa is not a crime any more than going 65 in a 55 is.
We have immigration law courts for a reason. Just because McDermott doesn't think the immigration law judge made the right decision, and just because McDermott may have the right to put forth a bill saving Chehade from deportation, doesn't mean he should.
As far as comparing overstaying one's visa to speeding, it would be more accurate to say that, after the cop pulled the speeder over he decided not to give him a ticket and then continued to let him speed. As long as Chehade is in this country he is breaking the law and is, therefore, illegal. Is he a bad person? Should he go to jail for a year let alone a week? No. He should simply stop breaking the law, go back to Peru, which, last time I checked, wasn't hacking peoples heads off or anything, and then go through the appropriate channels to return.
Posted by: MarkGriswold on September 30, 2009 11:20 AMSend McDemott to Peru and let the kid stay, or even better pay Peru to take nut case Jim.
Posted by: Oxymoron on September 30, 2009 11:41 AMBut those aren't federal. ;-)
Again, though, I am not saying McDermott is right. In fact, I said he was wrong. This is the wrong way to do what he wants done. I agree with you that we should not make such laws.
And yes, the analogy is imperfect, but the point is that he is not guilty of a serious violation, and as such -- in the eyes of the law -- there's not much to get worked up over here, to me.
I am not saying you're wrong, I am just saying what Chehade is guilty of is not a big deal to the law, and therefore not to me.
Tax evasion? He ran a business - did he pay taxes?
Identity theft? Whose birth certificate, driver's license, etc. has he been using?
How did he attend school without these things, if he didn't use someone else's?
Did he register for Selective Service?
Perjury? Throughout the years, signing that the information was true...
Too bad laws aren't flexible enough to let justice be flexible. The laws are set so bureaucrats can hide behind the inflexibility and not have to worry about true justice.
In this case a minor is brought in illegally to this country. Said minor grows up with parents and is a model citizen.
What if the kid was 1 month old when brought to the US?
What if the kid was constantly in trouble but had been here since being 1 month old?
J
#9 Douglas Aldrich, don't you think it's the least bit irresponsible to simply make up or guess accusations? I think it is.
Posted by: John Jensen on September 30, 2009 01:33 PMI don't think it irresponsible to ask questions if they are logical.
It is highly probable that more serious crimes have been committed in the course of his staying here. Some by his parents, and some by him.
Please consider that the young man could not go to ANY school without documentation of some sort, some of which he would have personally provided after the age of 18.
Of course, that is not counting the procurement of a driver's license, etc. and what that involved.
Posted by: Douglas Aldrich on September 30, 2009 01:44 PMIf you want to live in a state where the rule of law means nothing... then you are on the right path. Just pick and choose if and when immigration laws can be enforced. You'll have a state like California that has 2.7 million law breaking illegal immigrants expecting every social program available. Putting millions of anchor babies into the welfare system annually.
Crime from gangs will require an expensive task force to contend with the massive gang problems that come with the illegal immigrant presence.
You better get additional schools and prisons built too. Hire a bunch more interpreters, judges and attorneys.... you'll need a lot more than you currently have. Prepare to have your state budget to mushroom like Hiroshima. But the American families that need assistance won't be served anymore.
Also, these folks don't vote or pay taxes so you may have a citizen outcry from your constituents. Tell Mr. McDermott to find a new job because the folks that vote and pay taxes will never vote for him again. But he'll have the support of LA RAZA and the ACLU to keep him warm.
Of course, you could just deport him and his family and be done with it.
Posted by: MadMommy on September 30, 2009 01:46 PMread my lips---you want illegals here, YOU pay for them--ALL costs--like a dependent--med, food, house, etc; AND--put them up in YOUR houses; YOU are liable for ALL their actions;
when people take PERSONAL responsibility for illegal immigrants they want to sponsor & personally vouch for, then o.k.--i'll listen
immigrant legal groups and ethnic groups all love helping people--especially when U.S. Joe Taxpayer foots the bill for meds, translation services, etc
have their own interest groups foot the bill at no cost to us and THEN i'll listen...
until then, it's all B.S. feel-good P.C. shyt;
While it may not be Mr. Chehede's fault he has overstayed his 'legal status', but rather his parents, it IS HIS repsonsibility to rectify this by going through the system and jumping through the hoops like every other person seeking to be here has had to jump through.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 30, 2009 08:50 PMYes, Daniel. And the reason for that crippling wait is because of unfettered illegal immigration into this country in the last 30+ years. The illegal immigrant/ gate crashers are causing those willing to stand in line and respect our sovereignty to wait for longer periods of time and jump through a myriad of red tape prior to approval for entry.
It is that same illegal immigrant that is hindering the entry of the legitimate and legal immigrant access to this country, and I think that is wrong.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 30, 2009 10:04 PM“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ya got a good story but our government says ya don’t qualify.”
One of those few times the Right Wing wackos are willing to “gubmint” authority: When it protects their god given rights to enjoy the benefits of their accidental birth within the borders of the USA.
This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!
Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!
This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!
Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!
So now our immigration laws (and presumably those of other nations in the world) are "excessive and abusive"? What an ignorant comment to make. Immigration laws are in place to regulate population to coincide with a limited number of resources in the country.i.e. Jobs, housing, education resources, food sources, etc. You are simply naive if you think we can sustain unfettered immigration into this country.
Also, If these laws are so excessive and abusive, why would all of those people standing in line continue to wait in line? There must be some reward worth receiving in this cold hearted nation, right? And since when is it wrong to have all immigrants having to abide by the same set of rules? Why, in your eyes, does a Guatemalan here illegally for 1 year deserve a recognized status that someone that has been waiting in line for 8 years going through the legal channels from the phillipines does not?
You're not consistent, Daniel.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 1, 2009 08:54 AMStrange...I thought you were a Conservative but, your thinking patterns are that of a confused Liberal. Perhaps, I was wrong.
Sure it is as you have no proof to back up your assertion that it is excessive or abusive. No foreign national has a "Right" to be here. We currently have 12-20 million illegals that essentially crashed the gates rather than do it through legal channels. You still have yet to explain why that Guatemalan that made it here is any more deserving of recognition and rewards when he jumped in line in front of the Philipino. What you're experiencing is cognitive dissonance, which is why you can't answer that and remain consistent in your argument.
It is a well establish fact that has been proved many times throughout history.
Where? When? citation?
Again, you are Lying. What I'm saying is, the State Department needs to clean up its act and by doing so, will go a long ways to begin to solve the problem.
Once again, and still, WRONG! The state department has nothing to do with 12-20 million squatters that have broken our sovereign immigration laws and entered this country illegally.
Strange...I thought you were a Conservative but, your thinking patterns are that of a confused Liberal.
Wow, you're projection isn't making your argument any more coherent, but rather just the exact opposite. When did you, as a "conservative", stop believing in the rule of law, Daniel?
Posted by: Rick D. on October 1, 2009 09:52 AMI don't think Daniel is advocating that some people have more right to break immigration laws than others or that we don't need immigration reform. He's simply saying that part of the solution, as I mentioned in the main post, is cutting out a lot of the red tape that currently exists.
He is correct in stating that as laws become more excessive and abusive more people will break them. Proof?
Prohibition for one. When alcohol was illegal not only did we have a rise in crime related to the prohibition (Al Capone, et al) but we also had thousands and thousands of otherwise law abiding citizens who were breaking the law by going to speakeasies. The upper class folks were probably the biggest "criminals", regularly having parties where the champagne flowed free.
And then there's taxes. One of the reasons that tax revenue goes down when taxes go up is that more people cheat on their taxes.
So, we do need to better enforce current immigration laws, strengthen the border, do away with "sanctuary cities", send people we catch packing instead of throwing them in jail, fining companies that hire illegals, etc. But we also need to make it easier for those good people who do want to come here legally to do so. Once upon a time I was a secretary in an immigration law office and let me tell ya, the amount of ridiculous paperwork, money and time that was spent to get someone into this country, someone that we were clearly going to let in, was out of control.
The State Department has a lot to do with illegal immigration. By generating a ridiculous and debilitating waits encourages the breaking of the law ergo, the temptation to simply ignore the law and hence the millions of illegals.
I do believe in The Rule of Law but, only if the Law is reasonable, Just and well applied. Only a Slave minded Fool would believe in and blindly follow a Law that is Unjust and poorly applied. Does anything I have written make any sense to you? Naah...You're a Liberal!
Sure he is. He believes that Mr.Chehede should receive special status because he's already here, while someone else that is abiding by the U.S. immigration laws is outside looking in. I do agree completely with your third paragraph, though. The first rule in first aid is to stop the bleeding and I say that rule should be applied to immigration to this country. I would favor a moratorium on immigration and until we figure our how the ones here are dealt with and the process improved, all immigration ceases. I see california as the model of what happens when you accomodate illegal aliens. They've placed a huge burden on that state from social services, education and health care. I say we as a nation learn from CA and learn from their mistake.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 1, 2009 11:17 AMAs I stated before,Daniel. Foreign nationals don't have a 'right' to emigrate to this nation. Have you ever thought that the state department is merely restricting access from those standing in line to compensate for the 12-20 million that crashed the gates? Is there some magic number that you've arrived at as to how many we let in?
I do believe in The Rule of Law but, only if the Law is reasonable, Just and well applied.
So you believe in the rule of law as long as Daniel thinks that law is valid, correct? And since when do we let foreign nationals determine which immigration laws are valid, Daniel? Is there some huge outcry from Americans that we need more immmigration to this country that I haven't heard about? I'm fairly certain the polls are not on your side on this issue.
Does anything I have written make any sense to you? Naah...You're a Liberal!
Nothing you've written makes any sense because it is largely inconsistent with logic. And calling me a liberal doesn't make you sound any more coherent.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 1, 2009 11:35 AMHowever...
[He] would show mercy and let him become an American citizen without further ado.
The departure from logic is astounding.
Posted by: Rick D. on October 1, 2009 11:48 AMtranslation: "you caught me in an obvious logic deficit and now, in order to save face, must now call my own words written back to me "out of context" as they contradicted one another. Then I must launch into a "you're a liberal" mode so as to lend the death blow to any further rational discussion of the topic at hand"
- See Al Gore/Global warming-
I'll second that...
Posted by: Rick D on October 1, 2009 05:31 PMNext stop, western state hospital....
Posted by: Rick D on October 1, 2009 10:57 PM