Recent moves by the Trump administration to deliver on his promise to enforce our immigration laws appear to be causing some trepidation among some perhaps well-intentioned but absolutely ill-advised Republicans.
This issue has been brought to the forefront recently because of the wide media coverage of Kelly Yu, an illegal alien from China residing in the Phoenix metro area, who is facing likely deportation.
Ms. Yu could have avoided this if 20+ years ago she would have obeyed the deportation order that was issued to her. Better yet, she should not have crossed our southern border illegally. Instead, she chose to remain in the U. S. and engage in a lengthy and expensive legal battle, challenging her deportation order, that she was not qualified to win. Now that she has exhausted all legal options, many years later, it is time for her to leave.
The reasons for opposing most deportations tend to fall in two categories.
The first reason given is that these are law-abiding (except for immigration laws) individuals who have been here in some cases upwards of 20 years, raised families, paid taxes, and generally contributed to our societal wellbeing. But, is that not what is expected of everyone? Is that not what most legal aliens and citizens do?
Good behavior should not be a reason to award a lawful presence status that would not exist otherwise.
The second reason given is that enforcing immigration laws would break up families. Those who use this argument go on to vilify Republicans for allegedly violating their own family values.
In a recent article concerning the Kelly Yu case, Sen. Ruben Gallego is quoted as having stated, “If we’re a country that values families, why are we separating families?” That question comes up quite often as a defense against the deportation of illegal aliens.
In fact, this writer experienced the argument of family separation several years ago, during a Q&A following an immigration debate at which the late Alberto Gutier and I, both legal immigrants, presented the legal immigrants’ point of view.
My answer was that families need not be separated. They can all go back to where they came from together. Since the audience was hostile to begin with, it is not surprising that the ensuing sound of boos and grunts was deafening.
so there’s the issue of here 20 years – ok – living how? Working? So who’s the employer? did they check SSN? etc. Where did the taxes go? Where did the taxes go? To the general fund? or the employers pocket knowing no collection will ever come of it.. including Medicare as this – and many others in same boat need medical care – on the gov’t dollar? How much is this from a national basis in ‘floating dollars’ ?
In any other sovereign nation…NOT! A crime by any other name is a crime!
What I’m mostly miffed about is the obsessive focus that Reuben Gallego has in championing the “rights” of Illegal Aliens while ignoring the victims these lawbreakers have preyed upon! Gallego is an embarrassment to the Marine Corps and has openly defecated upon his oath of office to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and Domestic”. This punk needs to go!
What I’m mostly miffed about is the obsessive focus that Reuben Gallego has in championing the “rights” of Illegal Aliens while ignoring the victims these lawbreakers have preyed upon! Gallego is an embarrassment to the Marine Corps and has openly defecated upon his oath of office to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and Domestic”. This punk needs to go!
Live and let live is practically our national motto, but as the child of lawful immigrants I posit that it’s an injustice to the people who follow the law and work to earn citizenship to give the cheaters a pass. The people who are here illegally know that in their very own countries of origin, their actions would not be tolerated. If they got here illegally they know it and they know they need to get right or face deportation, regardless of how long they’ve been here or how peacefully they’ve lived here.
so my wife(US Citizen) came to U.S. legally in ’78 via her mom marrying
her brother also came – everyone got green cards
however her brother had baby born in Mexico that also came here(DREAMER)
today – brother let green card lapse and ICE is not making nice(he has UA degree)
son now 30(Dreamer) got his paperwork in order 5 years ago but didn’t keep it up
also now looking at getting deported(he cannot speak spanish)
both may be moving south of border
my wife is like oh well you did this to yourself
you can argue that with your wife is you want.. 🙂 My mom became citizen 8 years after my birth – she was from Mexico – married my American Father in ‘Mexico” moved to the USA. The divorced – in the early 50’s – citizen or not? Married American in foreign nation.. she had legal efforts and finally received citizenship some 8 years later. Her mother in tow – with Green Card and remaining such her entire life in America. I was born here.. of a foreign national ? Living on the border comes with some complexities. I’ve worked assisting in the delivery of number of children in America from the other side of the border. Americans?
Compassionate medical care – 7 ! – sextuplets – born some decade back – were from Canada – moved to America for birth with ICU for complex birth – Americans?
I will 100% guarantee that you will find numerous lies in her immigration case and paperwork. The fighting for years is usually a succession of rebutting lies they are telling to try to stay here.
They’re not Republicans. They’re RINOs at best.
Precisely
Ignoring Federal Immigration Enforcement was sold as compassionate. It encouraged complacency among Immigrants who should have exercised great diligence at their opportunity to become citizens. It is a heartbreaking reality to face the consequences of your own irresponsible behavior. We are not mean or hateful, you F’d up an invaluable gift.
Hey Rueben, I don’t see you applying your “separating families” logic to a convicted felon (or similar) that gets rightfully incarcerated for his crime. Doesn’t that ‘separate families’ too?
Both scenarios are examples of people who have broken the law!