Illegal Immigration: Closing the Gates ... Mom, kids joining deported dad in Mexico
The Post and Courier
Before driving off to Mexico on Friday morning Melanie Bernal hugs her daughter Hope while daughter Joy waits. Twelve-year-old Hope will stay in Mount Pleasant and live with her father David Snell (background) and Melanie, Joy and daughter London, 4, will join husband and father Ramon Bernal in Mexico, who was deported because of his immigration status.
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Moving to Mexico
Melanie Bernal and 2 of her children, Joy ,7, and London, 4, left for Mexico on Friday morning to join Melanie's husband and the girls' father Ramon Bernal who had been deported because of his immigration status. Melanie Bernal's twelve-year-old daughter Hope will stay in Mount Pleasant to live with her father David Snell.
On the Web
As legislators in Columbia and other state capitals forge immigration reform bills, all the while railing at Congress for its inability to come up with a solution, Americans fume and worry over what they perceive to be either a threat or a potential boon. It's a debate that often is portrayed as a choice between amnesty or deportation.
The Bernal family is caught in the middle — and struggling to stay together.
Full circle
It all started in 1987. That's when Ramon came to the United States illegally from San Luis Potosi in central Mexico. He was 18, pushed like so many other poor, young men to seek a better life up north, to help his family from a distance.
He was scared, but he came. He was dropped off in Atlanta, his wife says, and "lived in a place where everyone looked like a criminal." He was unemployed for several weeks, then eventually found a job cooking and cleaning for someone. A little later, he found work as a gardener. He earned $3 an hour.
Little by little, he established himself. He settled in the Lowcountry in 1999 and started a painting company. He worked hard, paid taxes, began to contribute to the local economy.
Melanie Snell was a South Carolina native with a daughter from a previous marriage. In October 2001, she and Ramon married and decided to apply for Ramon's citizenship. They wanted to set things straight, Melanie says. They knew they likely would be penalized in some way. But they also knew they needed to abide by the law because a family can't prosper when uncertainty looms overhead.
"We had no idea what we were in store for," Melanie says.
Years went by with minimal communication between the Bernals and immigration authorities. Two babies were born. The painting business took off. Ramon was doing work on beach houses, big jobs. The family bought a house in The Peninsula subdivision off Clements Ferry Road on Daniel Island. They bought a Ford Expedition. The bought a work van and other equipment. They sent their daughter, Joy, to Palmetto Christian Academy.
Finally, after several queries, they received word from the authorities in the form of a letter that arrived at the house while the family was on a Christmas vacation in North Carolina: Ramon would have to return to Mexico and wait while his petition for a visa waiver was processed. Once in Mexico, the Bernals learned that it could take about a year, but he says they were told that he was married to a U.S. citizen and surely would be able to return.
Ramon left his family in January 2007. He had been living in the U.S. for 20 years. His English is pretty good now. He was no longer accustomed to the poverty and dangers of Mexico. He returned to San Luis Potosi, where his mother lives, with no job prospects. He couldn't make a cell phone call unless he climbed to the top of the nearby mountain where he could get a signal.
He struggled to find a job. He was robbed at knife-point. He had close calls with thugs.
Ramon went to Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast, where he had vacationed with his family. He remembered the building boom. Job prospects would be better in a nice tourist town, he thought.
"Puerto Vallarta is beautiful when you go like a tourist," Ramon says by telephone. "But with no money and no place to live, it's the opposite."
Behind the big hotels, swimming pools and cabanas, it can be ugly. And dangerous. Trash is strewn in the lots. Residents must navigate mud and waste as they make their way along the roads. The schools are full or bad or unreliable.
He thought he had put all of this behind him.
Desperation
It took 11 months, but the family got its answer from immigration officials: The waiver was denied. The Bernals failed to demonstrate a sufficient amount of "extreme hardship," the letter explained. Ramon could petition for an appeal, but that would take about a year and a half, and it might not work. He simply could wait in line for who knows how long, maybe years.
"Why they do that?" he asks. "I worked hard in the U.S. I did nothing to nobody. I settled down, tried to raise a family, I tried to do the right thing."
Ramon is afraid of losing his family. "I love the United States," he says. "It's not fair."
Melanie and the children had visited Mexico a few times during the past year, and in December they went again so the family could be together for Christmas. Shortly after Melanie returned home, Ramon consulted with some church friends. They told him a man's responsibility is first and foremost to his family. That's what the Bible says.
So, driven by desperation, he did something rash. He tried to sneak across the border again.
This time, he didn't make it. After he was caught, the U.S. prosecutor in Laredo, Texas, wanted the judge to sentence Ramon to 90 days in jail. The judge asked Ramon why he tried to cross illegally, for the second time. Ramon explained that his family was here, his life was here.
The jail requirement was waived, but he was returned to Mexico. Ramon says the authorities in Laredo were understanding and fair.
But his decision to break the law a second time by illegally entering the United States turned out to have devastating consequences for the Bernals.
Melanie received another letter from immigration authorities the day after Ramon was caught. The letter congratulated her: the waiver had been approved, a reversal perhaps because of the prodding of Sen. Lindsey Graham's office, which took an interest in the case and sent letters to immigration officials.
But the deportation order had been issued, and it canceled the waiver. Because he has entered illegally twice, Ramon is now barred from the U.S. for 10 years.
The unraveling
In Charleston, Melanie was trying to keep the painting business afloat, but the housing market had taken a turn for the worse. Managing subcontractors was difficult, and work was scattered. Plus, she had two young children and her oldest daughter to take care of, politicians and other connections to query and lots of thinking and planning. She and Ramon also were expecting another baby.
Her parents were long dead; an aunt offered love and moral support. Some people at East Cooper Baptist stepped in, helping to pay some bills.
Little by little, the business was failing.
In Mexico, Ramon was searching for a stable job. He heard that the economy in Monterrey was relatively good, that he would be more likely to find something in this northeastern industrialized city, the third largest in Mexico. He secured a position at a plant that assembles ambulances.
He is earning the equivalent of about $400 a month. He can make a little extra each week by working a sixth day. After a month of searching, he found a decent house in a safe neighborhood 30 minutes outside of the city. He will have to ride a bus to work each day. Rent is $350 a month. He probably will have to take a second job.
The past couple of months have been traumatic for Melanie, and on March 5, it all came to a head. She appeared in bankruptcy court. Trustee Michelle Vieira asked her the usual set of questions:
"Do you have any source of income?"
"None."
"Do you receive child support?"
"No, ma'am. But I pay $255 a month ..."
And then Melanie takes a moment to explain the situation to Vieira.
"I'm religious," she says. "God's got a plan for me. I'm leaving next Friday to join my husband in Mexico."
The hearing was quick. Melanie would forfeit all her assets, including $2,500 of her $3,400 income tax refund. She would drive a donated car.
"That's all the questions I have," Vieira says. After a pause, she adds, "Good luck to you."
Last week, Melanie and Ramon tried desperately, from their respective bases, to gain permission from the Mexican authorities to transport the family furniture across the border. Ramon paid $50 — a lot of money in Mexico — for a notarized letter granting permission for his wife to bring the furniture, but the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh demanded a signature in ink.
"Ramon's in Mexico," Melanie explained to the officials on the telephone.
It was no use. So she is headed to her new home in Monterrey with nothing but two suitcases full of clothes.
Bitterness, resignation
A deaf roommate in college taught Melanie sign language, but that skill is of little use in Mexico. She can't sign in Spanish. She can't work legally until she gets a permit. And, with three children to look after, securing a job soon is unlikely.
She finds some solace in her invigorated faith. God has a plan, she says, but she's unsure what it is yet.
Her daughters Joy, 7, and London, 5, are not fluent in Spanish and are entering a strange new world. Melanie says she will home-school the children at first, settle in and figure things out before deciding on how best to educate them.
She's worried about the children's chronic asthma. What is medical care like in Mexico? She's worried about her own health. Melanie's family has a history of heart disease. Already, she's had two heart catheterizations to clear clogged arteries.
Joy is unsure of what's happening and what it all means. London is too young to understand. Both Melanie and her first husband, David Snell, are concerned about their daughter, Hope.
She is 12 and doesn't know when she'll see her mother again. Mature for her age, she lives mostly with her dad but splits her time between parents. She's a straight-A student at Cario Middle School.
Her mother is glad to be reuniting with Ramon despite the circumstances, but says she is heartbroken to leave Hope.
David is wracked with anxiety by the turn of events. He only learned about the worsening situation before Christmas.
He grasps at solutions that don't exist. He will take care of all the children, he says. He's angry and frustrated. Sure, Melanie and Ramon are caught up in an imperfect system that needs fixing, but they made the choices that led to this, didn't they?
But then he remembers Ramon, what a good father he is, how hard he works, how much he loves his family.
"I could not be without my children for that amount of time," says David, who has two young daughters.
"My biggest concern is, obviously, Hope," he says a few days before Melanie leaves for Mexico. "I think it's really starting to hit her now."
Farewell — for now
On Friday, Melanie packed the last of the family's belongings in the car and prepared to leave her country. It's a 30-hour drive to Monterrey. Hope will stay with her dad and stepmother. David is setting up a computer so Hope can talk with her mom and sisters and see them on the screen.
In the meantime, Melanie and Ramon have a lot to do. The house needs appliances and furniture. The kids need attention and reassurance. Adjusting to a new family life in Mexico is going to be difficult, but Melanie says she still hopes to return to the United States someday.
"The trouble with the immigration system is that it doesn't care about families," she says. "It has no feelings."
Reach Adam Parker at 937-5902 or aparker@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
It is sad story, but illegal is against the law, no matter where it is, will she be in mexico legally or illegal. I am not against anyone wanting to make a better life, but sneaking across the border is a crime.
March 16, 2008 at 2:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
simon_birch (anonymous) says...
I am sorry, but the family placed the children in this situation and now try and point the finger at someone else. Do your children a big favor and accept responsibility for what you have done, unless you want to teach your children that it is ok to do something wrong as long as you don't get caught. Why have they not tried for the 20 years to become legal? Look at what has become of the millions of illegals here now! Finally the employers are being held responsible for hireing illegals, should have been done long ago, but it's never too late to make it right. It is a hard lesson, but one that I hope sends a message to the rest of the illegals here now, your next, go home before you get sent home.
March 16, 2008 at 5:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pirate42 (anonymous) says...
Sad but the FATHER new he was not legal he put his whole family in this situation as well did the mother feel sorry for them sorry Can not there adults hope mexico treats you well.
March 16, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ballachulish (anonymous) says...
Sad, but avoidable.
Everyone in this situation knew that they were committing a crime and still they chose to have children that would suffer because of their criminality.
March 16, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
When he went back to Mexico for a year, that demonstrated that at least he was willing to come clean and play it fair to make a new start.
Being married to an American, working, and generally being a productive citizen should have gotten the waiver approved within one year.
Trying to sneak back into the US was stupid though, that sealed his fate and that of the rest of his family.
A bid situation for them, but one of their own making. I wish them luck in Mexico.
March 16, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
native1 (anonymous) says...
Karma is a b***h.
March 16, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
I agree simon_birch, after the fact this is a sad story BUT dad knew what he was doing. I think he played the system.
Hey move to Canada they're looking for cheap labor! Did you guys see that story? Canada allows illegals for their cheap labor! Bu they're not in the US because of that, remember they're here because Americans won't work! BS! Hey the Misses probaly not gonna like Mexico after living on Daniel Island too. Better try Canada.
March 16, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dustym59 (anonymous) says...
this is a crock...wonder she didnt drag the white kid with her dumb a_ _ .
Life better in Mexico,hit the road...next!?
March 16, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Funny tripsa! Your right imagine that, the peso worth more than the dollar. I may try to sneak into Mexico then...NOT!
March 16, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
"It all started in 1987......He earned three dollars an hour."
The minimum wage in the United States in 1987 was 3.35 cents per hour. I could barely afford a 110 car payment, insurance, and taxes on the wage.
Some United States citizen were looking for work as a gardener when Ramon took that job. The employer took advantage of Ramon. The employer took advantage of illegal immigration. Without Ramon, the employer would be forced by the local economy to pay more.
While this story is sad, it points directly to the problem from the beginning. Ramon presence in this country immediately threw a wrench into the economy. Sure he did good for himself. But with every opportunity, opportunity was stolen from an american born citizen.
Looking for a job in Mexico? Try the automotive industry. Over 2 million cars and trucks are assembled in Mexico each year. Only half of those cars are purchased in Mexico. The other half are shipped to the United States.
Toyota's are made in Tijuana.
Ford's are made in Hermosillo and Cuautitlan.
Nissan's are made in Aguascalientes and Cuernavaca.
Honda's are made in Guadalajara.
VW's are made in Puebla.
Chrysler's are made in Toluca.
GM's are made in San Luis Potos, Guanajato, Satillo, and Toluca.
......and those plants speak nothing for the 430,000 jobs producing 24 billion dollars worth of parts annually.
Does it sound like it's tough to find a job in Mexico?
March 16, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tulane75 (anonymous) says...
The comments of Thomas1776 do not merit a response.
March 16, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
ZOD is right. We get the scums of the Mexican economy, the welfare illiterates.
March 16, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dbeast420 (anonymous) says...
"Sure, Melanie and Ramon are caught up in an imperfect system that needs fixing, but they made the choices that led to this, didn't they?"
HUMPH........
Ain't life a bitch
March 16, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbird19552001 (anonymous) says...
Ridge Runner wrote that this is a sad story. I disagree. It depends on what side you are looking at it from. Since his painting business is gone and he is not employing illegal aliens to work for him, then the chances are that native South Carolinians will get some of their business back. Business that was stolen from them when this illegal started his own company and undercut other legal businesses that have been in business for decades.
On another note, I wrote my esteemed senator, Lindsey Graham back in August when my business was shot to hell by all the illegal companies undercutting me. It took 4 months for me to get a reply back. It was a form letter explaining exactly why he was for comprehensive immigration reform. Nothing at all about anything but amnesty.
So if this reporter is seeking the sympathy factor from a small businessesman in South Carolina, like me for instance, she had better get into another line of work. She writes crap like this because she knows that she never has to worry about getting replaced in her occupation by an illegal alien. Like my business and occupation for instance. Which just happens to be home construction in Columbia. An industry that just happens to be over run with 75% illegal aliens.
March 16, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sherrick13 (anonymous) says...
Good, get out. Illegals and their enablers can go to he11.
March 16, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Amnesty =
Since we failed to protect our borders and enforce our laws, would the US citizenry please let these incidents of illegal immigration slide? We don't know how to fix this other than to make illegals legal. But we promise to protect our borders and enforce our laws in the future......
March 16, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
boomerluck (anonymous) says...
This couple may have gone about things the wrong way...Yes...and when all of you see words like illegal and crime and Mexico,I guess it's easy to sit back and throw around hateful and insensitive words. I lived by this couple and their childern. Some could only hope to be as lucky as we were to have neighbors we actually liked. They had a business and worked very hard. They were very friendly and kind. Their children were always happy. I only wish that we knew of their troubles and the extent of them a little sooner.I know I would have done whatever I could to help.I wonder... if any of you would have had the chance to know them...would your thoughts be different?Looking at some of the comments I can understand why they might not have asked for help from their neighbors.I wish them well and hope that something good happens for them and they can soon live back in the U.S.
March 16, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
First, I love the line on the front page of this story. "But a decision Ramon made two decades ago, a gamble that seemed to have paid off handsomely, finally caught up with him". Are we supposed to feel sorry about this? So you got to take some risks (even illegal ones) to succeed, it that the message? This isn't as if it were a legitimate enterprise in the first place that suffered some unpreventable tragedy.
Second, according to the article and his wife's account he landed in a place in Atlanta that everyone looked like criminals. Well, wasn't that because, they no doubt were? If they looked like him, could it be that was a place used to house "illegal aliens" upon their surreptitous arrival? The story didn't want to go into that aspect of the human trafficking and illegal entry portion of the grand scheme though apparently. Perhaps that will be delved into in a later portion of these ongoing "human interest" stories.
Thirdly, thanks for the revelation of the hand of Sen. Grahamnasty in this to manipulate Federal law, no doubt under the guise of "constituent service" for the American citizen wife. Certainly the "Gentleman from South Carolina" would not do anything for an illegal alien, especially as "constituent service" and in derogation of other members of his constituency.
I note Mrs. Bernal isn't to work without a permit. Imagine that and being married to a Mexican citizen too. What an absolute shame. Does not the Mexican system of immigration care about families? Ah, well, given the propensity of the husband to break laws anyway, I'm sure with a little coaching she'll catch on fast. Who knows, perhaps her decision to go to Mexico and maybe work illegally will be a gamble that may pay off handsomely.
And so she says the, (presumably American) immigration system doesn't care about families and has no feelings. Ha, well what consulate in Raleigh refused to allow their furniture across the border despite what the paper attempted to cleverly describe with optional vocabulary of another term, the sum of $50 being paid by the husband. Yes, I recall now, it was the Mexican Consulate in Raleigh.
Finally, did the paper investigate to discover if the "decline" of the business, was calculated and may have been in anticipation and preparation of this move? Was there a liquidation of business assets and transportation of those liquid assets to Mexico before the filing for bankruptcy protection?
Are these not legitimate inquiries the paper should have made in this story? If they did, why not preclude the observation of any apparent slant of the report by indicating that issue had been reviewed?
March 16, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Boomerluck,
While I do not think you were addressing my commments, I do think you are misinformed on this issue. Much of it may have to do with how you choose to deal with problems individually. Here is my take on this problem. The problem is 12 million (illegal immigrants) strong. Americans do not care to deal with individual issues at this point. Illegal immigration is a plague at this point. Squashing the issue comes down to one of two choices.
A) You can forgive and forget as some in the US government have already attempted and failed to do.
B) You can fix the problem without regard to any individual characteristic.
I think most americans quietly choose option B knowing that eventually option A will win the day. What you are reading is not hateful words toward this family. It's hateful words for the failure of the US government irrespective of those involved.
March 16, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
tbird
What you missed in my post , was i was a bit sareastic in my first sentence. This immigration war sounds like Barney Fife when he said you give them 5 mph they will take 10, you give them 10 they take 20.something needs to happen now. if not the average blue collar workers will be fighting trying to get the job cutting the grass at TACO BELL
March 16, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disco (anonymous) says...
I believe this story was done to bring sympathizers to the Bernal family, but it backfired. I do feel sorry for the children in this, but the parents knowingly put them in this predicament. Hopefully, this will be a lesson to all illegals that no matter how much they contribute, they are still here illegally and will be taken care of accordingly.
March 16, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
also he was an illegal running a business, was he paying taxes, did he have insurance and pay workers comp on the illegals that worked for him. why did a bank give him money for cars houses ect. I know what Thomas said dosent apply to this criminal, it does show that anyone can move in next door.
March 16, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
boomerluck (anonymous) says...
Zod,
I'm not misinformed on the real issue of illegal immigrants. I know and understand what a huge problem it has become. I'm not denying it and I don't live in a closet and think that I'll come out one day and it will be taken care of! My comment was for this family!
March 16, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iculukin (anonymous) says...
Of course the post would pick this family to write an article on. Why not pick a family out of Walmart? The law is the law. Its time to enforce it. I'm tired of pressing 1 for English.
March 16, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jimisle (anonymous) says...
The anger and resentment toward guys like Ramon should be redirected to our lawmakers who have buried their heads in the sand. I can't say I wouldn't have done what Ramon did given the same circumstances. Was it wrong? Absolutely. But desperate situations sometimes are resolved by desperate measures. If we want to control our borders, then Congress needs to get serious about reenforcing our immigration laws now. And citizens need to vote for/against these lawmakers according to this issue. Otherwise, this cycle is going to continue, and nothing any individual state legislature does is going to work. Sorry, SC lawmakers are wasting their (and our) time with this feel good immigration reform law.
March 16, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paul (anonymous) says...
I feel their pain, but an illegal immigrant is just ...
ILLEGAL !
March 16, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PennyGirl (anonymous) says...
Heartless. Unbelievable really.
March 16, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
I personally don't like the illegals being here, they all need to be deported. I could say tough tooties but I do feel sorry for them all. Ramon and Melanie obviously married for love and not for a green card. How many people would willingly move to Mexico to keep the family together? Well at least they tried to do everything the right way but they were denied.
They are all going to have it rough in Mexico. He is only making 400.00 amonth and rent is 350.00 a month. Geez talk about not making ends meet. I betchya that there won't be any help from the Mexican government with food stamps and free medical care!
March 16, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettoruckus (anonymous) says...
Good for her. She is doing the right thing. Trying to right the wrong someone else did.
March 16, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mnbvcxz (anonymous) says...
y'all broke da law stop krying
March 16, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hadenuff (anonymous) says...
I think most Americans welcome legal immigration. People who go through the steps necessary to immigrate here and eventually become citizens have been and are very much welcomed with open arms. Both sets of my grandparents legally immigrated here. They didn't sneak across the border in the dead of night as the majority of these illegals among us now did.
Go to the website http://www.immigrationshumancost.org and have a look-see at the cesspool we are creating for ourselves with this travesty now in-effect. The failed Amnesty plan of last summer that was almost shoved down our throats by our gutless politicians is about to be resurrected very soon so be on the watch for that.
This man broke the law twice. And now we're supposed to feel sorry for him?
March 16, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
recentcharlestonian (anonymous) says...
What everyone has to ask themselves is "what would i have done if i was in his situation?" We often take for granted the country we live in and the freedom and rights we have. If you were from a poverty stricken country and needed to survive, maybe you should consider what extent you'd go to in order to survive. If the gov't was so concerned about it, maybe they should have had tighter boarder patrol. Is what he did right? Hard for me to say. Before you can pass judgement, maybe you need to stand in their shoes for a day. We're supposed to Love God and Love People. Most of you should open your hearts and rethink your comments. I personally think we Americans are a bit spoiled. God has a plan for them and He will prevail. They will be in my prayers.
March 16, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dolphin (anonymous) says...
I have never placed a comment on line about anything so this is new for me but I have known this family for many years and to hear all of your heartless comments have brought me to tears. All of you must have way too much time on your hands. Yes, it is ok to have your opinions and feelings, but to say such hateful things when you dont even know anything about these people is really crazy!!!!
In your lifetime you will never meet any parents that loved their children more! Joy, Hope, and London are complete angels that have always brought love and laughter into our home. Joy and London will be truly missed and forever engraved into my heart!!!!!!!!!
I know that Romon and Melanie made mistakes but EVERYONE makes mistakes. Instead of saying heartless things maybe you should ask yourself what choices you would have made if you where in their shoes. People do crazy things when their family needs them. People steal food when their children are hungry, people steal money when they are financially strapped, people do whatever they can to make money even if it is wrong or goes against their beliefs.
I dont agree with any of that but I do have sympathy for each situation. I am a christian and I have compassion for people no matter what race you are or what country you are from or whatever situation you happen to be in.... I believe that EVERYONE deserves to have a good life full of love and hapiness. I dont believe anyone should be homeless or with out food. I wish every child had a good family to come home to. Does that always happen? NO! But everyone deserves it. There are alot of imperfections in our systems and we need changes made in alot of areas, but we also need compassion for people and that starts with each of us.
March 16, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cherubim (anonymous) says...
In Mexico there is a very rich ruling class of elites. Mexican citizens should stop marching in the streets of the U.S., and go to their own government and demand the officials in their government stop being corrupt and stop taking money from the drug cartels. I fear that the ruling elites on both sides of the border are in a plot together:
The ruling plutocracy on the Mexican side want to
dump their poor into the U.S. so the U.S. Middle Class tax payers will take care of their education and health needs, while the ruling plutocracy on the U.S. side want to get slave labor and cheap ocean front property.
By the way here is the forbes.com list of Mexican billionaires. Why won't the Mexican citizens in the U.S go home and march in front of their streets:
Mexican billionaires:
Names Personal worth in Billions of U.S. Dollars
Carlos Slim Helu & family 60.0
(the second richest person in the world)
Alberto Bailleres & family 9.8
German Larrea Mota-Velasco & family 7.3
Ricardo Salinas Pliego & family 6.3
Jeronimo Arango 4.3
Isaac Saba Raffoul & family 2.1
Roberto Hernandez Ramirez 1.7
Emilio Azcarraga Jean 1.6
Alfredo Harp Helu & family 1.6
Lorenzo Zambrano & family 1.5
March 16, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
recentcharlestonian (anonymous) says...
Dolphin - I'm so sorry that you have lost your friends. God willing they will be back soon.
I think we often forget that foreigners are people too and we're so quick to judge. :(
March 16, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cherubim (anonymous) says...
California has a 16 billion dollar state budget deficit, all entirely attribuatble to the costs of providing free benefotsm, including K-12 education, for illegal immigrants.
California has over 1 million illegal immigrant students, each costing $9,912 per year, attending California schools. This amounts to a 10 billion dollar cost. Incarceration of illegal immigrants in California costs 1.4 billion dollars a year.
Calfornia classrooms are overcrowded, necessitating new schools being built, paid for by taxpayers.
However:
Layoff notices set to hit 10,100 California teachers' mailboxes
More than 10,100 teachers will see pink slips in their mailboxes over the next few days as districts up and down California meet a Saturday deadline to warn staff of anticipated layoffs due to the state's budget crisis.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...
March 16, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbird19552001 (anonymous) says...
Hey recentcharlestonian, My wife and daughter is from a poverty stricken third world country and they came here the right way. And as for showing compassion, how about showing some for the thousands of South Carolinians that have had their jobs and businesses stolen by people who chose to break our laws. Put yourself in my shoes, I am in construction just like that illegal was. Except I try to play by the rules. My bills are so far behind that it isn't funny. Yet just the other day I passed by 16 different construction sites where illegals were working. Tell me, is there something wrong with this picture? I am a native of South Carolina, my ancestors have been here since the mid 1750's. What am I supposed to do with my business, just give it up to invaders from another country without a whimper? All in the name of compassion and love for my fellow man? You are either retired or in a job where you don't have to ever worry about being replaced by an illegal alien. I do not have that luxury because 75% of the construction industry in this state is composed of illegal aliens.
March 16, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whome (anonymous) says...
Cherubim: To be fair, you can't attribute ALL of CA's budget deficit to illegal immigration unless you factor in positive effects of illegal immigration. For example, the 10B that you cite for public education gets factored back into the system as teachers' salaries, school construction, etc. Furthermore, illegal immigration has had "positive" effects in both keeping inflation in check and offsetting our upside down population pyramid. This is not a zero-sum game. The irony is that there are 40+ posts on this issue yet no posts on the shocking devaluation on the dollar, which has a much greater impact on the everyday lives on individuals as well as the budget crises affecting all levels of government than illegal immigration. But then again, this should not be surprising, as xenophobia has generally been history's response to domestic issues. I guess it's easier to blame others than to point the fingers at ourselves.
March 16, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
native1 (anonymous) says...
If America is so great, she should stay here and send HIM money. Her church can help babysit while she goes to college to get a degree.
You can still preserve the family and be separated. For example, military families here in America live with separation every-other 6 months. It is totally doable. Today we have phones and email. 10 years while Ramon is stuck in Mexico? Try the 20 years of off and on separation for a career military family.
Uprooting and moving the entire family to the "dangers" of Mexico to "keep the family together" is taking the victim role as well as endangering the children.
March 16, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Dolphin, I certainly commend you for your loyalty to your friends, but you cannot lose sight of a few things.
Ramon's first official act when he illegally crossed the border from Mexico was not only only a violation of the sovreignty of the United States of America, but a crime under Title 8 Section 1325 of the US Code. His second crossing was a felony under the same code. Melanie's love for him does not excuse her harboring a criminal. She is partially responsible for the scourge on this nation that is known as illegal immigration. Melanie is part of the problem, and I trust you knew not of his illegal status, for you would be part of the problem, too.
I feel pity for their children, but their problems were creating by their parents, and the fault lies completely with them.
My only regret is that the feds aren't this efficient all the time.
March 16, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Popeye (anonymous) says...
Time the residents of SC started telling law breaking contractors who hire illegals that they won't do business with them. Personally that is what I do and it works! Canada has started hiring the illegals who are leaving the US due to the state's crackdown on companies that hire those law breakers. Only thing is the illegal has to go back HOME to mexico and apply for the Canadian job! Ain't that sweet. If they go into Canada illegally their kids don't get into school or get medical care or other welfare benefits like they do in the USA. It would be that way in the USA if it were not for "people" like Lindsey Graham, Ted Kennedy and Juan McAmnesty.
March 16, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cherubim (anonymous) says...
American citizens, if you want to see what your future will be like, if illegal immigration is left unchecked, come and visit the schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
March 16, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pirate42 (anonymous) says...
ILLEAGEL Dang Enough said he she they commited a crime against USA if it was a murder a rapist or a drug dealer all same,,, CRIME dam people GET OFF IT he lucky to be just deported not in PRISON... He should NEVER be allowed back in ths country ever again.....
March 16, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
On James Island for many years all you had doing landscaping and yard work was pot smoking bubbas born here. They would never show up on time. The Latino men who work the yards in the area have been great. They show up on time and always do extra. These people are not criminals they are economic workers having to leave a poorly run nation for a better life. Many have started families. Under US law the child who was born in the United States can sponser parents and close relatives to become a legal residents. It's nice to have cheap labor.
March 16, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
i don't even know where to start. i want to say i'm sorry to this family, that they have to go through this. but i'm happy for them, that they're able to reunite & be together again. i was very disgusted after reading the comments of the people who read the story. i bet you'd all think & feel VERY DIFFERENTLY if you were in the situation of this family!! you can rant & rave that they're criminals simply because he entered the U.S. illegally. but what if YOU were born in a poor country?? i bet all of you would come to the U.S. to work, WHETHER IT BE LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY! all of you are such hypocrites! i'm full-blooded native american & i'll soon be getting married to a man who's not from here. it doesn't matter to me that he's illegal. what matters is i love him, he treats me how i want to be treated. he's never been in trouble with the police, used drugs or sold them & he's never hurt anyone. i think it's very unfair to judge someone & call them a criminal because they're in the U.S. illegally! they're only labeled as criminals because the self-righteous, closed-minded, heartless people who run this country say so! and i'll say the same thing about them: if they were born in a poor country, THEY'D DO THE SAME THING & COME TO THIS COUNTRY TO WORK & MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES & THEIR FAMILIES!! all of them & all of you need to come off your pedestal & have some compassion! years ago, the white people tried to control & kill off my people, the native americans. but did that work?? we're still here! so just because the U.S. "says so", DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT & DOESN'T MAKE IT GOSPEL!! i am & have been very disgusted & angry with the U.S. & how they treat people just because they weren't fortunate enough to be born here. not all illegals are rapists, murderers & drug dealers! the U.S. needs to let the people who want to work & stay out of trouble become legal & deport the troublemakers! simple as that! what the U.S. wants & is doing is obviously NOT WORKING, so they need to try another approach. think of how much more rich this country would be, if they let the non-troublemaking illegals become citizens & pay taxes! i know many people have not thought of that. this family will be in my thoughts & prayers. i want them to know that not everyone is heartless, racist, judgmental & downright mean. some of us do have feelings. if my fiance were to ever get caught & wasn't allowed back in the U.S., i'd move to his country & live with him, if there was absolutely no other way. and for those who want to make a comment for me to leave the country now because i'm a so-called "traitor", remember that my people were here first. the white people were the invaders, the "illegal aliens". again, i'm very ashamed & disgusted with the United States!!!!! PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 16, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"These people are not criminals..."
Not only have they broken federal law by coming/staying here illegally, a large number of them are doing a fine jobs of violating our state and local laws as well.
March 16, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
ndngirlntx quote:
"i'm very ashamed & disgusted with the United States!!!!! "
I am fairly certain a plane ticket can be found for you as well as your illegal alien fiance. When you return to his home, you can grease the way through the front door with your US passport so he can apply for citizenship.
March 16, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
That's right, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT CRIMINALS! they're only labeled criminals because all those rich people running the United States weren't born in a poor country, have never been homeless or hungry & never had a hard time finding a job to support themselves. they've never walked in their shoes! again, EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP BEING SO HEARTLESS, JUDGMENTAL & HYPORCRITICAL!!! IT'S PATHETIC!!!!!!!!
March 16, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
bklynirish, your comment is hardly worth my attention or anger. so i'll leave a brief comment. i know you weren't able to come up with a decent arguement. i know you can only comment as your ignorant, simple-minded IQ will allow. it's obvious you're at least part white and also that your ancestors were illegal in this country at some point. you have alot of nerve telling ME to leave, when my people were here in this country first! so if anyone should leave, start with yourself! so go buy yourself that plane ticket & go back to where YOU came from.
March 16, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"you can grease the way through the front door with your US passport so he can apply for citizenship."
Well, my dear, there was your opportunity to do the legal
(and RIGHT) thing to prevent the same thing from happening to your family. Instead, you would rather see him maintain his illegal status so the Family ndngirlntx will follow him back home when he gets caught.
No sweat on this end.
March 16, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
bklynirish, for your information, NOT THAT YOU CARE IN THE LEAST, we are doing everything we can to make my fiance legal. the family obviously did what was right by the law, and look what happened! they were applying for him to become legal! we're talking with a lawyer right now & preparing to try to make my fiance legal. so you have no right whatsoever in judging me. you obviously have nothing else to occupy your time; you have to talk bad about other people who are trying to do the right thing. at least i'm having first-hand experience in this, i do have a right to talk.
March 16, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LowCountryCrime (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately, the original occupants of this nation failed to pass any immigration laws. As a result, European settlers did not enter illegally. The USA, however, has had established immigration laws for a couple of hundred years. In light of the above facts, the argument of ndngirlntx is negated.
The citizens of this country have grown weary of those from other countries flagrantly violating our immigration laws. Unfortunately, our politicians don't seem to be getting the message. Those of us in Charleston have become weary of the Post and Courier's obvious sympathetic devotion to these law breakers when writing their sappy stories.
This fella could have had it his way if he had waited another week. Now, he's paying the price for breaking our immigration laws twice. Unfortunately, he's forced his family to have to pay a price, too.
March 16, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ricktib (anonymous) says...
While I agree that we need to stop people from sneaking into the country (I'm all for a wall), I don't believe we should have such ill sentiments toward these individuals. We definitely have bigger problems in this country. These are people (generally) who come here to line up on streets and parking lots for the opportunity to WORK. You don't see that on Charleston's east side.
March 16, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
You are rather touchy, ndngirlntx. I don't recall "talking bad," as you so eloquently put it, about anybody. Perhaps somewhat critical of you harboring a criminal, but certainly not "bad mouthing."
You certainly have every right to speak your mind, and while I whole-heartedly disagree with 99.9% of what you have had to say so far, I will defend to the death your right to say it. (Thank you, Evelyn Beatrice Hall).
You will I will never agree on this, but your fiance is a criminal, and the crime, however trivial you...and perhaps you alone...believe it to be, is an affront to the millions of naturalized citizens who have come to America's shores the proper and legal way. Furthermore, you harbor a criminal, and I consider you to be no better than the perpetrator of the act itself.
Many thanks for a spirite debate, and have a lovely evening.
Bloody slow news day for the P&C to print this drivel to begin with.
March 16, 2008 at 8:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hadenuff (anonymous) says...
Cherubim, I stand with you and your proven, substantive comments.
I see where the Charleston area local limousine liberals have chimed in, among them being WHOME writing this blather: "illegal immigration has had 'positive' effects in both keeping inflation in check and offsetting our upside down population pyramid." SAY WHAT?
Go to http://www.numbersusa.com/index and have a good look- see there too. Look at the graphs referencing illegal immigration and tell me if you see anything positive for the USA therein.........
WHOMME further writes: "xenophobia has generally been history's response to domestic issues. I guess it's easier to blame others than to point the fingers at ourselves."
Please explain yourself WHOME. Correct me please if I am wrong. Because I and the millions like me prefer not to view the illegal immigrant with any fanciful thoughts of legality, we are all xenophobes? Same thing with Senator Graham, because we were against the blanket amnesty bill of last summer, all of us who were (and are) against amnesty for these lawbreakers, we're all bigots? We view the illegal immigrant as people who shouldn't be here and need to leave. Nothing more, nothing less. I guess that makes us xenophobes and bigots, as such, both terms your pro-illegal immigrant fellowship brethren like to toss at us when factual reasoning isn't within your reach to explain your crazy ideas.
March 16, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
Here illegally is here illegally. If this is a hardship on the "family", then the "family" should have thought about that to begin with and not play the poor me, this is not fair card. We don't care.
March 16, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
magoo (anonymous) says...
RIDGE RUNNER: The business was obviously in his wifes name if he was illegal, I dont think the state, city or county would give an illegal a business license but who knows
March 16, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
ndngirl, your last post sounds a wee bit breathless. Are you scrambling because you belatedly realized the powers that be can unearth your identity, and by extension, the identity of your groom-to-be, via your posts? You went from fist-in-the-air to "we're preparing to try to make my fiance legal..."
If I were born in a poverty-stricken country, I'd sacrifice, get educated and work my fingers to the bone to make a better life. What I would not do is illegally enter another country to get my share of the pie.
Have a nice evening!
March 16, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
BKLYNIRISH, you da man! Anyone well-read enough to ascribe that quote to EBH is someone I'd like to know :-) Bravo!
March 16, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
Johns
here we have criminals yes they are no matter what some say taking over lower paying jobs, big deal they put their kids in our schools, they get more education so they go up a step in job market, blue collar,next white collar,then how many legal citizens will be out of work,
That would be good for you because you would have time to cut your own GRASS.
America going to hell in a handbag and you worry about your grass.
sin is sin
crime is crime
March 17, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
It's not wise for Ramon to bring the girls to Mexico. He should know better since he recently got mugged at knife point. Ramon should toughen up and make it work by keeping the family in the States, this would provide a much better future for the girls including mom. Many US military families make it work when family member(s) are away for months at time.
Ramon needs to be man and really provide for the family by letting them stay here. I know it must be hard to be away, but they could visit him in Mexico at least once a year. Not wise!!
Either way, I wish them well:
March 17, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
Why does this family act so surprised...are they serious? He was here illegally for over 20 years! and they thought that finally getting around to applying for citizenship would be easy breezy? HAHA...sad. That would be like if I was embezzeling money from the bank for 20 years then one day I thought to myself "you know...I should make this right and turn myself in, they surely wont send me to jail!" Right...that is the most idiotic way to think.
Ramon had been here illegally for over 20 YEARS!!! How can anyone defend that? You do something illegal and you will eventually get caught. Just because you decide to "do the right thing" does not mean that you will be shown mercy. OVER 20 YEARS! not he was here a couple of months 20 YEARS!
I have no sympathy for him, maybe his children...but not him or his wife. They knew better.
March 17, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
ndngirlntx....first of all, you need to brush up on your english and writing. Do you know that a sentence always begins with a capital letter? Now that you have spilled the beans about your illegal fiancee, I hope you will do the respectable and legal thing and turn him and yourself in to the law. You are breaking the law just the same as Mrs. Bernal. You are harboring an illegal alien. Is your fiancee paying taxes, insurance, medical insurance, and rent, or is he living off of us?
I wittnessed a car wreck recently that was caused by two hispanics. After they slmmed into the back of this poor college girl and then another van, they took off running. We gave a very detailed description but the police said they would probably never be caught.
I just finished my imcome taxes. Did Mr. Bernal? How did he do the right thing? Cheating and lying is not what I call the right thing! What a poor example he and his wife have show their 3 children. These girls are victims and my heart goes out to them. I think Hope will blossom and have a better life with her real, legal Dad.
March 17, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
boucka (anonymous) says...
All of these comments are really interesting. I agree w/ BKLYNINRISH's point of view, though....
An 18 year old heterosexual man should know that where ever he goes, he's likely to start a relationship w/ a woman and likely have a family. If that man knows he illegally enters the US, he knows he may be deported. He thus knows he may be separated from his wife and from his children. I like Ramano from the story and it's not that I don't have sympathy for him. But he should have known that this could happen to him and to his family. In short, he made a bad life decision. (I agree w/ the poster who said Mexicans like Romano need to petition their gov't to change things.)
As for his wife, Melanie, I hate to say it, but I have less sympathy for her. She was a mother to Hope when she met Romano. Even hopelessly in love with Romano, she knew when she married him that he was illegal, that he could be taken from her (and their future children) at any moment. THIS SITUATION WAS ALL VERY FORESEEABLE. THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT. CITIZENS WHO MARRY ILLEGALS KNOW THEIR SPOUSE MAY BE DEPORTED. And she made the decision to marry him, knowing she could be forced to either raise their children in the US without a father OR move to Mexico to join her deported husband and leave her daughter, Hope, without a mother. Melanie, in my opinion, made the wrong decision of marrying Romano and putting her daughter Hope at risk.
Bottom line: This was a situation of Melanie's and Romano's own making. I hope Hope grows up OK and I'm thankful her dad and his wife are there to care for Hope.
March 17, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
Did I read that Mrs. Bernal was pregnant again? When does it stop? How are they affording PRIVATE school? Why is a private school like Palmetto Christian Academy allowing them to send their children to the school. Isn't that being unfair to the legal families at the school? Their sad story is not belivable. It looks worse and worse for the mom. If she has that baby in Mexico, it will be illegal if they sneak back in to America. It does not stop!
March 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
This is Economics 101, if you have good workers willing to work for a low wage you employ them, this is what we will not come to grips with, we like the work they do and the reduced price for labor and products they produce but complain about all the foreigners being in the country, this is the contradiction we find ourselves in!
March 17, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
The baby would be a mexican citizen...just like if you went over seas to have your baby then your baby is a citizen of whatever country he/she is born in.
March 17, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uniequnough (anonymous) says...
wow. Horrible decision made by them. On more than one occassion. This story is sad. And yes, it made me feel sorry for them. But i think if they would sit down and think about the decisions they make before they do them, they wouldn't be in half as much trouble. Not only is Ramon not going to be able to get back in the states, but they are also going to have to fight for this child once it's born, to get citizenship. It's like a string of events that happened from one decision.
March 17, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
nndngirl - You are jumping through hoops trying to get this illegal person "help". Your fiance, you say. As the divorce rate in America is about 50%, I'm sure he's going to appreciate your efforts when he's legal to do and get all the benefits of being a citizen and hooked up with someone else. In 10 years he won't even remember your name. You would do much better to "help" yourself by getting an education and meeting someone that doesn't need as much "help" and can contribute equally to your relationship. You didn't say how old you were, but I'm guessing you're young. My advice to you would be to listen to all the advice I'm sure you've been given.
March 17, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
ndngirlntx: Indian Girl in Texas
You are so quiet now. Maybe you are afraid that you just made a HUGE mistake by exposing yourself and you "fiancee".
Why was Mrs. Bernal paying $255 a month child support. Why? Was she commiting adultry while she was married to Hope's dad?
March 17, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
I understand (not really) wanting to be with your husband and support him...
but this lady has seriously lost her mind.
"Do you have any source of income?"
"None."
"Do you receive child support?"
"No, ma'am. But I pay $255 a month ..."
And then Melanie takes a moment to explain the situation to Vieira.
"I'm religious," she says. "God's got a plan for me. I'm leaving next Friday to join my husband in Mexico."
The hearing was quick. Melanie would forfeit all her assets, including $2,500 of her $3,400 income tax refund. She would drive a donated car.
"That's all the questions I have," Vieira says. After a pause, she adds, "Good luck to you."
----
Maybe i will understand when I get married (hah no) but I can say this with certainty...I would never...NEVER marry into a situation such as this...no matter how much I loved the person.
March 17, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
Remember,
Immigrants have always been the engine of this country, and racism has always been associated with their presence! Now, I'm not saying just open the borders to everyone but in a free enterprise economy it usually balances out, enforce the laws on the books is the key, thats were the politicians have failed us! Seems McCain isn't too far from Obama/ Hillary on this, I think they all pushed the "amnesty" bill that failed last year!
March 17, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
I am disheartened by the lack of mercy being shown to this family and many others in their situation.
How many of you have ever been convicted of a traffic violation? You too are law breakers then! So am I. Yet when we break the law, we are not punished harshly or cruelly. No one takes our car, or our driver's licence and throws us in jail for breaking the law. We pay a fine, maybe our insurance goes up.
Why is is that the decent, hard-working people who come here out of desperation to get a better life be treated in the same way? I agree that their law-breaking should not be ignored, but if they have been otherwise productive and moral, why can they not pay fines or some other form of punishment for their crimes other than deportation?
I am also sorry that Chip Campsen, a member of East Cooper Baptist is fashioning and supporting laws that show such little compassion for his fellow church members and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing you may be entertaining angels unaware." Hebrews
March 17, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"How many of you have ever been convicted of a traffic violation? You too are law breakers then! So am I. Yet when we break the law, we are not punished harshly or cruelly. No one takes our car, or our driver's licence and throws us in jail for breaking the law. We pay a fine, maybe our insurance goes up."
You do realize you are comparing apples to say...hmmm, let me think about this....weather satellites?
March 17, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
mouth of the south. What I meant was that they were trying to rectify an illegal situation by making it legal. Most people wouldn't do that, they would just keep on staying illegal. Why rock the boat right? I know that he was an illegal alien.
March 17, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
To answer what you all are wondering, I'm 31 yrs. old. And i really don't care what any of you think of me. I was simply stating what I thought of the story, and also sharing my own personal experience. And to answer your question, big mouth mom in the south, NO, I'm NOT afraid that I supposedly exposed myself & my fiance! And FYI, I was quiet for a little while because earlier today I typed out a response & then my computer froze & i lost what I'd typed. Some of us do have lives & don't have all the time in the world to talk badly about other people & condescend everyone. Strangers unaware, I thank you for what you said! I agree totally. I've been thinking about all of this, and it's very sad what this world's come to. There's so much hate & judgment. as for what "forget" said, I totally disagree. I found what I wanted in a man, and I'm more happy than I've ever been. I'm not a little girl & I don't need to listen to the advice I've been given & find someone else. I'm in college right now & I don't need anyone to preach to me. mominthesouth, YOU are the one who needs to brush up on your english & writing. Do you not know that the end of a question ends with a question mark?? You need to take your own advice before you give it! My fiance pays for everything HIMSELF, including rent, medical & everything! He's the one taking care of me! So you don't need to worry about that! walleyedwoman1215, my last post was not "a wee bit breathless". And I'm not scrambling at all. You can say you'd sacrifice & work your fingers to the bone if you were born in a poverty-stricken country. But that's easy for you to say, considering you were born in the United States! That's so easy for anyone to say! Things would be very different, were you in that situation! So PLEASE. I don't even want to hear your lies. If your parents, spouse, brothers, sisters or kids were sick & hungry, I know you'd be singing a different tune!
Forget, I don't care what the divorce rate is in this country, NOT all people are the same! There are some marriages that actually work out. As for INS showing up at my door, that's hardly going to happen. Where I live in Texas, hispanics/illegals are the majority, and white people are the minority, THANK GOD. And for everyone who thinks I'm a criminal along with my fiance, I guess you can't read. I've already SAID we've started the process with a lawyer to make my fiance legal! So I don't need to "turn myself in along with my fiance". If I knew how to get a hold of this family who now live in Mexico, I'd do anything I could to help them, including sending money. Some people do have hearts and want to help, regardless of where they came from.
March 17, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"And for everyone who thinks I'm a criminal along with my fiance, I guess you can't read. I've already SAID we've started the process with a lawyer to make my fiance legal!"
Ah, the difference between being legal and not being legal is akin to the difference between being pregnant and not being pregnant. Starting the process is not "being legal." If he has come here illegally, or has come here legally and then overstayed his visa, he is here ILLEGALLY. No "ifs, ands, or buts" about it.
Not too bright, are you?
March 18, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Did I mention that if your husband is here illegally that he is indeed a CRIMINAL?
March 18, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
Damn, you're not only white, you're stupid as well! I had people telling me to turn ourselves in. WHAT NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT TO MAKE HIM LEGAL!!! AT LEAST WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, NOT HIDING IN THE SHADOWS!!! When your slow mind can grasp this concept, then get back to me. Then you might actually have something besides a weak arguement.
March 18, 2008 at 4:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
And by the way, he's my FIANCE, not my husband yet! You need to go look in the dictionary & distinguish the difference between the two words. NOT TOO BRIGHT, ARE YOU?
Why are you so concerned in the first place that my fiance's a "criminal"?? Why don't you get a life & mind your own business?? He's not affecting you or your life in the least.
ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME!!!!!!!!
March 18, 2008 at 4:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Sorry for the confusion reference husband v. fiance. Did I mention that your fiance is a CRIMINAL? As long as he resides in the US illegally, he will be a CRIMINAL until such time as he is granted citizenship by the United States of America.
I say again: the difference between being legal and not being legal is akin to the difference between being pregnant and not being pregnant. Starting the process is not "being legal." If he has come here illegally, or has come here legally and then overstayed his visa, he is here ILLEGALLY and he is a CRIMINAL. No "ifs, ands, or buts" about it.
March 18, 2008 at 5:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
By the way, "doing the right thing" is turning himself in, or at least going back to Mexico to start the naturalization/citizenship process.
March 18, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"WHAT NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT TO MAKE HIM LEGAL!!! AT LEAST WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, NOT HIDING IN THE SHADOWS!!!"
Lovely. Now you are trying to rationalize his ILLEGAL act...a crime, if you will...and your harboring of someone who is essentially a fugitive from justice.
Just like a common criminal.
March 18, 2008 at 5:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"Damn, you're not only white,"
If ndngirlntx's true colors were not readily apparent before, they are certainly shining through now.
March 18, 2008 at 5:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
Now now kids, settle down.
You do not want to go there folks.
March 18, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
Indian Girl in Texas.....A town in Texas of which the majority of its townspeople are hispanics/illegal.....that sounds like a great place to live. You might as well be living in Mexico. You and your so called fiance are living a very scary life. You said you had a lawyer, but is he really giving you right advice? You are harboring a criminal. He has to stay in his country until he is legal.
How is he working to support you? Probably at an illegal place of employment. You are digging yourself in deeper and deeper. You better get out while you can.
Strangers_Unaware....East Cooper Baptist Church and our Community and State should be PROUD to have a senator like Chip Campsen doing the right thing. He is trying to make our state a safe place to live by removing a huge part of our unsafe community. Just go to the website..www.immigrationsHumanCost.org and read the horrific murders and crimes being commited every day by illegals in this country. It will break your heart...and who is paying for all of this...We Are..the LEGAL citizens of the United States of America. Unlike, Indian Girl from Texas, I am glad we have people in this country that will stand up for what is right and legal. We may not agree with the laws but they are the laws we have to abide by.
March 18, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uniequnough (anonymous) says...
ndngirlntx - i have no quarrel with how you live your life and what you do. If you choose to live how you live, that is up to you. You could learn from Melanie and Ramon's situation though. Good luck and best to you on your situation.
Now, I do have a problem with your statement - "you're not only white, you're stupid as well". Sounds like you have some inner demons to take care of. Because those "stupid white people" are who you are going to have to go through to get your fiance's legal status. A "stupid white person" will probably be your lawyer. I feel very offended at that statement. To say that shows true racism and I understand if you're angry at what everyone here is saying. But that was a blunt racist comment.
March 18, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trod (anonymous) says...
Lets see i broke the law once for a decade or so then i didn't like the wait so i broke it again.i got caught now im being punished waaaaaaaaa!some of my family are legal immigrants. to make exceptions because they had children knowing he was illegally in this country is bunk.that is a slap in the face to all legal immigrants who had to wait to get in to the usa and to those are waiting to do so.
They made the choices now they have to live with it.she should be arrested for harboring an illegal alien.
March 18, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
ndngirl - we all go into marriages thinking "mine is going to be different" some do go the distance, but when you go into one with the deck stacked against you from the start you don't really stand much of a chance.
Just out of curiousity, what does your family (parents, etc) think of this situation? I really don't think that they think this is in your best interest for a happy prosperous future.
And after reading all of these posts, ndngirl, you have more racially motivated remarks than most of these people, and most of them are emotional outbursts.
From what you have said, and how it has been said, you sound like a teenager that has been told no, and is going to do it anyway.
March 18, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
This is great reading!
March 18, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
It did take an interesting turn. Especially with you and I on the receiving end of her emotional outbursts!
March 18, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"This is great reading!"
I am having a ball! By the time the last post for this article appears, folks will not have a clue who Ramon and Melanie are.
March 18, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
I guess ndngirl lost interest in us.
March 18, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
Ramon and Melanie Who? This is better that the Young and the Restless! Hey....That may be a good plot for the soap.
I can see it now....Victoria leaves JT for an illegal mexican immigrant. They are living in the barn down the road from Victors place. Victor hires him to work the farm.
Victoria gets pregnant again and has a son named Jose.
Great Stuff!!
March 18, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
You have to agree with Jane!
Had Ramon waited just a little longer this would not be going on. But I've said it before, I do wish them well because Mexico ladies and gentleman is not the best place to live, especially in their situation:broke as they are. The girls need to move back to the States at once! It won't be any easier to be together down there and roughing it. They will at least survive here without Ramon.
I've lived in Mexico and will tell you it can be a fine country, if it wasn't for all the police roaming around. These people will flash their cop badges at you and then they tell you "this is a robbery" right at your face. Seriously! And don't get me started with the politicians 'cause who knows, I might get murdered overnight for saying too much like Colosio did (who was running for President in the 90's and got shot in the head on national television). Someone mentioned in this read that those illegal immigrants marching and protesting here in the US should get together and protest in Mexico. I could not agree anymore.
And so this family tries to move to Mexico and what do they get? Bull sh1t from the Mexican government. I'll say it again, the girls must move back at once! Ramon needs to be a man and let them come back so they at least can survive.
It's a sad situation.
March 18, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
I agree with the statement of them making a stand and better their own countries. If they all (protesters, etc) got together there like they do here, they can start to right a wrong. And, Melanie does need to get herself and her children back here as soon as possible. For her and their own safety.
March 18, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
THERE ARE....21,426,294 illegal immigrants in the USA
$26,456,787,622 Money wired to Mexico in 2006
$243,374,279,521 Money wired to Latin America
$397,449,852,464 (and rising) Cost of Social Services for illegal immigrants since 1996
5,299,047 Children of illegals in Public School
$13,939,719,561 (and rising) Cost of illegals
K-12 since 1996
360,433 (AND RISING RAPIDLY) Illegal immigrants incarcerated.
$1,395,804,396 Cost of these incarcerations since 2001.
673,731 (and rising) illegal immigrant fugitives
1,936,654 (and rising) Anchor Babies since 2002
10,414,160 (AND RISING) skilled jobs taken by illegal immigrants
0 Taxes Paid by illegal immigrants
0 Health Insurance Paid by illegal immigrants
0 Respect for America
Yes, fellow Americans, this is what our money is going towards. We are talking not thousands, or millions of dollars but Billions of our dollars.
As a home owner who has worked very hard for 50 years for what I've got, I DO NOT want them living next to me. They are criminals and do not care who they hurt.
Melanie and Ramon are very dangerous. They won't give it a second thought to keep doing these crimes over and over. They have already started.
March 18, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
forget- Don't assume that ngirltx will not have a good marriage just because her husband is undocumented.
Here is the truth- I am in the same situation as Melanie and Ramon right this very minute. We are getting ready to fight our own legal battles. However, I do not regret my decision to marry, and neither do my parents. They love my husband very much and think I couldn't have made a better choice. My husband is wonderful person who would do anything to help anyone in need. He treats me well and is a good father. He volunteers in the community too. I am sorry that we have this looming over our heads, but like many people we didn't know the complications of immigration law when we married and thought as many do that when we got married working out the legal stuff would be easy. We were wrong and it's going to cost alot! But I'm not complaining, because that's the price we pay.
mommie in the south- check your facts- immigrants are paying sales taxes and many pay taxes through employment too. My husband and I have paid every dime we owe to IRS. We also have health insurance, and have paid every penny owed to any healthcare provider. You may have websites documenting crimes by illegals, but what about all the American citizens who also commit horrific crimes? I'm sure that if statistics were checked, the percentage of American citizens committing the same types of crimes would be nearly the same. There is evil among every group of people.
March 18, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
YankeeLiberal (anonymous) says...
This is a tough situation, and one can see both sides. As a family man with two young daughters, it makes me sick to my stomach that there are two young girls heading to a strange land, with no guarantees in education, standard of living, health care, etc., and you have a 12-year-old girl who will not see her mother on a consistent basis during a time when she needs her the most (early teen years). On the other hand, the dad came illegally, lived here illegally for a long time (although did try and make things right), and tried to cross the border again. Some posters have tried to vilify the family, and some have (inexplicably) expressed affinity and appreciation for "cheap immigrant labor." Bottom line? It is an accepted practice in this area to employee large numbers of illegal workers because employers have NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAW WILL BE ENFORCED!!!!
Enforce the law, make it a crime (with punishment actually!) to hire illegals, and they won't come here. I saw a construction project in North Charleston, and thought, "You hire 90% illegal labor, and yet there are high numbers of unemployed working-age males in poverty stricken areas of North Charleston a couple of miles south? It all comes down to spineless government combined with corporate greed (i.e. "yep, we love them illegals, we can pay 'em next to nothing and they bust their asses!!"). Greed, pure and simple.
March 18, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
BKLYNIRISH, my fiance's not from mexico. Yes, i am racist. While I was growing up, a white family hated us & treated us badly because of our skin color. And my mother was killed by two white people & my brother was robbed & brutally murdered 6 months ago by two white boys. And forget, my family's very happy for me that I found a man who treats me well & loves me. They are happy for me, simply because I'm happy. That's how family's supposed to be. My parents are both passed away: my mother in 2002 & my father in 2006. My brother was the last of my family. So right now it's really hard for me to feel anything but hate for white people. Those are my own personal demons that I have to deal with. You have the right to think whatever you want, that I supposedly sound like a teenager. How would you feel, honestly, if people were trying to tell you how to live your life? Would you be happy with that? I mean, what do you expect? Mom in the south, why should I get out while I can? I'm happier than I've ever been in my life & I don't have anyone else in my life, family-wise. I'm not saying this to get pity from anyone, I'm just stating the truth. Bklynirish, I'm not trying to rationalize my fiance's illegal act. All I'm saying is that we came forward & are doing what's necessary to make him legal. Our lawyer said he'll most likely have to go back to his country & wait for permission to enter the U.S. again. But we're willing to do that, in order to make him legal & abide by the laws. If you all still think we're still criminals, I can't change that. Nobody's perfect & every single one of you have made mistakes! So if one of you have never sinned or made a mistake, then you have a right to talk to me. I apologize to anyone I offended. But when someone angers me, I can't hold back. Mom in the south, you stated me & my fiance are living a very scary life. How so? Because we live around only hispanics & illegals? You weren't specific. My fiance works in construction & that's how he supports me. On that note, alot of citizens have been & are upset because they say illegals "steal" jobs. My thought on this is that if these jobs were already occupied by U.S. citizens, there wouldn't be any jobs to steal in the first place! U.S. citizens are too proud to work jobs that illegals do & think they're too good, or they're not being paid enough. And some of you have said illegals ''LIVE OFF OF US''. But what about the U.S. citizens who live off of the government?? Why is it that no one says anything about them??? Stranges unaware, you are in the same situation? How are you doing? Do you mind if I ask how long you've been married?
March 18, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"Yes, i am racist."
At least you can admit it, and clearly you can make excuses for it.
"If you all still think we're still criminals, I can't change that."
He is, and perhaps someday legislation will make you a criminal in this situation, too. At least you claim to be atttempting to make the situation right.
"My thought on this is that if these jobs were already occupied by U.S. citizens, there wouldn't be any jobs to steal in the first place!"
If it were that simple, you may have an argument.
"But what about the U.S. citizens who live off of the government?? Why is it that no one says anything about them???"
Where would you like me to start?
March 19, 2008 at 4:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
We have been married for 6 years this month. We wanted to pursue our case right away to set everything straight, but the lawyers that we consulted said there was nothing we could do. We went about our lives, bought a house, had our daughter. When I was 8 months pregnant, our church found a lawyer who told us there was hope for us. However, I was unwilling to start this battle with a brand new baby on the way and a desire to have more children not too far apart. So we've waited, but not really lived freely, always afraid one day my husband would be caught. We've had a second child who is almost two, I am completing my master's degree and now we are in a place in life where we are ready to fight. We may have to go back to my husband's country too. I went to visit with my daughter last summer to get a "feel" for the land and meet my inlaws for the first time. While I would much prefer living in the United States for many of the same reasons Melanie and Ramon mentioned, I am prepared to do whatever we have to do fix his legal status. Sure I'm scared, but I made the choice to marry him, and I still don't regret that decision.
March 19, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
I am getting increasingly confused by NDNGIRLNTX comments...you are native american?...or not? If you are...what color are you referring to?...arent you just tan? I dont think Ive ever looked at a native american and thought...ohhh a different color than me because I happen to not get very tan. Interesting.
Also..I said it earlier...but doing something illegal for a number of years and then FINALLY deciding to come clean...youre not going to get a lighter sentance. It was done illegally reguardless. You cant legally be filing taxes...or at least the husband cant...so that means hes essentially been stealing money from the government...IF I evaded taxes for 20 years and then decided oh you know...I should pay those and set things straight...they would throw my stupid *** in jail!
What is the difference in the situation?...Yes I know its an illegal citizen rather than just a run of the mill tax evader..but its pretty damn close.
You are getting your panties all wound up for NO reason. You have to look at it from a logical stand point...not an irrational stand point. The race card is ABSURD...completely absurd. When you throw that around you just sound like a whiney baby and you are encouraging people to be critical of your situation.
March 19, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ticket3477 (anonymous) says...
and ndngirlntx...
welfare pisses me off more than anything...go read the gadsden green article from about a month ago and tell me that we dont care about government assistance.
I do not like paying for anyone to get a free ride. Nor do i like working at a bank with and having to look at these ridiculous fake ID's that the mexicans have and telling them sorry sir...your picture is the same as the guy before you, sorry...good try...I used to live in NC...thats NOT an NC license...as for your social security card...dont make me laugh.
March 19, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
Strangers unaware,
I wish you good luck to you and your family dealing with your husband's status, I know it's hard to deal with such a sensitive issue. Especially when you guys are working so hard trying to make everything better, and you school too. Wow! But you guys be patient and hang in there, things will work out for the better one way or another.
March 19, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
ndngirl - while I was growing up, a white family hated us that lived next to us. Because of that, I don't hate every white family that has a man that drives a big black truck..... There's something very "Lifetime Sunday Movie" about your story. How about forwarding the newspaper articles about the crimes committed against your family (your mother and brother), as they sound very tragic.
strangers unaware - I didn't say she WOULD NOT have a successful marriage, I said that the cards were stacked against her from the start. There are marriages that do endure, but there is a better than 50% chance that hers would not. Then you get the man that could possibly be going into this for the easier citizenship. Not saying that this is the situation, but it has happened on many occassions.
March 19, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
Legal and illegal immigration are two different things, most of these guys here are legal immigrants, but the illegal ones give the legal ones a bad name, I think everyone assumes they are all illegal!
March 19, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
most of the workers are NOT here legally that we are seeing. Know this for a fact, have seen the phony documentation, phony SS cards and phony drivers licenses. I know of one that has stolen a citizen's identity (a legal, 3rd generation of hispanic descent) and purchased over $30, 000 of merchandise. That person will never be found, free to do it again since it was so easy the first time.
March 19, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
I'm sure that does happen but there is already a solution for that problem, same as if a regular "non hispanic" person does that!
March 19, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
Of course, but only if they can be found. That's the most difficult part since they don't really have any community ties. And what do you get accused of when you ask for multiple forms of some kind of identification? The sales and finance dept. got a copy of a SC I.D. card and a SS card. By the time I saw them a few days later, I recognized them as phony in 15 seconds. As well as another experienced employee, he took maybe a few seconds more to pick up on this. None of the addresses he gave us are panning out, so ........... who to file charges against?
March 19, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
True,
But you can't keep immigrants out because some break the laws once here now can you? The justice system will just have to deal with the problem as best it can!
March 19, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
The idea is to keep illegal immigrants out. Other countries don't allow millions of people to pour in. The justice dept. can't deal with all of them; Phony names, phony addresses, etc..
March 19, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
"SEND EVERY ILLEGAL ALIEN BACK TO MEXICO"
Heck, even if they are illegal immigrants from China or Ukraine, just send them to Mexico.
Then we wonder why stereotypes exist. You know, like toothless honks banging their sisters.
March 19, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
I do agree that immigration needs to be controlled. The US needs to know who is here. The issue that upsets me is that the government turns their heads the other way while immigrants are attracted here with the promise of jobs. I think that the government should crack down on employers-if it weren't so attractive to come here- they wouldn't come. What I don't think is fair and is scary is the fear of deportation and family separation after being enticed to come.
However, if there is truly a need for workers from other countries, I think the doors should be opened wider for legal immigration. Many of you many not realize how hard it is to come legally if you are a poor person from one of these poor countries who just want to work or even visit. You must prove that you have property, jobs, bank accounts, etc. The government takes application and interview fees for a US visa, which can be very costly, and then denies the visa. The US gives a preference to wealthy, educated people. The people who are desperate to come here to make money and provide for their families are mostly denied the opportunity.
Two examples I know about: a friend who is here legally wanted his parents to come visit for his wedding. The visa was denied. Another friend whose parents applied to visit their first grand child-denied again! Yet they paid around $100 for the application and interview. How much money is the government making on all the people who want to come here!
For security reasons, people shouldn't be allowed to just pour over the border, but many of the people here are hard workers and keep many costs down for us on produce and construction. If a way was made for them to come legally, we could keep up with who was here and send them home if they break the law.
March 20, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
why dont ICE go to the flea market in ladsen. wonder how many of those are legal- looks like mexico city. some have permenate stands. do they have to have a permit?- send them and lindsey graham to mexico .
March 20, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RMCharleston (anonymous) says...
The people that post comments on this website are extremely ignorant. I am embarrassed to think that I belong to this community when the only posts added are racist and full of hate. I only wish you weren't born here and had to do what these people do in order to achieve the American dream. Why don't you try imagining life in their native country. Just like you had no say in being born here, they had no say in being born there. Why don't you all move aside and make room for these hard-working people.
March 20, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
I also don't think people realize the risks that people take to get here. Many sell everything they have just for a chance at life in the United States. If they get caught they lose everything. Others risk their lives. Some ride on trains through Mexico. They often fall off and lose limbs or die from these injuries. The trip to America is full of dangers- robberies from corrupt cops and gangs, who often leave them without even the clothes on their back. Crossing the desert is dangerous too- if you don't keep up with the person guiding you across, you get left behind to die.
We have to wonder what kind of desperation drive people to take these risks. There is good book that documents a 16 year old boy's journey here to find his mother who left to find work 10 years earlier. It's called Enrique's Journey. The book talks about the poor living conditions- mothers tellng their kids to sleep on their stomachs so they won't feel so hungry. I think very few of us in the United States know what it is like to starve, have no plumbing or electricy, houses with dirt floors that don't keep the rain out. We are so blessed that we have so many programs to take care of the poor. Even the poorest people here are rich compared to the poor in some of these third-world countries who have no one to help them.
March 20, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Popeye (anonymous) says...
What needs to be kept in mind in this debate is that for EVERY one of these illegals that becomes a citizen of this country up to 273 of their RELATIVES is allowed to enter this country legally. It is called "chain" migration! Just how many of latin america's poor and uneducated do U open border advocates think this country can absorb before WE become a third world country also. Is THAT what U want America to become? REALLY?
March 20, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
give_me_a_chance (anonymous) says...
Yes we are blessed.
Yet illegal immigration is just a little taste of the cost of capitalism. The United States has been very successful at it, and also at kicking butt over seas when required. That is what has placed this country on top for many years (and the credit goes out to all the hard working people of this nation).
But sometimes it's easy to jump on the wagon and criticize or judge people that bother us, and we forget why things are the way they are. There is a bigger picture, and it's bigger that you and me. But we are all in it together, whether you like it or not. We are all in it together and we must be able to tolerate each other. And I am NOT referring to opening our borders and letting all sorts of people flood into this country. But it is essential for us to see inside our hearts before using the most powerful weapon there is, our tongues.
Taking action has already begun. How we deal with this situation is how we are all going to be remembered by future generations.
March 20, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
RMCharleston,
You have the right idea, we are all in this country from somewhere else originally, only native americans maybe are native!
March 20, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
I'm not saying to open the door to everyone, but if someone can demonstrate good character can fill a need for work, they should be allowed to come.
Our nation has a history of immigrants who come in waves, usually faced some sort of prejudice and then eventually assimilate. I think this wave of Latino and Asian immigrants face an extra challenge of becoming accepted because they don't look like many of the rest of us.
With all these populations though, it has taken about three generations to assimulate. The first generation are the poorest, least educated, and speak the least English. The second generation are mostly working class. By the third generation they have completely adapted to the culture and language and are educated to the same extent as the rest of the population. Many of the third generation have little adherence to the first generations values, culture and language. There are studies to document this trend.
Many of our ancestors probably faced some of the same prejudice being displayed on this comment board. However, we need to realize that we are a nation of immigrants and our country has benefited greatly from the Chinese, Irish and Eastern Europeans that have come in the past. They make us the wonderful diverse nation we are today, and the immigrants arriving now will add to the flavor that is called "America".
March 20, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
I have been very impressed driving through and stopping along the hispanic areas of North Charleston around Aviation, these people seem like the immigrants in the earlier part of the 20th century, working hard and trying to add to society!
March 20, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Whats_Right08 (anonymous) says...
The husband and wife knew what they were getting into before the got married. Love is blind but not DUMB, not everybody can keep up w/ the Jones they should have had a back up plan just in case he was denied and had to be deported. Im sorry but the guy is selfish if he had only WAITED he would have been w/ his family and they could rebuild what they had. Nice job
March 20, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
montypython (anonymous) says...
I believe that what has touched me the most out of all these comments is Mouth's use of Galations to prove that this family deserves what they get. God bless your thoughtfulness Mouth in pointing out the speck in this family's eye and not becoming "weary in doing good," nor forgetting to "do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
I don't think there are too many who disagree that this man broke the law. However he DOES have a family and they are American citizens. That the government should decide that splitting up a family is not sufficient hardship is a travesty. I pray for this family (as you should Mouth).
March 21, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
Forget, I was very offended by what you said, when you said there's something very "lifetime sunday movie" about my story! Do you think it's funny to make fun of someone else's family's deaths?? You are heartless. I'd like to see how you react when someone makes fun of the death of your family member! News of my brother's murder is at www.gazette.com. Click on Colorado Springs Gazette & in the search bar type in "Robert James". Then scroll down to the 2nd page where it says, " tops stories: details revealed in soldier's slaying/james". After reading this, then try talking s**t. My mother's death was in 02. Where we lived, her death was just seen as "another native american" who died. People are very racist there, so why would it be in the newspaper or on tv? And you say you don't hate every white person .....that's your view & your choice. But when white people murder your mother & your brother, THEN YOU CAN TALK TO ME! Ticket3477, yes, I'm native american. And I was referring to white people. I was offended when you said I'm "getting my panties all wound up for NO reason". Do you speak that way to your mother or your grandmother?? You are obviously nothing but a pig with no decency & no respect! You said when I "throw in the race card", I sound like a whiney baby & that encourages others to be critical of my situation. Excuse me, but people were critical before I EVER said anything about race! So get your facts straight. Bklynirish, I'm not making excuses for being racist. I'm just telling you the facts & why I feel that way. Difference there.
March 22, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
number 1 He is not a criminal
number 2 We are fixing to fight a legal battle
If not a criminal why are you fighting a legal battle?
Question (we dont want to stop immigrants from comming here)
TRUE but there are visa to be used to confirm they are not criminals, and also if used in the right way keep track of them so they dont become criminals, should be made to check in weekley so we would know their wearabouts, possibley could help control terrorism.
March 22, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"Excuse me, but people were critical before I EVER said anything about race!"
Generally, people have little use for criminals, especially those who violate the sovereignty of the United States of America, or those who harbor them. You are no exception to the rule.
"Where we lived, her death was just seen as "another native american" who died."
Let me guess, they throw state funerals for every white person that dies?
March 22, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sarahvw (anonymous) says...
I am saddened by most of these comments...
This story is a perfect example of our broken immigration system. It is virtually impossible for a Mexican to come to the U.S. legally. If a man with an American wife and children can't even qualify, ask yourself who can. If it is impossible to come legally yet there are 12 million jobs available, what do we expect people to do? We are all citizens of this planet . Politicians are using our racism to use immigrants as a scapegoat for our nation's problems. We are all descendants of immigrants who came to this country to have a better life... would it really have mattered to our ancestors whether it was "legal" to come?
March 22, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"It is virtually impossible for a Mexican to come to the U.S. legally."
sarahvw:
Do you think that applies to just Mexicans? There are policies and procedures that work in concert with the law to become a citizen of the United States. The proper way takes time, and it works. Those with skeletons in their closets, for instance criminal records, are normally disqualified. I cannot argue with that, as we are blessed with our own criminals and certainly do not need anybody elses.
I have heard that your "average" illegal immigrant does not wish to become a citizen, but I am not quite sure how one would be able to say that for certain. I do not, however, have any problem believing that.
Bottom line: violating our laws and borders is not the answer, and they will get little-to-no sympathy when they do so.
"We are all citizens of this planet."
That was beautiful. Please note the sarcasm.
March 22, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sarahvw (anonymous) says...
BKL.. First, I am willing to engage in a respectful exchange of ideas. What you and others have been doing has been spiteful and mean and makes your debate appear immature.
I spent 4 years working with immigrants (many legal, some not) and almost every "illegal" one I knew would have loved to be here legally if it were possible. I helped many of them look into their options to apply for a green card and almost always, there was simply no way other than to go back to their countries and wait for more than a decade. (for example, USCIS is currently processing applications from those who have applied through a sibling from 1994.) This is not a system that works. It encourages people who have been here for many years to remain illegal. We need comprehensive immigration reform to provide a path to citizenship for people like Ramon who came many years ago without understanding their situation and have lived here, contributing to society for many years.
There is much evidence that immigrants are contributing greatly to our economy. Most of people I worked with had fake documents. I am not condoning this but it means that they were always paying taxes under a fake number and at the end of the fiscal year, they would not file a return so their tax and the overage stayed with the government. Not to mention they pay sales tax, etc.
I am curious:
From where are your ancestors? Do you know a single immigrant personally?
March 22, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ridgerunner (anonymous) says...
knowing for a fact that some of the familys that are here enrolled their children in our public schools, BUT REFUSED SPECIAL CLASSES TO TEACH THEM TO SPEAK ENGLISH. ALSO ASK YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS HOW MUCH IT COST JUST TO HAVE A PERSON THAT CAN TALK TO PARENTS ON STAFF
March 22, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
sarahvw:
1. I certainly hope I have not been lumped into your "spiteful and mean" comment, as I have been nothing of the sort.
2. "there was simply no way other than to go back to their countries and wait for more than a decade." The system is in place to serve a purpose, and that purpose is not to purport any alleged racism you envision. The answer is not to violate the law and tenets of the system. The answer is the American people lobbying for reform, something I doubt you will see. We elect a government that reflects the values of the American people and we expect them to govern according to those values. I will go out on a limb and say that the American people does not wish to see the immigration reform that you likely desire. If this is not what the American people desires, so be it.
3. "who came many years ago without understanding their situation" Do you expect me to believe that they knew not that they were breaking our laws?
4. I would hope that my moniker would say it all about my heritage. Along with that, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and I know plenty of immigrants and illegal. I have seen many assimilate well and become productive members of society. I have seen many more decide that assimilation was not part of their plan. I have seen some proud to stand under the flag of the United States of America, and I have seen some burn it in protest in LA. I have seen the son of a Syrian Christian who legally came to the US rise to the rank of Major in the US Army (and a Ranger, to boot). I attended high school with an Iranian who came to the US after the fall of the Shah and attended West Point. I have also seen illegal immigrants that the government failed to track fly airliners into the World Trade Center in my hometown, killing friends and acquaintances. Many of the New York's Finest and Bravest who perished that day were the sons of immigrants, some sharing my Irish ancestry.
It is not immigration I fear and detest, it is those whose first act upon entering the United States of America was violate the laws we hold so dear. This is not what we look for to come to America's shores. Without them, the strawberries will still get picked, the houses built.
Who do we want? We want the Henry Kissingers and Arthur Rubinsteins, the Bob Hopes and Irving Berlins, the Rita Rodriguezs and Carlos Alvarezs. Hopefully we can continue to find them.
March 22, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Some days I wonder if I am in the wrong line of work...
March 22, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
Bklynirish, your last post made NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. It's obvious you are fighting a losing argument, so you should give up while you're ahead. I think it's also obvious that minorities are fast becoming the majority, and white people are becoming the minority. So no matter how much you wish they'd go away (and me with them), that's just not going to happen. So deal with it. You can't deport them all!
I don't know where you got "state funeral" from. We had to pay for her funeral ourselves. So don't talk about something you know nothing about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 22, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
I would not expect you to be able to make heads or tails of what I have said, for each time you put your accomplice fingers to your keyboard, you lose more and more credibility. In regards to fighting a losing argument, perhaps it is obvious to you, but I sense you are in the minority with that line of thinking.
Furthermore, I should not be surprised that you haven't a clue what a "state funeral" is. A little ignorance goes a long way with you, doesn't it? I imagine Thomas Gray would have had a field day with the likes of ndngirlntx.
March 23, 2008 at 2:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"You can't deport them all!"
No, and I am sure very few reasonable people believe we could. However, we can make the State of South Carolina positively unlivable for those who flout our laws. That time is rapidly approaching.
March 23, 2008 at 6:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
I know exactly what a state funeral is. So you don't need to play that condescending part with me. You SENSE I'm in the minority, huh? You can go ahead and keep on thinking that, but you're very wrong. There are more & more hispanics taking over in this country (whether they be legal or illegal), for that I'm very glad. They are not racist, condescending or judgmental. Unlike people like you! All most of them want to do is live better, work & live in peace, not bothering anybody. Strange how you can't do the same. You can keep on arguing with me, but you will not win with me. As I'm not trying to change your mind either! It's pathetic how you keep on wanting to insult me & belittle me. I'll discuss the topic with you. But I refuse to keep on with this childish game!
March 24, 2008 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
It is definitely true that it is very hard for most of the people here to come here legally under the current system. If you look at the US consulate websites for certain Latin American countries- Honduras for example, you will see the requirements for applying for a visa- you must prove that you own property have bank accounts with a significant amount of money, have a steady job, etc. The poor people who so desperately want to come here and work and cannot earn enough money to survive in their own countries are denied the opportunity for the most part, unless they have relatives. The current immigration system only welcomes the wealthy.
March 25, 2008 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
ndngirlntx-
Do they want to take over in this country? ("There are more & more hispanics taking over in this country..."
Or do thay want to live better, work & live in peace, not bothering anybody? ("All most of them want to do is live better, work & live in peace, not bothering anybody.")
This...
"I don't know where you got "state funeral" from. We had to pay for her funeral ourselves.
...made it quite clear to me that you did not know what a state funeral was when you made your comment about having to pay for her funeral yourselves.
How much deeper would you like to dig your hole? I must confess that I enjoy continually exposing you as the racist simpleton that you are.
March 25, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"you will see the requirements for applying for a visa- you must prove that you own property have bank accounts with a significant amount of money, have a steady job, etc."
God forbid we screen the tired, poor, and huddled masses to ensure they do not include the terrorists, drug dealers, convicted criminals, those with communicable diseases, etc.
Is it wrong for us to strive to bring in the very best for this country? Why bring in ten field hands from Satillo when we can bring in one college professor from Mexico City?
March 25, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
I REALLY DON'T CARE if hispanics want to take over this country or not. I'd rather people LIKE THEM take over, than racist, closed-minded, insulting, condescending, slow-minded people like you. That shows what kind of person YOU ARE, by how you keep on insulting me. You obviously can't understand all of what I said in my last post. Or you wouldn't have responded in the manner that you did.
And WHY do you keep on harping on my mother's funeral?? Her funeral had NOTHING whatsoever to do with the state! You talk like you know what you're talking about, but AGAIN, YOU DON'T.
You call me a criminal. But the way I see it, no one can judge me but GOD HIMSELF! At least, I won't be judged & punished by Him on how I treated people on this earth: hating & being racist towards people just because they're a different color than me & were unfortunate enough to be born in another country! I highly doubt He likes it that our country is treating people in this way. So I have no worries whatsoever. So get off your high horse & try to comprehend what I've said. I know it's hard, but really try to understand, maybe you'll catch on!
March 25, 2008 at 9:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Popeye (anonymous) says...
This May when our streets are filled with these illegals and their supporters shouting and DEMANDING their "rights" and "ceetenship" and waving their lousy traitorous mexican, and other latin american flags I am sure U open border advocates will be very supportive. Some of U may even be in the streets with the traitors like Murdering Teddy Kennedy and Lindsey Graham. Wonder what would happen to an American who went to mexico and DEMANDED rights and ceetenship? The iron bars would not hit U in the a__ U would be in jail so quick.
March 25, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
"Yes, i am racist"
"it's really hard for me to feel anything but hate for white people"
"I won't be judged & punished by Him on how I treated people on this earth: hating & being racist towards people just because they're a different color than me"
ndngirlntx: you can't have it both ways.
March 25, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Yes, I think racist simpleton sums it up rather nicely.
March 26, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
Of course we should screen people to make sure they are not terrorists, violent criminals, drug dealers or carriers of infectious diseases. But, aside from all that, if a poor laborer and a college professor both pass all of these tests, why should the professor who already has a decent job receive priority over the poor laborer whose life could be changed by working in the United States? I'm not at all advocating for completely open borders, but "wider gates" so to speak so that those with a clean record who most need to come can come if jobs are available.
March 26, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"why should the professor who already has a decent job receive priority over the poor laborer whose life could be changed by working in the United States?"
Perhaps he has a little more to offer? Why shall we risk furthering our already broken welfare state?
"Wider gates" is not a bad idea. However first we seal the borders (and it can be done.) Second, make it impossible for the illegals here now to work and live, targeting the employers as they have never been targeted before. Third, establish a moratorium on LEGAL immigration until such time as we can account for the illegals presently here and the borders are secured. Then, and only then, can we look at "wider gates."
March 26, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Ramon and Melanie who?
March 26, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
yeah, I know, we almost have forgotten the original story. However, I think for the most part, the story has opened up dialogue about immigration issues.
Yes, maybe the professor can offer us more, but it's not always about us- we have to sometimes show mercy and compassion and help other people even if we have nothing temporal to gain from it.
I agree that we cannot continue with the mess we have now- it is neither good for us or the immigrants that are here, but there needs to be a way to allow them to come legally for a chance at the "American dream" just like the immigrants in the past. In my opinion, the American dream certainly doesn't include having everyone on welfare. Welfare is being used as it was never intended- as a crutch to keep people from succeeding in life. It should never be "lifestyle" only a temporary solution for those who find themselves in desperate circumstances. Perhaps if one day the gates are "open wider" rules could be set to limit which immigrants gets welfare and for what reasons, and how long, etc.
March 26, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
We show mercy and compassion with the billions of dollars we send overseas in the form of foreign aid. Where do we draw the line?
We MUST think about "us" first if we don't want to put out the "No Vacancy" sign. Perhaps we have to look at the "American dream" in the framework of modern America and question whether or not it is (still) feasible. Frankly, I am far from certain that it is beneficial.
With that said, let's fix our problems at home before we start inviting everybody else's to our shores.
As for Ramon and Melanie- we deported a criminal and his accomplice wife followed him back to his home, putting their poor children in a far-from-ideal situation.
March 26, 2008 at 6:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
Ok Yeah Right, I obviously have to explain myself yet again. I admitted I am racist against white people. But the difference between me & Bklynirish is that he hates people simply because they're unfortunate enough to be born in another country. What did they ever do to him?? And he believes in shutting them out, no questions asked & no exceptions. And he doesn't want them here. And I believe in helping people regardless of where they're born and what color their skin is. I don't want others to be treated in the manner I was. If people need help, I believe in helping them, as long as they're not drug doers or drug dealers, murderers, child molesters or rapists. At least I CAN ADMIT that I'm racist & am willing to change! Do you see bklynirish saying anything of the sort? At least I know the meaning of the words compassion and helping people.
March 27, 2008 at 4:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
More assumptions from the racist simpleton.
March 27, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Keep trying to "explain" yourself. All it does is further taint whatever credibility you think you have, and I can certainly use the entertainment.
March 27, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
strangers_unaware (anonymous) says...
Perhaps the living conditions for Ramon and Melanie's children will be far from ideal, but the family will remain intact and a much needed loving father will remain a part of their lives. It is unfortunate that due to the situation, Melanie's other child is being deprived of her real mother.
March 27, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"Perhaps the living conditions for Ramon and Melanie's children will be far from ideal, but the family will remain intact and a much needed loving father will remain a part of their lives. It is unfortunate that due to the situation, Melanie's other child is being deprived of her real mother."
AMEN!
March 27, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ndngirlntx (anonymous) says...
Bklynirish, obviously you have no way to counter what I've said, so you have nothing to say. Keep on running your big mouth, white boy. This RACIST woman is not threatened in the least or angered by what you say. Again, I refuse to keep on playing your stupid little immature games. Go ahead with what credibility YOU THINK you have, but you are just fooling yourself.
March 28, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Nothing to counter, my dear, nothing at all. The blathering of a racist simpleton has done little more than provide entertainment for those of us involved.
You have nothing viable to stand on, and while this little game...with the immaturity on your end, I might add...has given me something to do while winding down a long midnight shift, it is hardly worth my time.
Enjoy your hidden life and your racist tendencies with your criminal fiance, and I wish you all the best.
XXXOOO,
White Boy
FINIS...until the P&C posts some other drivel about illegal alien criminals getting caught and deported.
March 28, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brandons_mom (anonymous) says...
It is so easy for us to pass judgment when we've been blessed enough to be born into a country where opportunity is plentiful and the harder you work the more you succeed. I think what we tend to forget is in other countries that you can work yourself to the bone and still not be sure whether or not you will be able to provide for your family. The goals of each of our cultures are entirely different. I don't like making generalizations but it is true in my eyes that Americans have a whole separate idea of success compared to the lower class Mexican citizens that come to our country for a better life. Mexico is a beautiful place to live if you have money, but without it, it's nearly impossible to survive. I could go on and on about the reasons why these people come here but there's no time and I'm still learning everything I can to understand what they go through and also to try and understand what our country is going through from the lack of control our government has on immigration. I just think sometimes the fingers are being pointed at the wrong people. Of all the pain my family and I have been experiencing from my husband being gone, a man who came to this country to help his mother care for his dying father, has paid taxes from day 1 and has learned the English language and adapted to our ways of life, for people to judge and ridicule him and say he's nothing but a criminal and that I'm an accomplice to his crimes to me seems not only hurtful but also naive, looking at things with black-and-white thinking, not taking into consideration all aspects of it. Everyone is so quick to say that regardless of what good people they may be, they are still "criminals" and have "broken the law"....ok...I can't count how many times I've driven over the speed limit in the last week or how much underage drinking I used to do as a teenager. People tend to not look within themselves and to me that's very sad and at the same time scary. And it is like what Jesus said "He who is without sin; let him cast the first stone." none of us are perfect and metaphorically speaking we use our words as stones, ready to cast them out to anyone we disagree with, not looking at the bigger picture.
April 5, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brandons_mom (anonymous) says...
for the record bklynirish, you are both acting very immature.
April 5, 2008 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Now we have brandons_mom comparing illegal immigration to speeding and underage drinking.
The thread has been taken to new heights!
April 12, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brandons_mom (anonymous) says...
Do you ever get the sneaking suspicion that humanity is-for the most part-really stupid? just wondering....I'm sorry for the vulgarity but I am just appalled at times by the attitudes of some people. I'm not just speaking of academic stupidity; I'm talking about a blatant lack of common sense. But, opinions are like buttholes; everyone's got one. I'm just afraid to see the waste that is secreted from them!!
April 28, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
Well, I can certainly agree with brandons_mom on that point. I recently saw a bumper sticker that sums it up for me:
"The more people I meet, the better I like my dog."
April 29, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastcooper (anonymous) says...
Do any of you know anything about NAFTA?
May 7, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FisherKing (anonymous) says...
One must wonder why Melanie pays child support? Does David Snell have legal custody of the 12 year old? If so...why?
The Mother is almost invariably awarded custody in divorce cases unless the judge deemed Melanie incapable of providing for the welfare of the child. Or was it something else?...Could it be that for Melanie and Ramon, who are quoted again and again appealing to high principle, fairness, compassion and God that this whole business started with a extra-marital affair on their part...is little Joy the smoking gun?...The saga continues.
-FK
June 24, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mommagarcia (anonymous) says...
Obviously Melanie and Ramon love each other and will do anything for their family to stay together. I am in the same situation as Melanie right now. My husband was deported and now our kids don't have a father in their life. Yea, i know it was our choice but the government shouldn't act as if it was God. You can't help who you love and soon we will be back with our husband/father in Mexico as well. So to Melanie and her family -- good for you for making family first!!
Don't forget people the spanish were in United States way before the "whites." We are living on their land. What if the roles were flipped and we lived in a poor country? Wouldn't you want to be able to live a happy life too??
July 13, 2008 at 2:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BKLYNIRISH (anonymous) says...
"Don't forget people the spanish were in United States way before the "whites." We are living on their land."
Sounds as if somebody skipped school a few too many times.
July 14, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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