Non-naturalized immigrants, especially illegal ones, can't vote in federal elections. Nonetheless, the day before the so-called Potomac Primary (D.C., Md., and Va.), the Washington Post devoted a 22-paragraph Metro section story to "The Frustration of Being Illegal."
The story, by staff writer Marcela Sanchez, aims at tugging at the heart strings by recounting the plight of one immigrant who fears her deportation will separate her from her children. Here's an excerpt:
Celia Llanes came to the United States 4 1/2 years ago with typical immigrant aspirations. She hoped to provide for her family, earn enough to buy a patch of land back home and perhaps take her girls to Disney World. Today, her wish is far simpler: that when she is deported her girls will be deported with her.
"I am waiting for immigration," she says with a matter-of-fact tone. She has begun sending some of her more valued belongings (such as a set of Royal Prestige pots she paid for in installments) to Guatemala because, she says, "they don't let you take anything."
As the anti-illegal-immigration backlash grew last year in Prince William County, where Llanes lives, the 32-year-old Manassas resident said she started to feel the world around her change. She said supermarket cashiers suddenly grew annoyed and acted as if they didn't understand her. She said her girls told her, "Mami, las maestras prefieren a los Americanos." ("The teachers prefer the Americans.")
Prince William county supervisors voted in October to enact some of the region's toughest policies against illegal immigrants, including the use of police to enforce immigration laws. Llanes says the new measures have become such a source of personal anxiety that she is convinced they are taking a toll on her health. She has sharp stomach pain apparently caused by gallstones, and her frequent headaches have gotten worse.
Is tempting to ask when a Post writer will be assigned the task of documenting the frustration of being a Post reader who opposes illegal immigration, but I suspect most of them are either resigned that the paper's staff either doesn't care about their plight or the monetary value of their home subscriptions.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Of course, it never occurs to Marcela Sanchez
February 11, 2008 - 11:54 ET by RJor the illegals in America....if they're worried about "keeping their children and their possessions", all they have to do is take them home. Then, instead of trying to cut line, they can apply for legal immigration with people from all over the world.
That would take twenty years to wait in that line
February 11, 2008 - 13:19 ET by Daniel BakerTwelve serial sex offenders cross the U.S. border illegally every day,
according to a 2006 Department of Homeland Security report.
Divorces will continue to go up as people are exposed to more of our sex crazed MSM. Marriages will decrease. Children will become rare, and societies with children will take over our country from within.
I do agree with you, but
February 11, 2008 - 19:56 ET by red_dragon311I do agree with you, but the immigration laws do need to change....why was it easier for 19 grown men to get student visas, then a family of 4 to get a 1 week tourist visa, WITH a sponser here in the states who was natural born.......ME.
the family of 4 was ....Mexican, had they been from any other country of Earth, they would have gotten the visas.
Please don't get me wrong, i am NOT in favor of iliegal immigration, I am sick and tired of illegals have a a feeling of entitlement on everything.......kids at school getting free lunch I pay tax dollars for yet the parents pick thes kids up in Escalades and Navigators......i makes me sick
we do need to change the immigration laws...but we need to ENFORCE them at the same time.
"Get off the phone you big dope!!!!!!!!!!" Mark Levin
on one hand
February 11, 2008 - 12:06 ET by pwozI do feel bad for many illegals. They ARE looking for a better life, but the problem is that emotions get tied to the laws (that should be enforced but are not).. what ever happened to "blind" justice?
We can help them have a better life by kicking them out.
February 11, 2008 - 13:21 ET by Daniel BakerTwelve serial sex offenders cross the U.S. border illegally every day,
according to a 2006 Department of Homeland Security report.
You're singing my song, Daniel
February 11, 2008 - 13:31 ET by RJWe're currently acting as a Pressure Relief Valve for Mexico. Because we're here to give them alternatives, reform pressure can't build.
Annex Mexico
February 11, 2008 - 15:08 ET by Wildcatter1980Then, kick the corrupt government out, immediately abolish their absurd laws that only serve to keep the rich in power and watch all their oil and petroleum products help eliminate the USA's dependence on imported oil.
Seriously, many of the immigration issues would go away if Mexico was annexed and became a state. The current Mexican laws that actually hurt their economy can be replaced by American laws that will start enabling Mexicans to benefit by staying there instead of migrating north. The Mexicans themselves will benefit from coming under the good American laws that really do protect us. Much of the corruption that hurts Mexicans can be targeted and hopefully reduced if not ended completely instead of being tacitly condoned like it currently is.
On the surface, it would appear to be a win-win scenario.
Just my $0.02
Hispanics will be the majority of America in about forty years
February 11, 2008 - 18:07 ET by Daniel BakerSo you must be saying speed up the process. Than have a border with central America.
I am thinking of starting a
February 11, 2008 - 12:07 ET by MassConservativeI am thinking of starting a Make-A-Wish foundation for Illegal Immigrants.
If her wish is to be deported with her children we would be more than happy to accomodate that.
"There are scandals that need to be addressed. Republicans address them, Democrats re-elect them." - Tom Delay
So many frustrations - illegals can't vote, people in foreign
February 11, 2008 - 12:29 ET by Dee Bunkcountries (non U.S. citizens) can't vote, Dictators, despots and terrorists can't vote, felons can't vote. All of these people can't LEGALLY vote in the U.S. but that doesn't mean they don't.
Arrive Legally
February 11, 2008 - 12:30 ET by Pete Wilsonand save the heart-wrenching stories for someone else.
If this woman had abided by the law, then she would not find herself in this situation. But, she did not. I feel no sympathy for her.
It is obvious by the article, that the underlying problem the author feels is that the illegals have no say in politics here. They should not. That right belongs to citizens only.
How to report this issue
February 11, 2008 - 12:46 ET by KC MulvilleYou have to separate the immigrant from the issue. I have no doubt that poor families need help, and to the degree we can do it, we should. Today's scripture readings include the gospel message of "what you did for the least of my brothers ..." We want to do all we can. But you can't abandon the rule of law on this issue, because it makes everything worse.
Let me put it this way. This reporter (Marcela Sanchez) is telling us that this family is having a tough time. But while the story pulls heartstrings, it really isn't moving the issue forward. Here's a better, and in my opinion, more useful story about immigration:
Tell me that story, and the reporter will be doing her job.
As I stated above, people
February 11, 2008 - 20:36 ET by red_dragon311As I stated above, people from latin countries have a much harder time getting a visa. and the visas they get are only good for 6 months to 1 week. most illegals just over stay their visas. once they get the visa they are home free because INS does nothing after that. They don't make sure people leave when the should. THAT is one issue.
now, what to do if they have kids here......nothing. Enough with the ancor babies, if you time is up and it's time for you to go back home and you happen to have a child ( which would't be an issue if the 6 MONTH visa was enforced) you just need to take your spawn with you. nuff said.
now the cost for a visa is nothing near $12,000, but to get a visa you do need to be a home owner, you do need a job, thats bascily it. reason being if you DON"T have either you are more likly to stay in the US. Also make no mistake it's the US that IS in charge of who gets the visas, not Mexico.
and having lived in mexico for a while, and visting almost once a year, I can say right now there are NO adds telling peopel to go to the US, quite the opposite....the adds tell people to STAY in mexico.
the system IS broken, but letting them stay will not fix it,
"Get off the phone you big dope!!!!!!!!!!" Mark Levin
Legal immigration
February 11, 2008 - 20:45 ET by KC MulvilleOK - that's how to do it illegally. How much would it cost legally? Suppose I'm a Guatemalan, and I decide to become a citizen and live in the United States. I want to go through every proper channel, and do everything right. How much does it cost?
I admit, I have no idea. And since it seems such an obvious question, I wonder if anyone out there can give me a ballpark figure?
the thing is it's not a
February 11, 2008 - 22:01 ET by red_dragon311the thing is it's not a cost issue, it's a getting the visa issue.....but it IS much much much much much less then $12,0000
"Get off the phone you big dope!!!!!!!!!!" Mark Levin
Yeah, that is what worries me
February 11, 2008 - 22:13 ET by KC MulvilleIf she could have gotten here so much cheaper, why $12K? How much does the cost go up if you're unwilling to wait?
Saw a story on Drudge that the Hispanic population is going to triple in the next 40 years at current rates, fueled mostly by immigration, legal and otherwise. Let's be clear, no country can accept dozens of millions of immigrant ghosts, no matter what their ancestry. We can't have a country where a quarter of the population is undocumented and therefore uncontrollable.
Not that you guys didn't all know that already, but if this is what immigration is going to do, we have to get answers to some basic questions. How much does it cost to get into this country legally?
Once again, it's not
February 11, 2008 - 22:40 ET by red_dragon311Once again, it's not an issue of cost............it's an issue of getting a visa.
And the visa is just a tourist visa, you can't work on a tourist visa.
so coming legally is not really an issue,
it's easier to raise the money ( and to be honest $12,000 is WAY too much money, that number is SO embelished the cost is more along the lines of 1500 to 3000 depending on how you come, the lower the cost the greater risk of being caught.) and take your chances
"Get off the phone you big dope!!!!!!!!!!" Mark Levin
Jeez, what's next, "the
February 11, 2008 - 13:16 ET by motherbeltJeez, what's next, "the frustration of being a convict"?
Exactly whose fault is it that this woman is here illegally???
Geea..is Right..where do you start to comment..
February 11, 2008 - 20:16 ET by JayTeeThere's so much wrong with this Story where do you start ? ?
Are you guys at NB watching American TV ? This isn't Al Jazzeera or the Spanish channel is it ?
If we had Secured the Border in the past, shut down Illegals crossing the border, she wouldn't have the Problem today (Using Liberal Logical thinking)... so there.
I need some cash. Maybe if I
February 11, 2008 - 13:55 ET by rbosqueI need some cash. Maybe if I rob a few banks and then whine about how I needed the money, they'll drop the charges and make robbing legal. That formula sounds great to me.
This story soon to hit the big screen...
February 11, 2008 - 14:26 ET by tracyz20I was at the movies recently and saw a preview for a new movie called Under the Same Moon. Here's the synopsis I found online:
UNDER THE SAME MOON tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. Along the way, mother and son face challenges and obstacles but never lose hope that they will one day be together again. Riggen's film is not only a heartwarming family story; she also offers subtle commentary on the much-debated issue of illegal immigration.
It's Easier
February 11, 2008 - 14:49 ET by ff_emt1As with many things in life, it is easier to just break the law. Here are the costs.
http://www.uscis.gov...
And there are limits as to how many can immigrate. If you are not in that number, just break the law.
A Democrat is someone who wants to put YOUR money where HIS mouth is.
Our Fault Again
February 12, 2008 - 13:37 ET by happyuscitizenAgain we are to blame, how dare we insist that our laws be adhered to. What a load of drivelly Geraldospeak. If only we weren't funding a $1.4 Billion dollar fence for Mexico's Southern Border instead of our own. A bitter irony I know, but it leaves the question are the Mexicans
racist for building a fence at their southern border just like they
accuse us of because we as a country overwhlemingly want a secure
border?
I have a novel solution for your woes if you are living "in the shadows", go back to whence you came and then go through the legal process of immigration. Then if granted the PRIVILEDGE of a residency visa and assimilate and integrate yourself into American society then you will not have to, "live in fear" or whatever catch phrase La Raza or MeCha has in their playbook, and enjoy all of the experiences this country allows of its law abiding population.
"I'm just a big fat hairy American Winning Machine!" - Ricky Bobby