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Student’s Arrest Tests Immigration Policy

I'm not asking for a legal perspective from you. I'm asking what YOU would have children do when they've been brought here by their parents.

This falls under the same argument as "would you steal, if you were starving?" Yes, the person would steal, however, they would also have to accept the consequences if caught.

The answer to your specific question that you asked is, I wouldn't have expected her to leave the country of her own free will.

However, as a college student who has obviously had some education of U.S. law, she shouldn't be surprised that she might have to serve some time and eventually be deported when caught though.

She took a risk and committed a crime by not coming forward when she turned 18 that she was illegal. Even though her parents were the ones that brought her, she committed the crime by continuing it even though she knew she was illegal.
 
This falls under the same argument as "would you steal, if you were starving?" Yes, the person would steal, however, they would also have to accept the consequences if caught.

The answer to your specific question that you asked is, I wouldn't have expected her to leave the country of her own free will.

However, as a college student who has obviously had some education of U.S. law, she shouldn't be surprised that she might have to serve some time and eventually be deported when caught though.

She took a risk and committed a crime by not coming forward when she turned 18 that she was illegal. Even though her parents were the ones that brought her, she committed the crime by continuing it even though she knew she was illegal.

Thanks. I appreciate that, but what should a seemingly intelligent (based on the description of her academic success) person do? It seems to me that she likely would have become a productive member of society.

Should those who were brought here as minors have some path to legal citizenship as long as they come forward - say within six months of their 18th birthday?

Admittedly, she broke the law and those who are rabidly anti-illegal are all thrilled to toss her back across the border - but humanistically, what are the children supposed to do?

That's what I'm seeking.

Sorry if I have sympathy for someone who was essentially forced into this position by actions taken by their parents when they were children.
 
She was a minor, so it was her parents that committed the particular crime of bringing her across the border. She herself committed several more, such as driving without a license and fraudulently obtaining funds from the state.

This is the whole of it to me. Her parents committed the original crime, but she is an adult, she has continued to commit crimes. I am not going to waste time feeling bad for people who willingly break our laws.
 
Besides anything hasnt she been driving without a licence? Im sure everyone would be fne if she plowed into the back of them.

As long as she didn't have insurance...

[/sarcasm]
 
I accept public grants and scholarships to attend school, so what?

You're here legally.

Im saying that this case highlights a glaring flaw in our immigration policy when we're tossing out people who are trying to be productive members of our society.

The law is the law. If she can prove her parents brought her here legally, she can stay; Otherwise, she needs to leave the country and immigrate legally.
 
While it's certainly nice that this woman has managed to attend a few years of college, how does that change the fact that she's here illegally?

She's been here for over a decade, and her PARENTS brought her here.

RightinNYC said:
Should we put a clause in the immigration law saying that illegals will not be deported so long as they're hard-working? The prevalence of emotional reasoning in this country is just depressing.

The only rationale against illegal immigration that makes even a modicum of sense is the argument that they're a drain on public resources. This girl is getting a college education and is obviously intelligent. What exactly is she doing to harm the country?

It's not "emotional reasoning" to suggest that our government might want to employ the slightest bit of discretion before deciding to deport someone.

RightinNYC said:
You've got to be kidding me. The chancellor claims that they couldn't possibly enforce a citizenship requirement, because it would cost $5/student. Given that Ms. Colotl alone bilked over $30k from the state coffers, that seems a little ridiculous.

She was living in the state and received in-state tuition. She didn't steal anything.
 
Okay, thanks for the point-by-point...but what the hell do you expect someone to do if they were brought her illegally as a minor.

What do want them to do personally.

They're not criminals as children, so what do YOU want them to do when they turn 18?

That's what I'm asking here. What do you expect them to do practically as human beings.

Realistically, I expect them to stay here as long as they can while being under the radar. If they get caught, they will get deported. That's the law. If people think that the law should be changed, let's change it.

I'm not saying that a child who is brought here by their parents has done anything wrong. I'm saying that the fact that they didn't do anything wrong doesn't mean they get to stay.

And, I'm sorry - if she gave them the address where she was residing, then the whole in-state vs. out-of-state thing is ****ing ridiculous. Regardless of legality, if she gave police the address where she was residing, to charge her with a felony for reporting a false address is just draconian. What address was she supposed to give them? A random address in Mexico that she hadn't been to since she was 10 years old?

If you're referring to the felony charge for giving a false address when she was questioned by the police, then you're probably right, as it sounds trumped up. If you're referring to the fact that she lied on her application to get in-state tuition, then no, that's certainly a wrong that she committed. It's no different than fraudulently obtaining other public funds.

She's been here for over a decade, and her PARENTS brought her here.

You missed the question that I was responding to there. Someone claimed that based on her achievements, she had already advanced society. My point was that attending Kennesaw State for three years thanks to $30k in improperly obtained public funds does not constitute "advancing society."

The only rationale against illegal immigration that makes even a modicum of sense is the argument that they're a drain on public resources. This girl is getting a college education and is obviously intelligent. What exactly is she doing to harm the country?

Again, this is a criticism better directed at our larger immigration scheme, not at this particular case.

It's not "emotional reasoning" to suggest that our government might want to employ the slightest bit of discretion before deciding to deport someone.

If the law says in black and white that someone who is here illegally in these circumstances must be deported, then it is absolutely "emotional reasoning" to say "But she's attending college and sounds hard-working, so they should make an exception."

She was living in the state and received in-state tuition. She didn't steal anything.

Non-citizens are explicitly precluded from receiving in-state tuition. If she is receiving the funds anyways, it's pretty obvious she knowingly lied on her forms in order to receive that money.

Again, whether or not people think that policy is fair is irrelevant. GA state law says that that's what it is, and she knowingly violated it to the tune of $30k.
 
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30 days in the hole. It would be automatic for me. Then deport her per the laws on the books. I'm sorry that she is so inconvenienced.
 
Let's not forget that she may have gotten her education at the expense of someone who played by the rules and waited in line, and is still waiting.

I say deport her.
 
Thanks. I appreciate that, but what should a seemingly intelligent (based on the description of her academic success) person do? It seems to me that she likely would have become a productive member of society.

Should those who were brought here as minors have some path to legal citizenship as long as they come forward - say within six months of their 18th birthday?

Admittedly, she broke the law and those who are rabidly anti-illegal are all thrilled to toss her back across the border - but humanistically, what are the children supposed to do?

That's what I'm seeking.

Sorry if I have sympathy for someone who was essentially forced into this position by actions taken by their parents when they were children.

How about applying for citizenship or a green card? Was any effort made to comply with the laws of the land?

Although she would still be breaking the laws, had she done anything to set herself on the legal path to citizenship, I think most here, and possibly a judge, would look differently on her crimes.
 
Student?s Arrest Tests Immigration Policy - NYTimes.com



While it's certainly nice that this woman has managed to attend a few years of college, how does that change the fact that she's here illegally? Should we put a clause in the immigration law saying that illegals will not be deported so long as they're hard-working? The prevalence of emotional reasoning in this country is just depressing.



You've got to be kidding me. The chancellor claims that they couldn't possibly enforce a citizenship requirement, because it would cost $5/student. Given that Ms. Colotl alone bilked over $30k from the state coffers, that seems a little ridiculous.

While I agree that immigration reform is necessary....this hard line stance against any amnesty is really hard to swallow.

There are a lot of people that were brought here as children who know no other country that this one...who are productive people in our society.
Its just wrong to want to deport them.

I understand the costs and problems with illegal immigration...however, I also understand that a "no tolerance" policy bites off our nose to spite our face.

My best friend was brought here at 3 years old. He is now 38 years old. He has been trying to apply for citizenship for years, but the beauracy and papertrail is ridiculous.
His parents brought him and his sister from El Salvador to escape the wars and turmoil there.

He is always afraid he is going to be deported...and he knows no other country than the United States.

Seriously....should he be sent back to El Salvador? I don't think so.
 
Let's not forget that she may have gotten her education at the expense of someone who played by the rules and waited in line, and is still waiting.

I say deport her.

"Waiting in line" is a myth. The slots go to those who can pay off the immigration officials and secure a spot.
 
i'm sorry....but the way I see it is that there are plenty of people who are given citizenship by virtue of being lucky enough to have been born here than want to milk the system and be a drain on our economy because they are entitled to be an American.

I don't have a huge problem with people who want to work and contribute to our society and are willing to work hard and pay taxes....but perhaps just don't have the same entitlements.
 
While I agree that immigration reform is necessary....this hard line stance against any amnesty is really hard to swallow.

What "hard line stance against amnesty"? How many times have I repeated this: My argument is not that our current policy is the best one. My argument is that so long as our current policy is what it is, it is foolish to argue that the authorities in this case should decide sua sponte to break the law and refuse to enforce the rules.

There are a lot of people that were brought here as children who know no other country that this one...who are productive people in our society.
Its just wrong to want to deport them.

So get the law changed.

My best friend was brought here at 3 years old. He is now 38 years old. He has been trying to apply for citizenship for years, but the beauracy and papertrail is ridiculous.
His parents brought him and his sister from El Salvador to escape the wars and turmoil there.

He is always afraid he is going to be deported...and he knows no other country than the United States.

Seriously....should he be sent back to El Salvador? I don't think so.

It sounds like he's being forthcoming with the authorities and going through the proper channels to attempt to establish residency. Best of luck to him in that process.

"Waiting in line" is a myth. The slots go to those who can pay off the immigration officials and secure a spot.

Got a link to indicate that this is even a moderately common practice?

i'm sorry....but the way I see it is that there are plenty of people who are given citizenship by virtue of being lucky enough to have been born here than want to milk the system and be a drain on our economy because they are entitled to be an American.

I don't have a huge problem with people who want to work and contribute to our society and are willing to work hard and pay taxes....but perhaps just don't have the same entitlements.

Unfortunately, that's how citizenship works. We can't revoke the rights for all people who don't meet some abstract standard of success, nor can we grant those rights to all people who do.
 
If the law says in black and white that someone who is here illegally in these circumstances must be deported, then it is absolutely "emotional reasoning" to say "But she's attending college and sounds hard-working, so they should make an exception."

The law says no such thing, as catch-and-release is a fairly common practice for illegal immigrants. And even if the law did mandate deportation, the government is under no obligation to prosecute it if it doesn't feel like it.
 
How about applying for citizenship or a green card? Was any effort made to comply with the laws of the land?

Although she would still be breaking the laws, had she done anything to set herself on the legal path to citizenship, I think most here, and possibly a judge, would look differently on her crimes.

If she was in process this entire situation wouldn't be had.

A lot of people are in process and thus aren't here illegally.
 
Jessica Colotl, a 21-year-old college student and illegal Mexican immigrant at the center of a contentious immigration case, surrendered to a Georgia sheriff on Friday but continued to deny wrongdoing.

For someone we keep being told is intelligent by posters in here, this denial seems to say otherwise. At least intelligent when it comes to the law of the country she’s living in. Let’s see.

Jessica Colotl, a 21-year-old college student and illegal Mexican immigrant

Well, there’s the first bit of wrong doing.

Ms. Colotl was arrested in March for driving without a license

Oh look, second wrong doing.

On Wednesday the sheriff filed a felony charge against her for providing a false address to the police.

Wait, that’s number three.

Ms. Colotl received in-state tuition, substantially reducing her cost of attending Kennesaw State

And here’s number four, fraud.

“I was treated like a criminal”

That’s because you acted like one.
 
The law says no such thing, as catch-and-release is a fairly common practice for illegal immigrants.

My understanding is that the government put an end to catch-and-release in 2006. Even then, catch-and-release wasn't a formal policy of allowing people to go, but a policy that allowed people to simply skip their hearing.

And even if the law did mandate deportation, the government is under no obligation to prosecute it if it doesn't feel like it.

You're right in that GA could decide not to prosecute her for any of her state crimes, but I think that would be a bit absurd. If GA prosecutes her and she is found guilty, I believe deportation is mandatory.
 
you would think that they would give her 1 yr in prison for every year she overstayed.
 
So seems to be somewhat split here...

Any others that think despite the fact she's violated the law a number of times, and committed fraud against the government to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, that she should not only not be deported but should be free of any charges and allowed to continue at school?
 
So seems to be somewhat split here...

Any others that think despite the fact she's violated the law a number of times, and committed fraud against the government to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, that she should not only not be deported but should be free of any charges and allowed to continue at school?

It was good enough for Barry's Aunt, let's just open up the border and put the whole world on welfare..... we can afford it and we owe the world for our past sins.

No...... I'm serious.
 
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