Ugh there is no legal fight!!

You are here illegally, you were asked to leave 8 years ago, you did not and you had all that time to do something about it!!! This should not be a surprise. There is nothing to battle!! Go through the process to become a citizen or get out....sorry.

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Graylight · 51-55, F

Because being here is horrible and...?

We have a broken and inefficient immigration system. The parents of an infant, the man who needs work to feed his family, the woman fleeing terrorism or brutality...all that can wait 2,5, up to 8 years? Why? So they have a piece of paper that let's you sleep easier?

Yes, we need immigration reform, yes, we need to be vigilant. But when exactly did we start to value winning a point, caving to fear-mongering and demonizing humans who look different take precedence over life, compassion and mercy?

smmartydude · 36-40, M

@Graylight Winning a point? There is no point to win. He had 8 years to get this right and chose not to. What you're saying is, I can commit a crime, but if I have a nice family to support, then I'm allowed to get away with it?? Lots of people commit crimes that have nice families, yet they go to jail. Are you saying they should be let out because it hurts their families??

Graylight · 51-55, F

@smmartydude Any time any side refuses to listen, reach compromise or consider another perspective, the entire issue devolves into winning the point.

Who had eight years to fix this issue? Obama? This issue far precedes him, and I'd remind you that he had a higher deportation rate than Trump did before Trump started redefining the playing lines.

Crossing the border illegally is not a crime. Overstaying a visa, while illegal, is not a crime. It's a misdemeanor that does not carry criminal repercussions. So yes, for an offense as trivial as jaywalking, I don't see where breaking up families is an appropriate response. I'm all for legalization of illegal immigrants - I'm not for treating them like felons.

smmartydude · 36-40, M

@Graylight You are right about one thing....inability to reach a compromise is the real problem with most things. Most people today are so transfixed on their side "winning" that they are completely blind to the other side. I admit, I am guilty of this sometimes....but it's also human nature to want to come out on the right side of things.....

As for the issue at hand, the man who may be deported is the one who had 8 years to fix this. He was told to leave the country in 2010 and chose not to. So, he had 8 years to either leave (which he could have done, WITH his family) or get the process moving towards citizenship, which he also chose NOT to do. Now, in his case, he is has not committed any other crimes, he's not a gang member, he's not stealing from anything or anyone. Severe crime or not, I have a problem with the fact he's been here for 8 years since he was told to leave and did NOTHING about it. Come on....he could have saved himself and his family all of this hassle if he had just applied for citizenship. Why is that so hard? My grandparents did it, and I'm sure at some point in the past someone in your family did, too (unless you are 100% Native American). If you enjoy this country, and want your family to be here, go through the process. It's like if you want to drive a car...go through the process of getting a license. I don't see the problem with that.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@smmartydude I'm not sure specifically which case you're referring to, so it's hard comment on details. If it's the Garcia case, or really any case, it's more complicated than simply choosing to become a citizen.

Using the Garcia case, he came to this country as a 10 year old and so was not part of any initial process toward legalization. He went on to live for 30 years as a reasonably productive citizen, certainly one who had not had trouble with the law. By the time ICE set their sights on him, there were several avenues for visas, relief and naturalization that were no longer available to him given his status.

Garcia could have done more to help himself, but we don't know about his intelligence, education or resources. However, he's an established citizen with a family of his own now. I have to believe there are ways to handle such a case without taking the head of a household and banishing him. If the US government is intent on saving resources, they risk facing a larger drain precisely because the broke up this family.

smmartydude · 36-40, M

@Graylight Yes, that is the case I am referring to. He was here for 30 years, you said it yourself. Regardless of intelligence or education, he had ample time to figure out how to become a citizen, and at the very least a wife who is a citizen to help him. If it was a few months, then I could say that he didn't have the time. However, 30 years is way more than enough time....in that time, he has worked, gotten married, had kids....all of that was important enough for him to find the time for, so he should have found the time to become a citizen. I'm sorry....he had the time, he just didn't make the effort.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@smmartydude Yup, the burden is on him, no question about it. But a person's whole family shouldn't have to suffer and be torn apart over stupidity that ended up affecting no one materially. Where does human mercy come in to the equation?