Faces of hope line up for two more years in the U.S.
By Ashley Strickland, CNN
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) - When the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta opened at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, 60 people were waiting outside. The clusters of people aren't unusual. There is often a wait to process documents and take classes.
It was the number of children and young people streaming in on their own, or alongside their parent, that stuck out to the consulate employees. At least 100 were on site, eager to process documents, during the busiest part of the day. Once they have the proper paperwork, they can apply for a chance to remain in the United States for at least two more years without fear of deportation.
Undocumented immigrants line up for relief from deportation
CNN spoke with some who came in and out of the consulate. The constants? Faces bright with hope and voices that carried the excitement visible in their eyes.
Names: Oscar and Alejandro Angeles
Ages: Oscar is 21; Alejandro is 19
From: Morilia, Mexico. In the United States since 2003
What they think about the deportation deferment: "It's like a great opportunity to achieve something in life," Oscar said. "I want to go to school now, have a career and get a good job."
Oscar graduated high school two years ago. He wants to become a doctor, but has not been able to go to college because of his status. He worries that this gap between high school and college has given him a greater challenge: remembering his education. "I already forgot everything."
Alejandro graduated from high school in 2011. He wants to study business when he is accepted to a college.
Names: Angel Pinon, and Silbia, his mother
Age: Angel is 20
From: Chihuahua, Mexico. Moved to the United States when Angel was 2.
What he thinks: "When I heard the news, I didn't believe it at first because, I've, in a way, been waiting for this for a while and seeing what else I could do," Angel said. "It wasn't until I was 16 that they told me I couldn't get a license or drive."
What he wants to do: "Drive!" he nearly shouted. "I have a small job, but now I don't have to depend on other people. I always had to do that in high school." Angel is in college, but hopes he is now eligible for scholarships. He wants to pursue a career in the medical field, but if not "I want to become a rock star," he said, grinning.
When asked what she thought of the policy, his mother simply looked at the sky and clasped her hands, saying "Thank God."
Names: Jennifer Flores and Cristian Lopez (pink shirt)
Ages: Jennifer is 21, Cristian is 17.
From: Acapulco. Jennifer has been in the United States since she was 4, Cristian since she was 7.
What they think: "I got really excited that I could follow my dream and go to college and be what I want to be because we only go up to high school and then we go back to our countries, so we have more opportunities here," Jennifer said. "I was shocked that Obama actually did this."
Jennifer hopes that whoever the next president may be, he won't get rid of it. While Mexico is her original home, Jennifer said she is used to being here, so Mexico would feel like a different kind of home. Cristian also feels like it is an opportunity to pursue college in one successful, unbroken path, so she can study business.
"There are a lot of smart Hispanics that can cause change in this country, and those are the people they end up deporting," Jennifer said. "This DREAM Act is helping everybody." She believes that especially her generation can change negative perceptions about Latinos.
Names: Juan, Magdalena, Rocio, Paola, Joshua and Andres Gutierrez
Ages: Rocio is 16, Paola is 14, Joshua is 6 and Andres is 4.
What they think: "It's awesome!" Rocio said. "I wanted to be an architect, I was trying to get far in this life. I’ve been trying to get all A's and get out with honors and have a good life." Rocio is in 11th grade and hopes to make it to college given the two-year extension. Her brothers were born in the United States, but her sister, Paola, is in the same situation as Rocio. She said she wants to be in the United States when she turns 16, because she knows it will be an exciting time in her life.
Names: Camerino Pantoja and his cousin, Salvador Balzazar. Mrs. Balzazar is Camerino’s aunt.
Ages: Camerino is 21, Salvador is 24.
From: Camerino is living in Ellijay, Georgia. Salvador is from Guanajuato.
What they think: Camerino drove his cousin and aunt from Elijay to Atlanta, about an hour and half drive "with 400 horses" powering the way. Camerino is here legally, and he drives his extended family where they need to go.
"I plan on driving them, I’ll be back to drive people. I like helping them out. They didn’t come to America to ask for anything; they came to make something out of themselves and that’s why I like to do people like that favors."
Salvador graduated from high school in 2009 and now wants to go to school, studying for a career in the medical field. His family has been here since 1995.
"It's worth it for your future," Camerino said. "You're going to have kids. They’ll have a better life, a better one than you went through."
Names: Aracei and Jade Salgado
Age: Jade is 8.
What they think: If Jade gets to stay in the United States, her wish is a simple one. "I want to be able to visit my friends at their house," she said. At her age, nothing is more important than maintaining the friendships she has built at school. Jade wants to remain in the United States for as long as possible and become a police officer. She said she doesn't have any friends who are going through the same thing, and it's not a topic brought up at her school.
People enter the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta on the day that paperwork for the two-year deferment became available.
Related:
Immigrants line up for relief from deportation
Five things to know about the big change in immigration policy
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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please understand something if your reading this the problem with the dream act is that we are putting foreigners in our military even though we are giving them amnesty and citizen ship they are still foreigners in our United States military that is against the law back in 2009 a survey was taken in the air force and marines soldiers were asked if they would fire on American citizens if ordered to do so and 94% said they would not. Hence the dream act foreigners will shoot Americans because they want to take what others have governments throughout history used guerrillas and foreign troops to oppress its population. Our country is going to hell in a hand-basket the economy will not improve it will get worse. And to whoever is reading this reject the REAL ID do not take the REAL ID ACT coming January of 2013 google REAL ID ACT 2013
Canadian wilderness ? Have you been to Canada ? ignorant f00l – everyone is an immigrant an they're doing pretty well if you ask me.
Get them out of your pockets?? They got some money off you?? Ill bet you are on welfare or with a thousand decutions
on your tax return. They probably saved more money than you did.
You must remember that most so-called "Hispanic" or "Latino" immigrants are more native to this continent than so-called "native born" kids who are descended from their original European anchor-baby ancestors.
And we hope they get the boot after 2 more years..
Saying that some immigrants are more welcome in America than others is just pure racism. Shame on you. All immigrants are welcome in America if they follow our laws (come her legally). Criminals (those who do not follow our laws, break our laws and come here illegally) are not welcome.
Immigrants who enter legally, contribute,don't commit crimes, learn English, assimilate are respectful to the country and its citizens are indeed welcome. Illegals are none of these things.
All boundaries on the world map were drawn by war, treaty, or geography.... not 'immigration'. European settlers are not 'immigrants', they are conquerors. Read a history book.
get them back to where they came from!
Can we get you to where YOU came from? As far as I know there is no nationality as an American, you all came from Europe, lol it is funny how you can profile people like you because you are probably a 50 year old republican that lives in the south and cries all the time but probably never votes for President
Different times. Different situation. All countries have immigration laws that need to be followed. It does not make it a racist issue. It is following the law and respecting other countries citizens.
Two more years of sucking down taxpayer driven services.
come on. kids brought in illegally are not at fault. if they are going to school, no criminal record and are flourishing then they should be fast tracked. parents maybe or maybe not by the same rules as they need to get in the line even f they came here to work hard and build a new life. but it is hypocritical to let these people work, take taxes including social security and not give anything in return.
Give what in return?
What they've taken is a free education, and healthcare paid by me. Now my 24 yr old has to compete with illegals and anchor babies for employment? I live in LA these illegals live 10 in a house next door to me., have 15 yr old kids and speak NO english. SEND THEM ALL BACK ..... not just the mexicans eith, all illegals they are not americans. BTW any taxes their parents may have paid (which means they used some's SS#) doesn not come close to the cost of the education they have received. In CA we are now giving grants for college paid for by tax payers. The amnesty has happened right under our nose. That's what just happened. Soon they will be voting. I would rather give those funds (my tax dollars) to our seniors, who worked and built this country
1. The law has been on the books for at least 40 years. The policy change is that Democrats have been saying to the hispanics that they cannot use this process. 2. It was a REPUBLICAN that started this surge in people trying to use the law- Barack Obama is a thief of the character of that Republican. 3. When it comes to minors- the parents are given the choice of leaving the children here or taking them with them to their original country when being deported- no paper work just yes or no. This process surge is not necessary and should be considered wasteful because Immigration will leave it up to the parents if there is any possibility of being deported.
Why does a piece like this only focus on Hispanic? Seriously...there are other immigrants who have been hiding under cover for years and are not of the Latino community at all. Every last person in this article mentioned and picture shown is of Latin decent. C'mon...you mean the tell me nobody...NOBODY else is running around here illegal? Hell...I'm black, born and raised here and know for FACT that the Latino community shouldn't be soley targeted for racial profiling on this. It is a given that many come from Mexico, but that's one border out of several including North, South, East and West. Immigrants doesn't just mean Latino, Mexican, Puerto Rican, or any Hispanic Heritage. Just my opinion of course...
I would be interested to hear about the other 'cultures' that have a significant population of illegal immigrants here today? Who are these people and where are they from? Why does no one else here about them. I am not being facetious, truly interested in learning about these other illegal non-Latino immigrants.
Cambridge – It is pretty clear, based on your attacks of the far conservative party, that you are nothing but a hypocritical liberal. Where is any discussion about the far left? Is everything about the far left good and decent and the right thing?
If you made an argument that the far left and the far left were preventing the majority from coming to consensus on issues most would agree. When you choose to place blame on just one side of the equation you lose all credibility.
Nice kids. Got good education (free K12 education, subsidized college education and welfare paid by taxpayers money).
Why can't these kids consider going back to their native country and help their country to prosper?
That's a more noble thing to do rather than to stay in a America where they cause divisiveness among us.
DESPERATE DEMOCRATS. Soliciting Latino votes at any cost.
Damage done. Do not forget – 2 years. JUST 2 YEARS
After that, start rounding up illegals.
For many years this country has been divided along a variety of lines such as taxes, abortion, war, etc. I can't help but notice that in recent years the division is increasingly becoming "Hatred vs. Tolerance".
Guess which party is on which side????
One can't help but wonder whether you are aware of the long-term, irreparable, permanent damage that you are inflicting to the Republican Party.
If you cannot see a difference between :
1) a 45 year old illegally present in the USA since he/she is 25, who never paid taxes, never learned English and has a criminal record, and
2) a 25 year old illegally present in the USA since he/she is 3 years old, for whom this is the only country they have ever known and who has never done anything wrong, then...........
there is something seriously wrong with you...
You sound like a Republican! Everyone, don't forget our immigration laws were changed in the 1920's to try to keep out the Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants.
Actually he sounds like a dem/lib.
Nice looking kids...but are they laughing AT us?
I live in houston and work for an Oil and Gas company. Every now and then, the company hosts school children from poor districts to encourage engineering. I was a volunteer. I was shocked to see ALL the children were of hispanic origin who spoke with a very strong spanish accent or did not speak English at all!! I don't care if you are hispanic, black, asian or Anglo. IF YOU ARE A LEGAL IMMIGRANT OR A CITIZEN, YOU ARE AMERICAN AND YOU SHOULD BE OUTRAGED!!! Every seat the child of an illegal immigrant takes is ONE LESS SEAT YOUR CHILD RECEIVES...... And for those legal latinos supporting illegal immigration, remember you came to the US legally to escape the poor standard of living and corruption in your countries.... WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO LOWER THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN YOUR NEW HOME?? By the way, I am a LEGAL HISPANIC IMMIGRANT who is absolutely AGAINST ILLEGAL immigration
I'm also like you and perfectly know what is "out there" in South America and how they destroyed their countries, and now they want them to come here do the same. If they pay 100K per head in fines in 30 years term so the Govt. can payoff the debt I'm ok but no citizenship. They are cheaters.
Everybody is against illegal immigration, including illegals themselves. It is only the symptom. The illness is a system and laws that do not work
The laws would work if the federal government would enforce them, rather than let politics and corporate pressure dictate policy. The issue is the inability for third world countries to provide an economic model that will allow growth and therefore financial security for their citizens, and the inability for this country to continue to absorb and provide for those fleeing a desperate situation. Most of us are not heartless, but are intelligent enough to see that continued lack of enforcement of our immigration laws will end up a lose-lose for everyone.
The American Dream is now owned by the Mexican Dream.
I'm not gonna lie.. I swear by New Balance, they have several defierfnt styles specifically for tennis, and they come in all widths and sizes. They're also the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I absolutely love the 800 series.I've had shoes by both Nike and Adidas, but I find their toe box to be too narrow. I also think that they wear out faster, but I'm kinda biased.
Your sheer contempt and hatred for Hispanics comes through the screen alive and well
I'm with you on this. I feel bad for him 🙁
This is not a lifetime chance, two years break only if...not something else. Really guys, talk to a lawyer before doing it, what happens after two years? I hope USCIS is not asking you for all your family info...talk to a lawyer. I don't see Obama cares much about Latinos. What if he is reelected? What if he is not? What happens to you and your family? Just wondering and my best.
Well I would like to put my input as an international student who just received his MBA from an American University.
I believe that the whole immigration policy needs to be rewritten as it is way outdated, and what Obama does is the first step in that direction.
Although I do not agree with this "amnesty" because like me, many international students come here to the States and pay out-of state in addition to the in-state tuition out of our own pockets. We pay for our health insurance, and if we do work (internship, co-op or OPT) we do pay SS taxes including medicare which we will never be able to use.
So after we graduate college, being here legally all this time, we have to go back, whereas people who came here illegaly get amnestied and welcomed to this country.
What makes me mad is that even if i came to this country before my 16th birthday and lived here legally, I would not be able to qualify for this act and would not be able to get a work permit for 2 years.
So the system is really broke and as it shows it doesn't work the right way.
"What makes me mad is that even if i came to this country before my 16th birthday"
Valek: Blame YOUR PARENTS!! They were the ones who DID NOT bring you here LEGALLY or OTHERWISE. The legality (or lack thereof) is irrelevant to the point you are making.
Valek:
Let's say that your parents (before you are 16) take you to France where you learn French and meet really hot chicks.
Let's say that my parents do NOT take me to France, so I do not learn French of meet hot chicks.
Pray tell: WHOSE fault is it? Mine? Nope, because I was a minor. The French Government's? Nope! The French taxpayer's? Nope!
Next time, try to get parents that take you to France!! And while you are at it, select Bill Gates as your father!!
Well, if your parents decided to do something illegal, they should think in teaching you moral values and take you back to your country, honestly talking illegal immigration is wrong, and they do get benefits, you know that, as they don't pay same amount of taxes as we do. Tell your parents to take you to France right. You are telling this guy, it is the fault of his parents for saving money for a great college education instead of immigrating illegally to other country? He has great parents.
If you lose your green card, it is not a joke, would cost you more money than this 2 year break. All of us that made the legal paperwork, paid lots of money plus rocket science understanding papers, so if you can ( I did not) you have to pay for a lawyer, and so on. But I am not jealous, I would not ever like to be illegal in a country, but I was not born in a poor family as I guess most of illegal immigrants come from, so in immigration I guess is also like Obama says? Redistribute of the wealth. Your family could pay for college and their family didn't so that is how it works. You are right, legal immigration is too difficult and an illegal one it's kind of easy.
You are correct that the system is broke but not quite the way you think. Your situation has nothing to do with that of people who grew up here and who are not to blame for what is happening.. You are not an American at all and your parents never paid taxes at all to US, regardless of means.
This is not an "amnesty " because an amnesty is a pardon for people who have done something wrong. Not the case here whatsoever.
And you are no victim. There is a legal process available for you. You are lucky
Besides getting Work Permits, they will also be able to get Drivers Licenses, child care subsidiaries, and other welfare benefits. So not only are the 2 Million illegals going to be competing for jobs against American young people they will cost States tons of money. Money we don’t have to spend. They have already had free education, and whatever else they could steal from the citizens. You can Thank Obama for throwing the young people of this country under the bus, and they were his biggest supporters. Vote the Bum out in November.
No my friend it is the other way, it will benefit you. They pay taxes for which they can never claim any 409/welfare/ etc. So you don't work sit at home with welfare and unemployment aids and food stamps while they earn and pay taxes to cover your cost.
Nope,you are wrong.
They have never been eligible for any kind of welfare and now they do not need it.
Their education has not been for free for them anymore than for other Americans (a bit less than 50%)who do not pay taxes because they don't make enough . And if their parents do make enough and have not been paying taxes then the issue is Tax evasion, not immigration. Many US citizens evade taxes as well .
Before you make ignorant comments you should do a little research on immigration laws. People who are in this country on a visa don't get any financial help from the government. NOTHING!!!
How ironic, there are also thousands of"legal" Americans looking for work too.
Yes. And in the 90's unemployment was spectacularly low, in fact too low, illegal immigration three times as much as now, ....and yet your posturing in reference to this issue was exactly the same. This has nothing to do with the Economy whatsoever.
Great! And we will use their registration information to round them all up next year under the Romney administration. Better invest in a quality pair of running shoes, mi amigos!
So Romney has been lying all along???
Yes, mitty HAS been lying all along. He is the one who wants to cut MediCare, PBS, NPR, and Amtrak, not PRESIDENT Obama. All mitty wants to do is continue to outsource to 3rd world countries, and conceal his taxes.
Any increase at the other embassies?
That's 2 million more workers flooding into the legal workforce... just what our economy needs right now! Thanks Obama!
So that is why every Hispanic community is a gang warfare zone, such good people.
Really Nina, been to LA lately?
WOW! What a slap in the face to me and others that went thru the legal process to become American Citiziens and for the ones that have paid to begin the process legally and have been waiting in line for how long?
I agree with you. While I am not in your same situation, that does indeed have to feel like a slap in the face. And what incentive does that provide for others to follow your path? Why stand in line when you can cheat and take cuts to the front? Thank you, Vittoria, for taking the legal way into this country. I don't know how long you've been here, but WELCOME to our country, fellow citizen!
Legal immigrant trying to become permanent. Paid self for Masters degree. working since 2004. Paid taxes every year. Never arrested, try and be a good resident of this country. I work very hard and make comfortable living.
Yet still have to wait years before i can get permanent residency. Have paid $10-$15k for lawyers and immigration fees. Im not from Mexico – some immigrants are more important than others for the government who only want to create immigration laws that benefit Mexicans the most. How about people who study hard and have worked for almost a decade and paid thousands of dollars in taxes – can the government make a special consideration for them?
You are one of the few for whom a legal avenue actually exists, as slow and expensive as it may be,
I perfectly agree with you, the POTUS can go F.. himself, I should sue the Government to give all my fees back, and for making me waiting on the line like a dog. The end story of this is be a criminal so you get rewarded. What a very bad example for future generations. I hope the republicans win right now and charge this public employees for abuse of power.
You should be thankfull there was a legal process available for you to go through in the first place. And that you did not have to spend your childhood and teenage years hiding in the dark because you did not legally exist.
You know why there were hiding in the dark?! Because THEY KNEW they had done something wrong..... And THEY BROUGHT IT UPON THEMSELVES!!
What? are you kidding me? thankful for following the law?? They should be thankful for not being arrested and charged!, In New Brunswick, NJ there are lots of illegals driving cars without driver license. Have you ever think about they hit somebody of your family in a car accident? what about that? Get the F out of here!!!,
Because of this, I hope the Republicans win the elections, I prefer to burn in hell with the repubs than seeing all of this parasites breaking up the system, and making US a Venezuela or Argentina.
LegalTx and Alejandro...obviously you have not read the article. We are not talking about those illegals but about those who were brought into USA as minors, toddlers, babies and infants. They did NOTHING wrong
Hiding in the dark is exactly what Romney is doing! What is he hiding? Probably unethical!! like an ameded tax return to show all the income he evaded for 10 years. This now makes him legal.
To all you supporters of these illegal kids:
I will rob you of your possessions and give it to my kids. They had nothing to do w/ the looting, so, per your "logic", they can keep your things. And, per your "logic," I will NOT be sent to jail, cause I will then be "separated " from my kids. I hope you will now let me loot your home ?
What was stolen from you and given to these children of immigrants? I can completely understand returning stolen property. Someone steals your kid's X-box and gives it to their kid, of course you give it back. I cannot understand how anyone benefits from making an immigrant's kid return to a country that they don't even remember, or how that hurts you. Seems petty to want to rejoice in some kid's misery by upending their whole lives by deporting them or requiring them to live life as criminals when they could be productive citizens.
i don't think you know their culture. You can bet they keep connected to their homeland and relatives and have already thought about how to get the rest of their family over. That's what they do, it's called chain migration. Anchor babies are also one of thier tactics. People need to stop thinking of these people as "unfortunate souls" looking for opportunity. I've lived on the border my entire life, they are expert at working a scam that appeals to your emotion. In fact, they count on it. They are an inherently corrupt and dishonest culture who don't care about American civility or culture nor what you think of them. They're invaders.....
You were not robbed of anything. Your analogy is pathetic and ridiculous. Complete nonsense.
The only victims of all this are the beneficiaries of this executive order. It was about time. US owes them that much + an apology for letting this go on for so long.
the fact these people understand they're criminals speaks volumes to their character. rather than rounding up their parents, going back to where they belong, and beginning the process to legal citizenship somewhere else, they choose to claim the victim card, it's someone else's fault, i'm just looking for a chance card. yeah, a chance to be a deadbeat kid with a victim mentality. go home.
They are home already. This is where they grew up.
I do wish they would stop insulting real immigrants by calling illegals "immigrants" It is similar to calling a welcome house guest a burglar. Illegals are common criminals, immigrants are a welcome addition to society.
There's something just a bit off about your analogy. Perhaps a closer-to-the-issue-at-hand analogy would be if a burglar brings his/her child along for a break-in. Would the child then be put in jail for committing a crime??? I am no lawyer, but my guess is no. The same goes for kids brought into the States.
and the flaw in your analogy, shaw, is if a child is taken to a bank robbery, the child isn't allowed to squat at the bank from now on. they're sent back home to live with family.
Makes you wonder if illegal aliens aren't voting already!
Nothing like an armchair progressive living in the great white north who probably knows nothing of the culture. Try living down here on the border or SoCal. You'll probably get quite a different opinion about your beloved hispanics. Their actions speak louder than the words that the corporate MSM and yourself like to repeat as mantra.
This is GREAT. Now we have all their information, including parents and where they all live.
Obama has made it a point that he has deported more illegal aliens than any other administration. The roundup should begin soon.
I'm absolutely against this!!!
I have almost 40K in student loans because I do not qualify for most financial aid due to my income...which is not even enough to cover for my rent and food. Yet this people came here illegally, are NOT citizens yet enjoy all the benefits (including in-state tuition)? Now I have to compete with them to find a semi-descent job?
They haven't done anything to deserve this "opportunity".
I've really had Much More Freedom Before i a got Citizenship.
They might win that job because they can spell decent and you can't.
What did YOU do to deserve this "opportunity"?
They have done everything they were suppossed to do and is expected of everybody else, including living all their lifes in the State, so of course they should be eligible for in state tuition
It will suck knowing your future offspring will have latin mixed in with em eh?
This liberal dem doesn't like this one bit! My wife immigrated here legally, earned her advanced degrees, became a citizen and contributes and pays taxes. If you aren't here legally, GET OUT!!!!
Lucky her!!...There was a legal avenue available for her. In fact, the quickest and easiest...marrying a US citizen
Are they going toreimburse the school districts they attended or grad from?
This is very digusting. I won't vote Ohama and Romney both! Congress is doing nothing
to change the law for many years. American and I need job, too,
Wow. I am still in shosk over this. I may speed home tonight and when I am pulled over I'll just tell the cop that the president says I don't have to obey laws I don't like. WOW! They should be leaving in cuffs and tossed over the fence! WOW!
Lets thank our president Hussein Obama for caring for his citizens and not illegals from other countries.
Per the liberal Huffington Post “Just 54 percent of Americans ages 18 to 24 currently have jobs, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center. That's the lowest employment rate for this age group since the government began keeping track in 1948. And it's a sharp drop from the 62 percent who had jobs in 2007 - suggesting the recession is crippling career prospects for a broad swath of young people who were still in high school or college when the downturn began.” And their Hope & Change President just added another 1.8 MILLION to compete with them. If you are young and unemployed and you vote for Obama in the next election, you deserve to stand in the unemployment lines!
Who cares what the huffington puffington says. It is easy to see for our selves. I personally have a job (network technician) because there are alot of IT jobs out there usually but everyone else around me is jobless and i feel bad for them. A friend of mine is seriously so desperate to find a job right now that every time you say Obama, he starts cussing him out and let me tell you, this guy was a Obama supporter in 2008.
I am not surprised he cannot find a job. His cause and effect rationale is in reverse. Obama inherited a way worse mess than we have now. It was not as obvious back then in 2008, that is all. There is no "new account" when the president changes. Spill overs will be felt for long.
This is disgusting! Goes against what the majority of American want. The Dems couldn't pass this bill, so Obama sneaks it in. He should be impeached immediately and these damn criminal illegals should be deported!
It is not a bill. Only an executive order with only a two year effect.
And FYI, the majority wishes as expressed by polls are irrelevant. We are a Republic, not a direct Democracy. Elected officials must do what THEY think is best, NOT what polls indicate
The issue Ale, is that not only do the majority of the population oppose this but the majority of the congress also oppose this. Even after understanding that President Obama went ahead and did it anyway. That is arrogance at its highest level and the only remedy is to remove him from office. It is not his place to decide what is best for this country, with no regard for the people and the congress, and hopefully the majority will finally wake up and make the change at the polls this year.
Something smells rotten since when does your status impact your going to college. There are states that charge ILLEGALS in-state tuition for state schools, thus we know they don't care about their status, and there are numerous foreign students who got to school in this country every year. Or do they just mean that their status doesn't allow them to go to school for free?
How dysfunctional we must look to the outside world looking in as we struggle with immigration policy. How is it that anyone here illegally can expect to have a voice, and benefits, and access to the infrastructure paid by and meant for those here legally? How do we allow those here illegally access to drivers licenses, food stamps and other programs all the while knowing they are here illegally? Have we all collectively lost our common sense? Immigration policy is not rocket science, it is really very simple and the tragedy is our elected officials use it as a pawn in a political game. They all should be ashamed of themselves, too bad we are as unwilling to vote them out of office as they are to uphold existing laws in this country.
People who are here illegally cannot get government welfare benefits. Their children who are citizens can, but they cannot. And neither can their non-citizen children they brought here. Learn something.
Learn something yourself! All these people need is a fake Social Security number. They CAN and DO do this all the time.
The mothers of anchor-babies can get WIC and as you say the kid gets medicaid. It's epidemic here on the border, our schools are inundated and our property taxes keep rising. If it weren't for the fact that there will be an endless supply of latinos coming from latin america in the foreseeable future I propbably could be somewhat generous. These peole take advantage of us and they do it intentionally. If you're not responsible for yourself, how can you possibly be responsible in our society. They are an inherently corrupt and dishonest culture....
PeteH, where's your proof? You don't know anything about it - you just throw out claims that you want to believe, but have no actual experience or proof to back it up.
Wilco - "Anchor babies" are a right-wing bigoted myth. These people come here for work and live their lives. Some have babies - it has nothing to do with your myth.
PaulWisc:
I'm a native New Mexican, born and raised alongside hispanics my entire life. Can even speak passable spanish. Now what is an armchair progressive from Wisconsin going to tell me about a culture he knows nothing about? You're merely reciting progressive/corporatist mantra. I don't think you're capable of original thought.
Paulwisc- I've lived in AZ my whole life and know for A FACT that anchor babies aren't just a "myth." My best friend is an anchor baby that was born here to an illegal mother 25 years ago. Her mother has never worked a day in the 15 years i've known them or bothered to learn English because here in AZ we cater to those who care not to learn it, but yet has been collecting any kind of government assistance they can get. I also worked for a medical collection agency and handled hundreds of thousands of dollars in doctors bills monthly that the state was losing for women who come over the border to have their baby, then jump back across the border and never bother to pay a cent for what care they received, and there are no penalties to them since they do not have social security numbers and can not place the bills on their credit, like what would happen to any US citizen.
It is precisely the laws which are dysfunctional. They have been enforced 5 decades but they simply do not work. They need to be repealed and a new system be built from scratch.
The existing laws are not being enforced, that is the crux of the problem. Arizona is in legal battles with the federal government precisely because the federal government refuses to enforce existing law and will not let Arizona do it for them – since it is a federal government responsibility.
When will it stop...we seem to support the entire world and the working class in the US are struggling to make ends meet, cover medical expenses, try to fund a college education for our children and every time we turn around some one is giving more of this away free to non-Americans. The working pool is getting smaller and smaller and in a very short time (at the rate the handouts are going) the pool will run dry. Do you think any other country will step up to help us out? I don't think so! We have Americans that are hungry every day, the majority don't have medical coverage, the senior population is struggling to keep their head above water with the price of medical care, food and housing and and these folks worked their butts off to make the US what it is today and we contiune to give everything away to non-Americans instead of focusing on those that built this country. I think we need to look at our priorities and focus on the US for a change. Lock our borders and have every country take care of their own folks.
My grandparents were FORCED into U.S. citizenship in 1917 (Jones Shafroth Act) so that the men of Puerto Rico could serve as cannon fodder during WWI. Nevertheless, the island was subject to a U.S.-imposed military regime (with disastrous results, see Ponce Massacre, Gag Law) until 1940. Not until 1952 were Puerto Ricans allowed to vote on ANYTHING, despite disproportionately high participation in the U.S. military during WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War and Iraq, yet to this day we have no participation in congress or presidential vote, although all goods entering the island are subject to a federal tollgate tax and Cabotaje Law intended to protect stateside interests. A few years ago a federal judge overturned an anti-monopoly decision made by the commonwealth against the mainland-financed milk industry, now a gallon of milk is almost $7.00 on an island that has a per capita income of $16,000/yr. Talk about double standards, the immigrants in the U.S. don't know how good they have it.
We are so good at helping the rest of the world but terrible about helping americans.
It will continue regardless of who is in the White House. Big business LOVES that cheap labor and they own the government. I don't see that changing any time soon.
BTW, Obama has deported more illegals than his last three combined predecessors.