@Kira - why does it take 17 years to process this application? Is this normal?

Jim - at seventeen months of age he's supposed to know the laws of the country? Are you being facetious?

Kira, If Sergio "snuck" into my house and spent some time in there, would the time in there mean he is exempt from committing a crime? If he did pass the bar exam he would know that a crime was committed in this case as well as the one of him being in this Country without the proper documents. The law pertains to every crime not just the ones that "seem" unfair to a few. It's the law, not hopeful wishes of things that could be that we use here.

I understand that things in this life can be unfair, this is one of them it seems to you......what in life is fair? Is it sneaking into my house or sneaking into my Country? Both are crimes. Fair would be asking why after all this time, 17 years, he has been denied citizenship. There are reasons why that you have left out of this that would complete the story and really tell what the true nature of his past that prevents him from being our kind of American. A legal one.

Now for my liberal side.....
He should of been dealt with years ago....but he's here done a great job making his life better and he should be treated fairly. The problem is he hasn't been so why is that? Something weird going on here.
Jim@ccfiile.com

That's not fair, man. They should give Sergio what he worked so hard for man. He has rights. He just wants to make money and be good american dream. jim why you no like spanish peiople?

Another excellent contribution from Ms. Gagarin. Thank you!

I'm so excited that a President is finally taking steps toward comprehensive immigration reform. So many have talked to the talk, but Obama is the first to walk the walk in 20+ years.

It is absolutely ridiculous that people like myself and Sergio Garcia remain in this limbo state of existence. We are full contributors to our community, we are Americans, and this administration understands this.

August 15th is around the corner. Over a million young adult are expected to apply for deferred action and have a legitimate path towards applying for work authorizations (myself included, weeeeee!!!!!). Full info here: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

While the current proposed deferred action consideration is a great start, it is far from being sufficient. Sergio Garcia will not benefit since he's over 31 years of age - and he deserves status adjustment just as much as I do.

I am canvassing for President Obama's re-election (isn't that hilarious? an illegal immigrant more active in politics than half the citizens) because he cares about the well being of America's people and he understands that turning a blind eye like previous administrations have done, only compounds the problem.

Maria....Just because the President is behind this does not make it legal or a done deal. The President doesn't make the laws Congress does.. It will interesting to see what happens here. So now the President thinks he can do whatever he wants....Don't think so!
But there are lot of other non lawful things that he does so he could get away with it. Lets see if Congress fights him on this one.
Jim@ccfiile.com

The most important lesson that we can take from Kira's heartfelt essay and all of the responses--ALL of them, I'm surprised and happy to see!--is that illegal immigrants should not be thought of en masse, as a single, easily stereotyped group of people with limited and predictable skills, shady backgrounds, single-minded and exploitative agendas, etc. They are individuals. I've just finished reading the first autobiography of Frederick Douglass, and when I think of what that man went through to save himself from evil. After escaping from Baltimore, he lived--ILLEGALLY, according to the Federal laws of his time--in New Bedford and was slowly allowed to become--to prove that he was--the great person and great American he was meant to be. So I applaud President Obama when he deports illegal immigrants who are not deemed worthy of residency--and he's deported a lot of them, more than any other president in history. And I support him when he clears a path to citizenship for the young, and the deserving, and the honest. It is hard to imagine a more honest and deserving citizen than the one in Kira's story--yes, illegal, because he was brought here as a child, and had no choice--AND honest, because of the hard work and continued attempts he has made to make himself legal. And as I said, it is only when we consider him as an individual that we can treat him fairly. That sort of fairness is expensive and takes time--but the unfair way, just kicking everyone out, is expensive and dumb.

Wow! You allow Amys post to stay here when she broke the Patch rules.
What does her post have to do with the main topic?
I reply to her and you don't put it up.....Interesting how things work around here.
Jim@ccfiile.com

We really don't need immigration reform we need the laws to be enforced. Sergios parents like a lot of illegal immigrants shouldn't have even been made Citizens in the first place. They obviously lied on their docimentation thus showing that we not of good moral chacacter. The system isn't broken it just lets people in that lie cheat and steal. This case is very sad but the parents should be brought up on child abuse charges for letting this all happen.
Maybe when Sergio is made a Citizen he can prosecute his own parents.

Joe Rizoli

To David's point-it seems our system is so dysfunctional that it cannot differentiate between Sergio and the illegals who commit felonies including murder in the US. One Mass police chief said that if he were able to deport the small % of illegals who were career criminals, crime in his city would decline. Kira , I have a question for you- are you in favor of deporting the criminal element among illegals because it seems to me the criminals are preying on fellow immigrants and the general population. Good post David .

Kira, Knowing my example may come up tells a lot about how you and some think about entering this Country this way....it's still illegal. Good job being prepared though. If he stayed in my home for 20 years may make it his by law, but staying in my Country illegaly for 20 years makes him a criminal just the same. The penalty is deportation. I don't know what prevents him from citizenship. His parents getting their application passed should have gotten his done and at the same time. What reasons did he give for the denial? If he committed a crime it could be why, but I'm not implying this is the reason. Any crime could do it no matter how small. That's the Law as well. One thing that concerns me is when a person in his situation is accepted to a Law School or any College, a person who is a citizen, or one on a Student Visa gets passed over. Is that fair? It's strange it wasn't documented at his enrollment and still pushed through. These things are checked to make sure Student Visas are not being abused to gain enterance into the Country. After 9/11 there have been many cases of this happening where "Students" disappear after entering and never go to school. This is a security issue for everyone including Sergio by having the open boarders this Country has. If it continues to be this way I'm afraid a day will come when we wished WE were more prepared.

A case for a "No Vacancy" sign at the boarder could be made with unemployment at 8.2. We don't own a sign and never will.

Good point, Bob.

“What reasons did he give for the denial? If he committed a crime it could be why, but I'm not implying this is the reason.”

There was no denial, because there has been no process for him yet. You'll have to find another way to imply he's a criminal.

“Any crime could do it, that’s the Law as well.”

Actually, that is not “the Law.”

“One thing that concerns me is when a person in his situation is accepted to a Law School or any College, a person who is a citizen, or one on a Student Visa gets passed over. Is that fair?”

I agree. It’s time to get these undocumented American kids a way to prove how they deserve their papers.

“It's strange it wasn't documented at his enrollment and still pushed through. These things are checked to make sure Student Visas are not being abused to gain enterance into the Country.”

Again, what knowledge do you have of how “things are checked”? There was nothing to be documented at enrollment if he didn’t come out screaming at the top of his lungs: “I’m undocumented!”

“After 9/11 there have been many cases of this happening where "Students" disappear after entering and never go to school. This is a security issue for everyone including Sergio by having the open boarders this Country has.”

I agree. It’s time to separate these undocumented American kids from those who pose a threat to national security, and provide these kids with a path to prove how they deserve their papers.

Maria, wow. I think at least we can all agree that you will be a big asset to our community and our country!

Kira, Sergios parents if they are typical illegal immigrants, had to have a lot of false documents. If you can justify false documents for getting a job anywhere in the USA or maybe say something false on a recent book deal to a well known publisher and get away with it then good for you. Apparently ethics and telling the truth isn't one of your good points if you defend these actions. The "good moral character" part of our Naturalization process is a big joke. Our whole system is broken because the reprobates that have allowed it to be compromised have let it go to hell in a hand basket. The Bible called these actions thus:
1Ti 4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

A burn puts a scar over ones skin where no pain is felt anymore. People consciences are thus just like that. The Illegals have formed in their minds a branding that when I was a kid would have been unacceptable. People like you Kira instead of becoming examples for them to emulate as bastions of truth have become their enablers. I don't know how you can sleep at night. That's right, 1 Tim 4:2.
The fish rots from the head down. If our legal system of lawyers and Judges and DA's and Town Managers and Selectmen and Town Meeting members, AND PATCHES think just like the criminals they are defending then we've got a serious problem

Joe Rizoli

Kira,
If you think anything pertaining to this will change things let me give 2 examples why this is going to be the longest wait for these people.
Free in-state tuition promised by Patrick?
Lowering property taxes was a promise too. We're still waiting.
Amnisty for undocumented people by Obama?
His first day as President he said he was closing Gitmo. We're still waiting.
Saying one thing and doing another is the way it is. The wait will be forever. If they back out of those promises made do you really thing they won't back out of yours?

Sergio has every right to do what he needs to do to be successful in life, and the fact that after 17 years he has not been able to get his citizenship should show that we need reform in the immigration law. He may not have been brought here legally, but how was he to control that?

This is a case where bad decisions by the parents effect the child later on.
Seems like the parents are the ones to blame.
Jim@ccfiile.com

I agree with you 100% Kira. Keep fighting the good fight!

Kira, If the Dream Act isn't amnesty for people like Sergio and Maria proposed by Obama then what is it? You've heard of that! It could be a Dream Act. Obama has deported more illegals in 3 1/2 years than any President in this Country's history, so this really isn't going to happen for them and not any time soon. He tells you one thing to get your hopes up then tells ICE to deport hundreds more every month. Think "Closing Gitmo." He even had it in a Campaign Ad about the many deportations he has done. He seems to be proud of it. You don't really think Obama or the Gov. want to give up all the money spent by people applying for citizenship the way it is now do you? They tell you they want reform but they like the money coming in more. If he gets 4 more years, deportation of illegals is only going increase not decrease and reform will be just that, a Dream.

Sergio's problem began with his parents, who never told him his status once he reached the age to comprehend it. Then as he entered College his parents, once again, should have told him about his status, if they hadn't already, and he should have started the process to become a citizen. The ONLY ones to blame for this situation are Sergio's parents and Sergio once he reached adulthood.

QUIT BLAMING "THE MAN"! Step forward and take responsibility!!

I'm not switching from one topic to another! I've been spot on topic! "Childhood Arrivals" were and are undocumented people in this Country no matter how old they were or how long they have been here. You can give it a new name but it's the same old story. Why should this Country change the way things are done because someone from another country forgot to do some paper work when they were 18. They want forgiveness, go to church and pray. They want to be Americans.......do things the way others do it now. Every year people become American citizens using the time proven format and if leaving and doing it right is the way........do it. It's hard, it's tough, cost money, but when your done your an American and no one can take it away from you.

The Obama / ICE deportations are the fate that faces undocumented people, "Childhood Arrivals", drug smugglers, and illegal allien violent criminal offenders and there are no other way to have things or do things. DREAMERS, it's time to wake up and face reality. It's not a racist point of view I have, it's a case of right and wrong and the result of a poor judgement people made years ago. They have to live with that judgement made and move on, move back, and start over.

The problem here is what is called "blowback". These parents KNEW what they were doing. They also realized that after years of a government being lapse in enforcing its own rules, and a gullible public that can't turn anyone away from the quote from Miss Liberty about taking in the "The wretched refuse". Wait a minute, the Statue of Liberty calls Immigrants "The wretched refuse"...David Nolta do something about this, that is labeling to the extreme!!!

So the point anybody with a criminal mind would realize, that in time, through years of madness, corruption and liberal nutjobs like Miss Lazarus and her Socialistic communistic poem, the Great Colossus, the back up would be overwhelming.

Something had to be done to make a mockery of rule of Law, and what would have been deportation offenses years ago from the get-go, now turn into trivialities.
False documents now are not even looked at as being great missteps of morality or ethics.Whereas one false step or false document for us to get employment would not get us a job or position, the illegals probably have a limit of "sins" they can get away with to stay under the threshold.

I agree with this Bible quote:
Eclesiastes 8:11:
"Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil"

Joe Rizoli

Dear Maria,
Thank you for those kind words and if you remember them when standing in front of the Immigration panel pleading your case, tell them they are wrong and ignorant, I'm sure you will go far. The chances of you ever going before a panel are slim and none but with your charming attitude if you do, I'm sure you'll see some paper work suddenly appear. It may not be the ones you want though.
Best of luck.

BTW, Bob-land? It's called the United States of America. Too bad it's not Your-land.

I'm going to delete the dating comments, as it doesn't have anything to do with the original topic of the blog post.
But just a reminder, if you are going to complain about people posting about your dating happens, you really shouldn't expand on your view of dating.

Maria: Please re-post your original comment minus the last sentence and self delete the original. I'll give you a couple of hours to do so and then I'll delete if from the site if you don't re-post.

Please keep comments focused on the topic, or I will shut down comments on the post. Thanks.

Thanks, Susan, that's nice of you. My post is in response to Bob's verbal diarrhea posted at 10:36 pm on Wednesday, August 8, 2012:

Dear Bob,
You are arguing about something that only exists in your world. You are sitting at your computer, 100% engaged in Bob-land where the things you think are true.
Step outside of your own hyper creative brain - just for a minute - and read these words: there is no "paperwork" for a "childhood arrival" person to do to help themselves become legal aliens. Bob, there is no paperwork for them to do. Bob, there is no law, condition, opportunity, or means within the immigration system for a "childhood arrival" person to go in order to stop being illegal.
If you can read and understand these words, Bob, you might also arrive at the conclusion that what you say is wrong and ignorant, and it makes you come across as wrong and ignorant... or a pathological liar. and that's sad and annoying, Bob.

Sue...I'm not going to stand here and let people lie about me.
If you going to accuse me of something you better have your facts straight.
Jim@ccfiile.com

I deleted a comment that wished death upon someone. Keep it civil and directed toward the post.

As I reread Kira's blog again and again, I would like to say good job to her for reminding us that legal or illegal, native or immigrant... everyone has a name. They have a face. They have dreams. They have challenges. They have an individuality.

Usual disclaimer: I'm not in favor of illegal immigration. I am in favor of treating humans as humans..

Maria, your post are really very offensive. The people here talk about "treating humans as humans " but read how you talk back to others here. 

To see a person such as Maria and think this is what we want in future Americans  as she talks down to people like Bob and says his comments are "verbal diarrhea" is really not becoming for someone who is not an American and certainly shows an arrogance about Americans in general. 

You are really very disrespectful  for a woman to be making the comments like you do. Just my two cents here. And please don't turn this back on me....I'm siting here watching your dialogue, shame on you,  especially for a lady. if you were my daughter you'd be read the riot act for not having respect to others. You must be a real joy to be around at a card table. If you represent Americas future, God help us. 

Joe Rizoli

Thewayitis, says a lot about you. No, it doesn't have to be that way if laws were enforced. As to the "crimes" of the illegals, if they are applying for Citizenship and Naturalization they need to answer ALL crimes, if they don't then you really will see if those crimes are taken seriously.

Check out the Naturalization N-400 form under "good moral character". Get educated
http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/attachments.pdf

Maybe Maria could read that part too. To bad there wasn't a section under rude and crude, and disrespectful. She'd have to live on an Island.

Joe Rizoli

It was only a matter of time before those who are reading this and not joining in would see for themselves how you are thought of, what you are called, and the feelings of resentment towards you if you offer an opinion on their illegal status in this country. I knew the things said would happen, they always are. It took a few days but as you can see and read, just because for the fact that there is no door for them to use, they blame others. They don't seem to understand that reform would and could come easier, public opinion could and would change if they weren't called as it was, wrong, ignorant, and pathological liars. Any closer today?

I knew there is no door for them. I asked. I work with many people at a College, Maria that's how I know what Admissions Departments look for since 9/11. All College and Universities are required to check. All faculty and staff that have come to this country and went through the proper immigrant process to become Americans said it's a long process. "So what" they said after reading this. They wanted it bad enough and did what it took. The fact that not everyone's individual case has an open door for them to use shouldn't be transferred into a feeling of intitlment. As time goes by many different cases like this need to be addressed, this isn't the only special case. People looking for Political Asylum being one. Think that's a long process? There are many things on the table that this Country needs to address, and in time most will be.

You people want others to be treated as "humans" but how do the illegals treat you? Like a bunch if bumbling morons. They're laughing at some of you all the way to the bank., plus with their largest finger thrust up in the air.

When you really want to see nonsense, find out how Russian "refugees" are coming to America, never worked a day in they lives here, collecting SS payments while Americans are just making it by. Another scam. There probably is a certain nationality behind that scam, I'll find out who later.

Maybe Kira can fill you in on that.

Joe Rizoli

I am a Russian refugee. I can, in fact, fill you in on my own experience. I work - a lot. Thanks, Joe, for bringing this up?

@Kira (and Joe) - this is a bit removed, but my grandparents were Russian Jewish refugees. My grandfather worked until multiple sclerosis confined him to a wheelchair. When that happened, the eldest of my uncles supported the family. There were seven children, all of whom worked. Those seven children had fifteen grandchildren, and all of us work - every last one of us. There are four cases of Chrohn's disease in the family - those stricken also work. We have all passed the work ethic of our grandparents and parents down to OUR children. There are Russian immigrants working at my company - working.

To the point of the blog - Kira, you have educated me, and I thank you for that. I had no idea that for people like Sergio (and you too, Maria!), there is no path to citizenship. I do believe that deporting the folks who commit crimes, or who take with no intention of giving, shouldn't be here. But people who came here not of their own volition, who have made this country their home, who have contributed (I'm embarrased to say, more than I have!!), should absolutely be given the opportunity to be citizens of the country they call home.

Kira,
When I first read your piece, I thought, 'Wow, what a light touch on such a serious topic. Well done.' Then I kept reading the non-stop exchanges, which I must say you have handled with eloquence and grace. Again, well done!

Maria typical degrading comment as usual. Apparently my issue and topic is being skirted. I believe that the article I posted has exposed something very interesting. The article mentions a scam. Just because some have followed the rules doesn't make the whole program honest. This reminds or of the ESL scam. Kira, you still haven't answered what your refugee status was to come to America. It seems to me many skeletons are in the closet on this one.

It's nice to sit back as people put words I'm my mouth, thank you. Just answer honestly my questions. I am asking nicely, not making fun of anyone, I'll leave that to Maria for the typical character insults. Obviously this topic is being avoided, I tried to post a civil blog but that seems to have been stopped.

Joe Rizoli

Joe, you claim that "Just because some have followed the rules doesn't make the whole program honest."

It can be better said that just because some have not followed the rules doesn't make the whole race or ethnicity dishonest.

Thank you for a beautiful article! My family immigrated here from China and many of of my family members waited 17+ years to be able to come to this country. Yet they know the history of the Chinese Exclusion Acts from the 1880s to 1940s that excluded Asian people from coming here legally and prevented ones who returned to China or Japan from coming back to the US and, as a result, welcome the immigrants that are our neighbors. I totally support Dreamers and want immigration reform for all. Best, lily