My friends' parents are illegal immigrants?

Question

Last year was my first year at a new college. I made lots of wonderful new friends, many of whom are hispanic. Later I came to learn from three of them that their parents, or at least one of their parents are not legal citizens. One of my friends said that her mother ran across the border while pregnant with her, she was born in America and is now a citizen. Similar stories with the other two. I don't support people entering other countries illegally, but these girls are my friends now and so obviously I don't want to report their parents and start a lot of drama. It is kind of an awkward situation for me though because obviously they strongly support illegal immigrants and they participated in the protest called "No Borders" and all the while I'm trying to bite my tongue and not start an arguement. How would you folks behave in a situation such as this?

AJ--You seem to think that I want to report my friends, which is dumb, of course I know they are legal citizens because they were born here. The people in question are their parents. Calm down...put the fire out. I don't think my friends are criminals at all, but thanks for passing judgement on me as person anyhow.

Answer 1

Do you know if their parents have applied for TPS and work permit? Illegal immigrants can do that which means they're allowed to work here and each year they pay the money and are approved to work. Have you asked them about that?

Everyone has an opinion, and obviously everyone else who comments about this is a saint and has done nothing wrong - doubt it. How many of you smoke pot or know anyone who does, cause you know that's illegal - I don't imagine you'd rush to the phone to call the cops if you were at a party and saw that going on.

There's so many people out there who say send them all back, well there are a majority of hispanics who should be sent home - they don't want to pay taxes, they don't want to learn the language or follow any of our rules, then yes they should be sent back. What about the immigrants who entered illegally but have paid taxes, apply for their TPS and work permit and put money into our government. They honestly want a better life and if they're going to act like the rest of us what does it matter.

You should get all the information before you talk to anyone and what good is it really going to do - you'll lose these people as your friends and if their parents really want to come back there's always a way. Just because they chose at one point to enter illegally doesn't make them bad people, we're just fortunate to have been born here; they weren't.

Answer 2

Tell them that under the current laws that they can sponser their parent(s) for citizenship and to find out how. If they do things right, the parents can get citizenship.

Under that new bill, they would not have had this option because the person can only sponsor their spouse and children.

A LOT of the illegals should be thankful that the new bill did not pass.

Anyway you should inform the friends that they should just go through the motions to get their parents legal. You should not tell on them.

I am against illegal immigration if they are doing so knowingly. I know that they know what they are doing, but they are just misinformed on how to become legal. I assume that is what they want to do, so show them how and help them.

Answer 3

I'd go right ahead and start the argument. Though they're citizens because they were born here, and I support that citizenship 100%, what they're parents did was still wrong, and trying to change the law so that what they're parents did was retroactively OK would be like the descendent of a southern slave-holder trying to get people to recognize that slavery was legitimate because, hey, he's a good person, so his ancestors couldn't be bad, right?

That's an extreme example, but the logic is sound. We can't go judging people by thier ancestry, it's just wrong - and we also can't judge people by thier children, however much we may like them.

Answer 4

It is dilemma for you no doubt. I personally would not report them because they are friends. I do pay taxes and expect the system to do it's job - I will NOT do it. However, it does not mean that you must hide your opinion. You can even start them going on the legalization process. There is such a thing! Help them file for a status and get a case going. That alone takes them off the category of illegal.

Answer 5

Mind your own business and have a heart. You really should have enough integrity and sympathy for people who have had such poverty and risked their life for their families. Unreal. I can only wonder what any of you people who say report these poor people what you would do if you were faced with poverty oppression and a life of hell. How could you ever live with yourself doing in people that trusted you enough to tell you their truth. How shameful is that. Leave them be and be thankful you didnt have to risk your life to escape. Think of the many many wonderful people who risked their lives to save the jews during WWII they were heroes. Be your friends hero and turn a blind eye and an open heart.

Answer 6

what a bunch of snitches, why not mind your own business, if this your friend, then you should already know the answer, now if they were drug dealers, sex offenders or any other serious crime would you still ask the ? their only crime right now is escaping extreme poverty with little hope of help from their own gov., and wanting a better future for their children, which appears to be true with your FRIENDS. would you remain in a such a place, knowing you could easily cross a line and have better hope for your own children, willing to sacrifice for your family. Be true to yourself forget about what others think, if turning them in makes you feel better then just do it, don't worry about what your FRIENDS will think or how they will react.

Answer 7

The mere fact that you are asking this question, implies that you want to report them. You claim that you had to bite your tongue to avoid starting an argument when her family joined the protest. Clearly, you've been harboring some resentment toward this girl and her family. This will be your call. If you feel that you should report them, it's up to you but I seriously question your loyalty to this person you call your friend. Suit yourself.

Answer 8

What a bunch of idiotic answers. "Call the INS!" Why don't you try and see what happens! Gosh, people, do at least some rudimentary research before posting this drivel. According to the present immigration laws, any person born on US territory has a birth right to become a citizen, just like you. The status of their parents is IRRELEVANT for their citizenship. You may not like the law, but the people in question (asker friends) didn't break any laws.

But what really shocks me is something else. You seem to believe that these people who you call your "friends" are somehow inferior to you (almost like criminals) because their PARENTS did something differently from your parents. Do them a favor and find some other friends who are more aligned with your value system.

Answer 9

Well even if you report them nothing will change immigration deports 5 illegals and 20 are crossing the border so believe me instead of ruining some good peoples lives report the people that are steeling and raping killing people on the streets that's how you become a real patriot.

Answer 10

Would you like to lose a loved one because they desired a better life than they had? They crossed for their lives, patriotic or not, if you truly comsider yourself their friend, respect the secret they have passed you. The british, french and spanish toook over America from the first nations people who lived here, they entered ilegally, then forced assimilation, who are we to judge others for their ancestral mistakes, unless we pay for ours.