Shades of Grey in the immigration debate.?

Question

Here's my situation. I am an American citizen. My 2 kids are both American citizens. My wife is an illegal alien. Now before all of you people who apparently have never broken a law in your lives start saying "illegal is illegal" hear me out. My wife was brought over by an uncle when she was only 15 yrs old. Now I don't know about others but I listened to my elders when I was 15. Should she be punished for being here illegally? If I were to send my 12 yr old into the store to steal something should 12yr old goto jail or me. Anyway We have been working on obtaining my wifes visa, green card, numbers ect. for along time now (5yrs and counting). Being a brown citizen (nationality unknown) I have never felt the hatered I have felt in the last 6 yrs. towards myself and my family. We are good people who work hard to provide for our kids. Now I have been told to send her back to mexico with the kids and carry myself as well. Does the American public really hate us that much?

Answer 1

The sad fact is the immigration laws are hard to comply with, illogical and difficult to obtain as you well know. These must be changed. If she has been here as long as you said she has and knows how to speak english, then no we do not hate you. You of all people should deserve citizenship.

However with securtiy concerns (the highjackers of 9/11 were illegals) granting amnesty to 12 millions estimated people (estimated, wild guess not accurate count could be more or be less.) with intentions and origins unknown, the reform bill which would have given legal status to those unaccounted for would be an open invitation for those who wish harm upon the US. If it were not for this part of the bill, it would have passed. Sad but true.

I really hope and pray for a bill for immigration reform bill that would make laws easier to comply with and make sense and have requirements to become a legal citizenship (know how to speak, read and write english, pass a back round and health check, such other common sense things) would be great for both sides of the arguement and would make it easier for those who tried to comply with the law instead of rewarding those who blantly broke it without a second thought.

Answer 2

I don`t understand why it takes so long for her to become a citizen and you said trying for 5 years? If your son is 12,then you and her should of been working on it then knowing you married an illegal. Anyway,the main ones deported now are the criminals-maybe not even because of the crimes and they go to jail and prisons. There`s raids so they can find the criminals. By the time they bother with you,maybe your wife will be legal. Have some kind of lawyer? I don`t know,but time will tell. If you act real nice to people, I can`t see people being mean to you,but there`s racism no matter what. All this illegal business and rape,molesting, and murder has gotten everybody on edge. It`s been crazy since 9/11 and I`m sure no matter what we are turning more and more on each other. No trust anymore. Just have to deal with it-we are all part of the mess and there`s going to be alot more "major irritation"-big time.

Answer 3

Americans write "gray" not "grey"...that is European or Canadian. Yes, your wife should be deported. After 2 kids, and a marriage, she's had ample time to make things right. It doesn't take "5 years and counting" to get provisional status. It also can't be applied for here in this country while she is here illegally. Something is really fishy with your tale. With a husband and kids, all it takes is going back to Mexico and filing the paperwork and waiting the months that it takes to get your provisional.

I have no sympathy and frankly, I don't believe that your story is real. It certainly doesn't have the ring of truth to it. Yes, she, at least, should be back in Mexico and taking care of her paperwork THERE where she actually CAN. It can't be done from here.

Answer 4

She is your wife. Can't you have her file papers and become an American citizen? Who has a better right to become an American citizen that a woman who is married to an American man? Your kids are Americans. You are an American. Why can't she take a test and become an /American? I am not even sure that she has to take a test if you are her husband. When I was in Europe European girls used to marry GIs so they could come over her as the wives of these GIs. What has changed?

Answer 5

Not all the ANti's here are opposed of the Dream act. I am somewhat concern that those given residency might make it easier for other family members to stay. YOur last statement does not make sense though since your an American. No offense, but I like to see her Unlce punish, since he was the one who commited the crime. My question is why her UNCLE brought her here. It's one thing to want your daughter here, but a niece is different, unless someone wants to actually take advantage of our government, rather than just want to come and work here. I don't blame your wife though. I'm sorry about the racism you experience.

Edit: AS for Victors comment, Wives of GI's have an easier in. It's hard to get papers when you marry an illegal immgirant in US soil. I was told it was better off marrying in Mexico. I think the rationale is that She has no paper to explain why she is here, so how can she be in the states to be married. They will automatical believe she got married for the residency.

Answer 6

She is not at all guilty of a crime. Illegal entry is a crime, but illegal presence is a civil offense, not a criminal one, and minors cannot be charged with illegal entry if taken into the country by an adult. She is guilty of a civil offense for having been in the country illegally as an adult. If she had applied for a visa before she reached the age of majority, she would not have been treated as having violated any laws, criminal or civil.

I don't think most of the American public does hate you. I do think that there is a substantial minority of people who are looking for a scapegoat to blame for everything that's wrong, and are blaming illegal immigrants for it. I wish you luck in getting everything sorted out. If there were more slots for legal immigrants, we wouldn't be having most of the problems we have.

Answer 7

the problem is that she entered illegaly. If she had come with a visa and simply overstayed then this wouldn't be such a hassle for you.

I think its terrible, people here don't have any compassion, and don't realize how hard it is to obtain a legal status here in the US.

But if your a US citizen and so are the kids??? then why do you and the kids have to go back!?? this is an outrage!

Answer 8

It is not a matter of hate. Illegal is illegal. There is no excuse for breaking US laws. Sue the uncle if you wish. But your wife will have to comply with US laws. No one, but the US President has the right to pardon anyone. I am sure, in your wife's case, Mr. Bush will not.

Answer 9

As long as you are legally married (no common-law marriage situation), she should already be considered a citizen of America. At least, that is my understanding.

But that is only as far as the government stands. It appears your question is focused more on the public (those you come across in your day-to-day life). I was rather surprised myself to find the hatred. But I don't think it was there all along; I'm of Mexican descent myself but I and my parents were born in America (and in fact I have ancestors who were in America since before it became America--when it was still in the hands of Native American tribes), and we very rarely ever came across the racism.

Then all of sudden Bush realized his economy was a mess and figured everyone would blame him. He needed a scapegoat and the Mexicans were the easiest targets (both economically and the fact that their skin is brown like Arab muslims). This isn't to say all Arabic Muslims are bad, most are good. But everyone sees the terrorists as our only enemy (though they aren't) and that those enemies are Muslim. Bush saw an easy target in both Mexican and Muslims.

Unfortunately it got away from him and now everyone wants rid of us. To Bush's credit he knew Americans need Mexican workers and is trying to undo what he did, but the hatred has been stoked already and he seems unable to stop it.

I have been attacked regularly (thankfully only verbally so far though I was threatened with physical violence more than once) by people who once accepted me as another American. I have been legal all along, I never even knew any Mexicans (legal or illegal) besides my family. I don't even speak Spanish, but I'm hated too. You show more of the Mexican traits (though I consider you American like me), so it will probably be even harder for you. It's not fair, you are a human and so is your wife and kid. But that is what life is. People don't see the evil that they do, and you have to suffer for it; so do I.

Just keep doing what is right (take care of your family), take the friendships when they come and ignore the hatred when it comes. It's all any of us can do.

Answer 10

we don't like illegals. she should have applied along time ago to become legal. you might like it better in mexico. no hate, just frustration about all the illegals getting a free rid. you should have known you would be ridiculed for marring an illegal. good luck and god bless. at least you are trying to fix the problem now.