Dying Immigrant Granted Christmas Wish—U.S. Citizenship

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: HSN

For the last 30 years, Mexican immigrant Manuel Lara Lopez has lived in the United States. In May, just months before finishing his citizenship course, Manuel was diagnosed with stage four intestinal cancer. His dying wish was to become a U.S. citizen, and that wish was granted this week in his South Austin backyard.

Lopez, 59, has been a legal resident for 20 years, and says he came from Mexico in 1979 of 1980 looking for a better life, and at the in-home ceremony he raised his right hand and pledged his loyalty to the United States and afterwards expressed his happiness saying he was “muy feliz” (very happy) and posed for his family members who were all snapping photos.

It was Lopez’s dying wish to become a U.S. citizen, and he says he wants his Mexican-born sons to “learn from Papa,” and remain on the path to citizenship.

Lopez was too weak to leave his house, so Tuesday, an officer from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services came to his home and administered the exam he was originally scheduled to take in January 2011, but wishing to grant him a Christmas wish, he was allowed to take it early.



Read more: http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/notitas-de-noticias/details/dying-immigrant-granted-christmas-wish-u.s.-citizenship/3764/

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Who are those who claim that Mexicans do not wish to assimilate?

[TygrBright]

1. Hey, don't ask me. I live in a city full of people of Mexican and Hispanic ancestry...

...some more recent, some less so; in a state full of people of Mexican and Hispanic ancestry, and as far as I'm concerned I could never ask for better neighbors or a better community.

Do we have problems, social issues, crime, etc.? Sure, just like every other city. But I wouldn't trade our gorgeous patchwork quilt of cultures and languages and customs for anything.

The fear and bigotry about Latino and Chicano and Hispanic people completely baffles me.

bewilderedly,
Bright

[boppers]

2. I grew up in Tucson, Az, and might have some insight into this matter, from my family....

'afterwards expressed his happiness saying he was “muy feliz” (very happy)'

1. Note that it was translated.
2. Ask yourself why it was translated.
3. Ask yourself how fearful many people can become they can't understand those around them.

My older brother and I both learned multiple languages growing up, and continue to do so. My younger brother didn't start learning his first second language until he was 19, for an extended trip (mission) to Italy.

Guess which one is the racist who expects everybody around him to speak English.

Give it a wild stab in the dark.

[eyeofdelphi]

8. i know that will be an issue

with this story. with some people at least. i wish people would stop and realize this guy is bed ridden with stage 4 cancer. he's probably so doped up on pain meds, it's hard for him to concentrate. most people would revert to their mother tongue in that case.

[Possumpoint]

3. Stories Like This Are Very Nice

And it's a damn shame the guy is dying. One critical factor stands out. The man was a legal resident who applied for citizenship, followed the rules and won that citizenship. I welcome him as a fellow citizen.

Compare that to the number who have entered illegally and now want the magic wand of citizenship passed over them for being here. I oppose that. Follow the rules and I'll welcome them also.

[pampango]

5. He apparently came here illegally in 1980 then became a legal resident 20 years ago.

"Lara, who has been a legal U.S. resident for the past 20 years, came to Texas from Mexico in 1979 or 1980 seeking a better life, he said."

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/after-30-years-in-united-states-austin-resident-1141137.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d1350605ee446ed,0

We should, as you say, "welcome him as a fellow citizen".

[COLGATE4]

6. Now THERE's the Xmas spirit for you! You might want to consider

posting this over at Free Republic - it'll get lots of 'thumbs up'.

[Kali]

9. came here illegally and want a magic wand "for being here"

yeah that's it! they are on a big long vacation, just "being here" and OMG illegally at that!

civil offense, big fucking crime

[boppers]

13. Sarcasm?

Can't tell....

[Kali]

14. yes

the attitude that immigrants are jsut casually hanging around after a stroll across the line, waiting for amnesty while collecting welfare drives me up the fucking wall

this morning I heard a story about a guy who works multiple jobs one of which was one 13 hour day a week washing dishes at a Chinese buffet for $50 cash and a meal.

I consider somebody like that worthy of respect AND the chance to become "legal" no matter what minor infraction his life's journey necessitated.

[pampango]

4. Conservative instincts (re immigration) 'uncharitable', says Liberal Democrat (in UK but same here).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/8223192/Conservative-instincts-uncharitable-says-Liberal-Democrat.html

Tory immigration policy is "driven by uncharitable instincts" and the party's political allies in Europe are "an embarrassment", the Liberal Democrat Foreign Office minister has said. Jeremy Browne described some of the Conservatives' partners in the European Parliament as "nutty". He said foreign diplomats were delighted that the Lib Dems had ensured the Government was "far more amenable and civilised" towards the European Union than a Tory administration.

Speaking to an undercover reporter posing as a supporter in his Taunton Deane constituency, Mr Browne, who is regarded as being on the Right wing of his party, disclosed that he and colleagues had been engaged in a struggle to persuade the Tories to relax a planned cap on immigration. "The Tories had a very harsh, in my view, immigration policy," he said.

"But the Conservative one I thought was driven by quite a lot of uncharitable instincts. I think, with the involvement of the Lib Dems plus the more liberal-minded Tories, we'll end up with a policy which is more enlightened."

The minister said the Lib Dems were "punching above our weight" and claimed to have transformed the Government's approach to the EU. Asked about Mr Cameron's decision to ally his party with some far-Right parties in eastern Europe, he said: "They are quite nutty and that's an embarrassment to them."

The Conservatives decided to leave the coalition of centre-Right political parties in the European Parliament in 2009, a controversial decision driven by William Hague, the Foreign Secretary. Instead, they joined the European Conservatives and Reformists, a coalition of small nationalist parties led by Michal Kaminski, a Polish politician who has been accused of anti-Semitism. The Latvian Freedom and Fatherland Party, a fellow member of the group, has been linked to former members of Nazi SS units.

[IamK]

7. from a tax standpoint, this was probably not a good move... n/t

[Kali]

10. to go?

[Posteritatis]

11. I'd imagine someone on the brink of death is worrying about other things. (nt)

[boppers]

12. If he dies in the next few days, he'll be able to catch the "death tax" exemption, no?

Maybe it was actually a good move.