U.S. sailor: Don't deport my wife

[whopis01]

Eduardo Gonzalez, a petty officer second class with the U.S. Navy, is about to be deployed overseas for a third time. Making his deployment even tougher is the fact his wife may not be around when he comes back. His wife faces deportation to Guatemala -- her home country that she hasn't seen since 1989. He also doesn't know what would happen to his young son, Eduardo Jr., if that happens.

In September 2000, Mildred's mother applied for legalization and included her daughter in that application. Her mother was granted legal status in July 2004, according to Gonzalez.

However, six weeks earlier, Gonzalez and Mildred got married, canceling Mildred's ability to apply for legal status through her mother because she was no longer an unmarried daughter under the age of 21. As a result, her legal status still remains in jeopardy.


That's just fine, according to Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which lobbies for tougher laws on illegal immigration. "What you're talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces, and that's just outrageous," he said. "What we're talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military. ... There's no justification for that kind of policy."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/03/military.deportation/index.html

How can this even be possible? In the article it goes on to say how he (Gonzalez) came into the US illegally with his family when he was 10, but he ended up joining the Navy and becoming a US citizen in 2005. So no matter what anyone thinks about how he got here, he is a US citizen and they are trying to deport his wife! And the insanity of it is that if she hadn't gotten married to him, she would not be in trouble of deportation! WTF are they studying at the "Center for Immigration Studies" if Mark Krikorian thinks that is just fine!

[Jim__]

1. "... There's no justification for that kind of policy."

How about the justification is that they have a relative serving in the US military?

[whopis01]

5. not just a relative, a spouse WHO IS A US CITIZEN!!!! n/t

[NYVet]

2. How is this possible?

Easy. I don't see anywhere in the article where Gonzalez applied for citizenship for his wife, and immigration officials do not have a crystal ball to magically determine if someone is now married to a member of the military.
The article also states that a judge had given her a stay on the deportation order for 1 year, which he did not have to do.

What is needed is an update to rules and regulations at ICE to take this sort of situation into account and provide a solution for people in this situation.



added on edit.
Also, she would still be in the position to be deported if she was found to be in the country illegally if she was not married to this sailor.

[whopis01]

4. Easy for you perhaps...

Also, she would still be in the position to be deported if she was found to be in the country illegally if she was not married to this sailor.

In 2000 the mother applied for legalization for herself and her daughter. The mother received legal status in 2004. The daughter did not receive legal status because she was married 6 weeks prior to her mother gaining legal status. Only unwed children under 21 are allowed to apply for legal status along with their parent.

What you said is technically correct, "she would still be in the position to be deported if she was found to be in the country illegally if she was not married to this sailor", however if she had not married this sailer, she would no longer be in this country illegally.

Also, this has nothing to do with him being in the military. He is a US citizen. She is his spouse. She should be allowed to stay in the US.

[NYVet]

6. And here lies the rub...

Also, this has nothing to do with him being in the military. He is a US citizen. She is his spouse. She should be allowed to stay in the US.

Just one problem with your statement. The current immigration laws state that if you want to come to the US and stay, you have to apply for permission. The law doesn't care if you are from China, Honduras, France or Kuwait.
With him being in the military, he should know that the government is a pain in the ass.

[PDJane]

3. There is no rhyme nor reason.

This is institutionalized racism. The external and internal threat of the brown hordes, y'see.

It's absolutely repulsive.