Portland Man Faces Deportation after Years as 'American'

Portland Oregonian ^ | 12/18/2001 | Richard Read

[ex-Texan]

All this man had to do was speak with an immigration lawyer years and years ago. Coming to the U.S. at age 12 he ought to have applied for U.S. citizenship.

Instead, he attempted a fraudulent marriage. Then he lied repeatedly to everybody about his status. Hiding from the INS is not a good idea.

[TheDon]

< /sympathy >

[SAMWolf]

My parents and I came to the States in 1950. They followed all the rules and jumped through all the hoops to become American citizens in 1962. The rules to get in and stay here were a lot tougher back then but they were determined to become Americans.

Sorry, no sympathy for those who break the rules and then get caught, he had ample opportunity to be "legal" over the last 25 years.

[dvan]

"All this man had to do was speak with an immigration lawyer years and years ago. Coming to the U.S. at age 12 he ought to have applied for U.S. citizenship.

Agreed! Just proves that you can run..but not hide...forever! Hopefully we'll get bin Laden too!

[skeeter]

Rather, Toussi is one of many foreigners who have melted into U.S. society, often without even trying, after their student visas expired.

No kidding... they just melted in without even trying? Amazing!

[lavaroise]

I am sorry, but when you go to immigration, you take an oath. If you can't do the deportation, then don't break the oath. HOW FREAKING DIFFICULT IT IS TO UNDERSTAND? I don't care how sad it is, let the people who do not do their homework get punished for once. Legal migrants bleed enough that they do not need to bleed more because of morons and criminals.

[Saundra Duffy]

Don't let the door hit you on the butt on your way out.

[patriot31u]

Yeah, you sort of feel sorry for the guy but bottom line is that you broke the law. Maybe you are a good law abiding person but the fact is, is that you have to ensure everything is legal. Its like someone not registering their car and then complaining because their car got impounded. Maybe they are good people but they broke the law.

[billorites]

Quite aside from the immigration and fraud marriage business, Chapter 7 bankruptcy makes him an unsympathetic character.

Chapter 7 discharges all your debts, mostly, and wipes the plate clean.

Bankers have a name for folks who deal with debt via Chapter 7: They call them deadbeats.

[ibbryn]

This is a pretty sad case, what with the man living in the US for so long and all.

But now that they've got him...ship him out!

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

We need more of this - ship them all home!

[Publius6961]

The nagging problem was that Toussi, 37, wasn't actually American -- he's Iranian. But, like an estimated 4 million other foreigners, he's in the United States on an expired visa.

Well then, like 4 million other foreigners who violate the laws of my country and has the presumption to make his own rules, he can find his ass out of my country ASAP.
Anyone in that position who hasn't taken advantage of the regular means of legitimatizing his status, simply doesn't care.

And if he doesn't care why should I?

[Chess]

Are his children American Citizens? Are they being deported, too?

They are half Iranian.

[truth_seeker]

With little to no enforcement over the years, the INS and the United States have TRAINED immigrants, that everything will work out.

I don't particularly have sympathy for this fellow, but at least he came in with some papers. The INS hassles people who are in their system; it has little taste for rousting folks off the streets.

Contrast the fact the INS sent three agents to his house, to the millions from Mexico and Central America. They can live for years with fraudulent documents, and no contact, whatsoever, with the INS.

Also, we hear all of the talk about the Canadian border. Heard anything about the Mexico border? Didn't think so.

[Tacis]

Over the years, he must have filled out forms. mortgage applications, income tax forms, student loan forms for the kids, job applications, etc. in which he falsified his status. He did this knowingly! He is a criminal, a lawbreaker! He snuck into this country illegally and lived here without authorization. Maybe he did a little good, maybe he didn't do too much harm. My bet is that there are a bunch of other things he would not want on the front page. He's a criminal!!!