Posted on 08/15/2005 5:34:36 AM PDT by sweetliberty
LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- Hispanic leaders say the Arkadelphia community was traumatized by the deportation last month of poultry plant workers who had to leave young children behind, but that hasn't stopped some of the immigrants from returning.
A pregnant woman who was separated from her husband and two small children and deported to Mexico on July 26 has already returned to Arkadelphia, and she is just one of several trying to reunite with family back in Arkansas.
Cesar Compadre, a physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and head of the Hispanic aid organization La Casa, said he met the woman Sunday while providing food and medical care to many of the 30 children left unattended in Arkansas.
"It's the most ridiculous thing; it's like the Middle Ages," an exasperated Compadre said after he and three other doctors treated 25 kids and half a dozen adults.
But Marc Raimondi, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said it should not come as a surprise when the U.S. government enforces its immigration laws. Since incorporating immigration enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security 2 1/2 years ago, expectations have changed, he said.
"It's not like before when the immigration system was considered optional by some," he told The Associated Press on Sunday. "Our goal is to return integrity to our immigration system through vigorous enforcement."
La Casa and other Hispanic groups had already planned to meet Monday with Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., to discuss their community work, and Compadre said he would raise the question of immigration enforcement. Compadre said he couldn't understand why immigration agents would raid hardworking people who were filling jobs that nobody else would take.
Raimondi said it isn't that simple. While the government places priority on catching illegal immigrants who pose security threats, work force enforcement is also important, particularly those who work in critical infrastructure sectors like transportation and the national food supply, he said.
Compadre said his medical team provided the pregnant woman with prenatal care. She said she was taken from Arkadelphia less than three weeks ago, detained in Texarkana and Dallas, dropped off in the middle of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico - just across the Rio Grande River from Laredo, Texas - and immediately made her way back to Arkansas.
"She was traumatized to the point that she's almost unresponsive," Compadre said. "She's back in here and we were able to get her proper prenatal care. It's at least stable at this moment."
Raimondi could not comment on the woman's specific case, but in general, he said, returning to the U.S. illegally after being deported is a serious offense. Depending on the terms of deportation, a repeat offender could face up to 20 years in federal prison, he said.
Federal agents arrested 119 workers when they raided the Petit Jean poultry plant on July 26. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initially said the workers were separated from their children because they claimed they had no children with them. Later, the agency said some of those deported had said they had children staying with relatives in Arkansas.
Gov. Mike Huckabee was among those who criticized the way immigration officials handled the raid, specifically the issue of the 30 children, many of whom are born in the U.S. and are American citizens. Huckabee donated $1,000 from a state emergency fund to help the community through a Hispanic Baptist church in Arkadelphia, and the League of United Latin American Citizens matched the gift.
Compadre said another segment of the affected population attends the Catholic church in Arkadelphia, and that's where the medical team went Sunday.
Despite the help and donations from local food banks, the affected families are still short on diapers and other supplies for younger children, Compadre said.
Of course, what they neglect to mention is that the illegals lied and said they didn't have any children when they were asked about it.
"...a physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and head of the Hispanic aid organization La Casa, said he met the woman Sunday while providing food and medical care to many of the 30 children left unattended in Arkansas."
...a physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and head of the Hispanic aid organization La Casa, said he met the woman Sunday while providing food and medical care at tax payer expense to many of the 30 children left unattended in Arkansas supported by an already overburdened foster care system...at taxpayer expense.
"La Casa and other Hispanic groups had already planned to meet Monday with Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark."
One thing Pryor can be counted on for....with the full support of Blanche Lincoln and Mike Huckabee, is to be on the wrong side of this issue. Next thing you know, the illegals will be seeking compensation via lawsuits against those who had them deported (the trauma, the expense to return - coyotes are costly - and all that).
"...when the immigration system was considered optional by some"
If that attitude has changed, I've failed to see evidence of it. Oh sure, most Americans WANT it changed, but most politicians and law enforcement, and the employers who hire them and who care more about lining their own pockets than about the future of their country, but apparently those are the ones running things. They care not what the majority of the people want.
"Compadre said he couldn't understand why immigration agents would raid hardworking people who were filling jobs that nobody else would take."
May because THEY WERE BREAKING THE LAW! And nonsense on the "jobs no one else will take crap."
"Depending on the terms of deportation, a repeat offender could face up to 20 years in federal prison,"
Hell could freeze over, too.
We are never going to be rid of this plague if our "leaders" don't stop mollycoddling these criminals!
"It's not like before when the immigration system was considered optional by some," he told The Associated Press on Sunday. "Our goal is to return integrity to our immigration system through vigorous enforcement."
I'm sorry, but
I would love to hear Marc Raimondi's list of changes.
I suppose the hundreds of Criminal Aliens pouring across our southern border each day represent, "changed expectations?" A likely story.
Meanwhile the partybots preach blind obedience to their respective parties.
ok we need to change the law that makes the kids of illegal aliens US citizens, so we can deport them along with their illegal parents.
Nothing will change until the situation is biting chunks out the a** of every single American. And by then the majority will still be sheeple who say, "well, what can you do?" Sad and depressing. I see no good outcome to this.
ok we need to change the law that makes the kids of illegal aliens US citizens, so we can deport them along with their illegal parents.
________________________________________________________
I believe (someone correct me if I am wrong) that would require a constitutional amendment...which won't happen.
They need to make an example of that woman by giving her 20 years in a federal prison.
I wonder if the diet that the Huckster was on affected his mind. Something bad happened.
How absolutely pathetic for a super power to be beaten by illegals coming here over & over through the swinging door. Two small children and ANOTHER one on the way, your tax dollars at work. I could go on but it seems hopeless.
The the punishment of the poultry plant was?
The one thing that is missing from the article is what kind of fine was assessed against the employer of these illegals.
Not true. There is no such provision in the US constitution. I read an article on this not too long ago. The author was quite specific. The clause that is often sited as providing citizenship for people born in this country was never meant to be extended to people here illegally.
Revolving Door Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Creepy, disgusting leeches and their enablers. This article is chilling about the chiseling on our social welfare programs. Free hospitalization etc. Yep, I'm talking about the pregnant Mexican returnee. Back like a bad penny
Cesar Compadre, a physician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and head of the Hispanic aid organization La Casa, said he met the woman Sunday while providing food and medical care to many of the 30 children left unattended in Arkansas.
And she's still here? She is now a felon...WTF, over?
Hang 'em High ~ Bump!
Don't even need to do that. Just need a law that clarifies the 14th, a law that was introduced by Bob Stump back in 2001.
Needless to say, the current occupant of the White House and his American-to-the-bone AG haven't signed up to push this bill much of anywhere, except into the wastebasket.
Passage of this single piece of legislation would basically stop most of illegal immigration dead in its tracks. Tomorrow.
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