[dynachrome]

"Guatemalan dishwasher" " had $59,000 "

I call BS

[Centurion2000]

Mr. Zapeta entered the country illegally 11 years ago and worked as a dishwasher for numerous Stuart restaurants

Damn, I'm fresh out of pity. Maybe the 49K will make up for any hospital visits he might have made.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I lost all sympathy at Mr. Zapeta entered the country illegally 11 years ago

[SJSAMPLE]

Yay!!
The War On (Some) Drugs claims another victory.

Git Some!!!

[VeniVidiVici]

If Mr. Zapeta were a professional man, or more intellectual, or more mainstream, there's no question that he would not have been treated this way."

Sorry, Mr Attorney. That's a load of crap. In fact, we're damn lucky the law was applied in this case simple BECAUSE he is an illegal.

[AU72]

The dishwasher story doesn't hold water.

[Tijeras_Slim]

native language is Quiche

Is that a dialect of French?

[Izzy Dunne]

whose native language is Quiche

[Semper Vigilantis]

Ignoranceing the law is no excuse. He was here 11 years and never learned the language or laws? My give-a-damn's busted.

[Alouette]

a 39-year-old Mayan whose native language is Quiche

Real men don't speak Quiche.

[Mamzelle]

Since he's got a lawyer who is making a case for him...is there any chance that we'll find out whether he paid taxes on that $59K?

[Little Ray]

Don't care that he was an illegal. I don't like it when the Feds sieze money 'cause you have "too much."

At the very least, he should be allowed to wire it home or bank it.

[dead]

Nobody owns money.

The government just lets us carry around varying amounts, until they decide to take it back.

[Redcloak]

He should be fined for the currency violation (I don't agree with that law, but it's on the books) and for the immigration violation; however, I can't picture those fines totally $49,000. This judge is a thief with a black robe instead of a black mask.

[YOUGOTIT]

Where in the Constitution does it say that a person cannot take his cash with him when he leaves the country? This is another highwayman piece of crap just like the Kings and Dictators used to do. If it was his money and he earned it by working where the hell does the government get the authority to steal it?

[A message]

Mr. Zapeta, a 39-year-old Mayan whose native language is Quiche, has said that he was unaware of the requirement to disclose amounts greater than $10,000.

Apparently Mr Zapeta either could not read or could not understand the signs posted all over boarding areas for international flights stating that amounts over $10,000 must be declared or the feds will take your money and possibly throw your hiney in jail.

"If Mr. Zapeta were a professional man, or more intellectual, or more mainstream, there's no question that he would not have been treated this way."

No, if Mr Zapeta had learned to read and understand English in his 11 years here illegally he wouldn't have this problem.

I personally have never been in an international boarding area where the requirement for financial declaration is not clearly and conspicuously noted.

Sheesh

[sergeantdave]

The criminal fascist syndicate occupying Washington is simply creating more illegal precedent to steal your money if you don't have a note from mommy government to be carrying around cash in excess of 50 bucks.

[AnnaZ]

Fine him, deport him, but give him his money back.

[antiRepublicrat]

I remember a precedent where a legal immigrant borrowed lots of money from people in his home country to set up a business here (convenience store IIRC). He did well, and was about to fly back with the cash to pay everyone back when he was nailed under this law. I can't remember the amount, but they took tens of thousands of dollars.

The seizure was overturned on the grounds of "cruel and unusual punishment," in that losing tens of thousands of dollars because you didn't know you had to do some paperwork was out of proportion with the offense.

[wideawake]

Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse in any legal jurisdiction I know of.

Sorry, dishwashing guy.