Illegal immigrants refrain: 'Leaving America is not an option'

AFP ^ | May 20 06:42 PM

[stevie_d_64]

Francisco Gimenez risked his life to get into United States. He is not planning to leave in a hurry. Like many members of Los Angeles' immigrant community, the 27-year-old butcher is skeptical about proposed legislation intended to offer illegal workers a path to citizenship.

Under reforms announced last week, Gimenez would be required to return to Mexico at some point in order to secure the right to work legally in the United States, possibly paying up to 5,000 dollars in fines additionally.

Gimenez fears however that once he leaves America he won't be allowed back in. "I don't really understand that much about the bill, but I'd have to be crazy to go back to Mexico to apply for visa now that I am already in the US," he says. "They wouldn't give me a visa there."

[stevie_d_64]

Ok...

This new plan doesn’t look like its going to work...

Anyone got a plan “B”???

[Puppage]

Illegal immigrants refrain: 'Leaving America is not an option'

Well, why WOULD they? They are rewarded for breaking the law now. What makes people think they'll abide by more laws in the future?

[SittinYonder]

"I don't really understand that much about the bill, but I'd have to be crazy to go back to Mexico to apply for visa now that I am already in the US," he says. "They wouldn't give me a visa there."

Don't worry Mr. Gimenez ... you don't have to go.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Don’t forget, there’s a $5,000 “fine” that you also won’t be bothered with.

[3AngelaD]

“What makes people think they’ll abide by more laws in the future?” And what makes people think this won’t set off a stampede of even more illegals into the country, the way the ‘86 amnesty did. The terrorists are laughing up a storm.

[P-40]

Once any new law is passed the fines will go away, the requirement to leave the country and come back will go away, the requirement to learn English will go away, and so forth. It will be 1986 all over again.

[umgud]

He can stay as long as he wants with the Z Visa. He would only have to return home to apply for the path to citizenship.

[Fitzcarraldo]

M E X I C O reform,
not immigration reform!

[SittinYonder]

Don’t forget, there’s a $5,000 “fine” that you also won’t be bothered with.

I've broken the law once and been rewarded for it with virtual citizenship. Why would I now start obeying the law when it will cost me $5,000?

[theDentist]

Of course it won’t work. This is the “Camel’s Nose in the Tent” portion of the plan. If they can get it to pass, the next plan will then begin to waive the fines and fees, suspend the requirement to leave the states etc in the name of compassion.

[oh8eleven]

As Rush has commented - these people not only act like they’re entitled, they make it look as if we’re the ones doing something wrong/criminal.

[Puppage]

And what makes people think this won’t set off a stampede of even more illegals into the country, the way the ‘86 amnesty did. The terrorists are laughing up a storm.

Sadly, I couldn't agree more.

[Schatze]

"They wouldn't give me a visa there."

Of course they would. They'll also give you maps and all kinds of literature about how to abuse America's entitlement programs, too, Francisco. No worries.

[socialismisinsidious]

"I don't really understand that much about the bill, but I'd have to be crazy to go back to Mexico to apply for visa now that I am already in the US,"

"I would love to go back and live in Mexico but I can only make money here," Gimenez said.

"For me the important thing about the legislation is if I can visit my country or bring my family here legally without the danger of them having to try and cross the border."

Gimenez' employer, Jose Luis Rojas, an illegal immigrant who acquired permanent residency and citizenship after Ronald Reagan's 1986 amnesty, is confident that a solution is only a matter of time. "I came to America as an illegal worker and now I'm a citizen," Rojas said. "That's why I say to them just be patient."

"I'm not worried about immigration raids," the 46-year-old said.

"And anyway, a Mexican farmer who comes here on a 10-month permit is going to stay here permanently anyway."

[milwguy]

Also........the new bill ‘supposedly’ would tackle all the criminal elements among the illegal immigrant crowd. Those with criminal pasts would not be elgible for this ‘amnesty’. According to the ‘law of unintended consequences’ the perevrse effect would be that they would remain in the country ‘undocumented’ and committing crimes at the same rate as always. This bill would not have the teeth to kick them out. The only ones who ‘might’ leave the country and reapply for entry would be the MOST law abiding and desirable among the illegals, ie those with no criminal baackround and with better educations/job skills. This bill is a surrender of all our values, and of our way of life.

[Moonman62]

This new plan doesn’t look like its going to work... Anyone got a plan “B”???

Yes, enforce the laws already on the books to make leaving America the only option for illegals.

[stevie_d_64]

That is an interesting slant on this...Not surprising, but an interesting angle...

Yep...We’re made out to be the criminals in our own country for desiring our government to enforce our laws...

[rbosque]

They wouldn’t be looking over their shoulders if they had done things right to begin with. They knew it was illegal to come here without permission. They shouldn’t be rewarded for breaking the law.

[kcvl]

Gimenez, who paid 3,000 dollars to a smuggling gang to help get him across the border in Arizona in 2003, sends back 400 dollars a month to his wife and two children in Mexico.

His salary of just over 1,400 dollars a month is roughly 10 times what he would earn for the same job in Mexico.

"I would love to go back and live in Mexico but I can only make money here," Gimenez said.

"For me the important thing about the legislation is if I can visit my country or bring my family here legally without the danger of them having to try and cross the border."