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To the people who shrug their shoulders & use the "well, he was not here legally"...
I would agree only if this is used across the board & that those who actually misrepresented their working status & concealed or illegally filled out their permits & citizenship papers were also held into account...
Of course, I am referring to extreme cases, like the wife of our leader... but the truth is, if you use the determination that one must be here legally, there are a lot of people that would have to leave... esp those that acted further and illegally concealed facts that could hamper their worker visas or citizenship requests...
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I hope that there isn't some other stupid rule that would forbid his family from joining him in England, and I hope that all of the programs that he created that have been extremely beneficial to our community will be able to continue in his absence.
Best wishes, Graham. You have been a model citizen, legal or not.
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We are a Nation of Immigrants.
Graham has done much more for his community than most. His departure will be a loss for the entire Island.
Graham accepts his status and only asks for a reasonable time to say goodbye to his many friends and family. He could be forced to leave tomorrow.
There are more than a couple of people who's exile would benefit Hawaii in a more meaningful way.
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A sad story indeed. A policy shift on deportations should take place to the effect that people with say 10 or more years in the country should be put on a track for special consideration. But it probably will not happen.
A worthwhile observation is that the so called liberal (lenient) perspective uses an emotional approach, humanizing deportees as individuals.
Conservatives tend to view things unemotionally in terms of populations. Aside from immigration/deportation, this perspective relates to criminal justice sentencing. That is why many conservatives support “mandatory minimums” in sentencing, which remove most discretion from judges.
Two problems from the viewpoint of conservatives:
1) The individualistic approach, whether deportation or sentencing, often involves review of supportive testimony. But other individuals who might also be meritorious will not get extra consideration if they unable to garner support. By minimizing testimony and sticking to the facts (the specific circumstances surrounding the violation of law), better justice is dispensed, so the argument goes. (I favor greater use of discretion.)
2) The broad enterprise of dealing with immigration into the U.S. (legal and illegal) and facilitating visitors (Visas) has evolved into a massive task, with thousands of officials involved in assessments, processing applications, investigations, apprehensions, and ongoing monitoring of radical suspects (which might be a never-ending task.) This costs America’s treasury much coin.
I hope this fact can be accepted as true, as well as the observation that the concerted effort by liberals to 1) expand entry into the U.S. by both visitors and refugees on a large scale and to 2) grant citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants (ahead of the people waiting in line for legal immigration) adds yet more workload to U.S. Immigration and Homeland Security.
Wish we could begin thinking of spending some of this money on U.S. citizens instead: homeless, needy Vets, poverty in the African American community, mentally ill without proper treatment, medicine for poor seniors, improvements in schools (in Hawaii, a simple thing such as providing air conditioning for the children sweltering in Ewa Beach and Waianae classrooms). Or is this considered hate speech toward illegal aliens?
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Graham has brought so much joy to so many here in Puna and all over the island.
He will be truly missed and remembered by so many.
Sincere gratitude and wishes for returning good health and happiness to Graham and his family.
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From MarkD quote:
2) The broad enterprise of dealing with immigration into the U.S. (legal and illegal) and facilitating visitors (Visas) has evolved into a massive task, with thousands of officials involved in assessments, processing applications, investigations, apprehensions, and ongoing monitoring of radical suspects (which might be a never-ending task.) This costs America’s treasury much coin.
I just got off the phone after inquiring about getting a Permanent Resident Alien card renewed for an Australian friend, a person whose English mother didn't bother to help her become a U.S. citizen when she arrived here as a four year-old. The charge just to update the PRA status she first qualified for in 1978? $540.00. So "aliens" (like this person who has been a productive member of the workforce in the U.S. for most of her adult life and sounds/seems as American as I do) are paying for much, if not all, of the processing etc. mentioned. As for becoming a citizen, in spite of the fact that this person was married to a U.S. Citizen for over a decade, the process of becoming an American turns out to be unexpectedly challenging, something, that as A U.S. native, I simply did not realize (yup, I looked into that too). Ask someone who's gone through the process.
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There definitely should be legal acceptations for people like these. Despite all the rhetoric, overstaying a visa or being in the country without permission is not a serious crime, it's a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors are 1 year or less jail time and are usually just settled with fines. Deporting someone who breaks a misdemeanor law like jaywalking because they have at one point been convicted of a non-violent low-level offense is a cruel form of punishment.
He was applying for citizenship, but because Ortiz has two convictions for driving under the influence (the "truth" that leilanidude says is suppressed), the last one happened 14 years ago, it triggered his deportation instead. Now with 3 kids a business and being a positive part of the community his life is in ruins. He will be unable to return to the USA for 10 years.
While this isn't a problem specific to Trump and his administration, Trump with his rhetoric has made the situation much worse for many people living and working in the US. It's very very hard for someone at poverty level with poor education to pay and navigate the US immigration system. Many work here illegally to survive then establish themselves and build a life. And they falsely assumed they would be welcomed in their new home country.
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hope that there isn't some other stupid rule that would forbid his family from joining him in England
Depending who issued Graham's passport, his family may have this exact problem; there are numerous cases of people caught "on the wrong side" of Brexit.
We are a Nation of Immigrants.
Also rules and laws. For everyone.
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but because Ortiz has two convictions for driving under the influence (the "truth" that leilanidude says is suppressed), the last one happened 14 years ago, it triggered his deportation instead.
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Question being, why wasn't he deported the 1st time or later, at the second offense? Is it a case of Hawaii being a "sanctuary"? I guess it is just luck that an honest citizen wasn't a victim of his offense? Or maybe was? We don't know the details of the 2 DUI's.
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I tend to wonder with these type of cases, as well as US born and raised Muslim faith peoples there were definitely family members/friends supporting the US, but when this happens to someone they know their rage turns to hate for the US?
With this thought, is this new " racial prejudice" really working?
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