ILW.COM - Archives Two

to whom it may concern:

As i sit here looking up some of the new laws of the INS. It bring a deep sadness to me. My husband was pickup on this new law. in 1994 he plead guilty to a ticket for marijuana. In which he paid a fine of $100.
Now with this law the INS is threating to deport him. I think that this is so unjust. It uproots the family values in which the President has spoken so highly about, but, is this the value that his tallkin about. My husband has been a legal resident of the U.S. for 16 yrs,with 2 daughters and a wife that is very sick with asthma. If i had know that is was a bill that the President had signed, he wouldn't my vote .

By removing the 245(i) it has effected many immigrants who have entered the country legally and have over stayed their visas..They have children who are born in the US...The sad part is that they are experienced and educated but cannot get a good job cause they are considered to be illegal aliens, what about their children? what about the families?....Who is to blame if these children turn out to be drug lords and thieves ? Its the US government not the parents, cause the parents try to do as much as possible with a measly $300.00 salary.....People who make laws should have a heart, be a little kind, cause they themselves came here fm a different place...Nobody is originally from the USA even the Native American Indians come over fm Asia.......The USA was built on the sweat and blood of immigrants....So I pray to the law makers to help better the future of the USA and look kindly on certain family cases as mentioned above......

My story is long and involved. However, The INS is the most poorly run operation. I lived the nightmare of having my husband and my children's father taken from us. not because of any criminal activity. Only a civil one that happened 8 years prior to his deportation. well before we were married. He told INS the truth. Many years later he was picked up for deportation. During the court hearings it was clear of the mess the INS really was creating. We uncovered lies, abuses, complete disregard for humane treatment. I was told in front of our attorney and six other family members. He would never be allowed on American soil again. Not even for the death of a close family member such as one of his children. He looked me sqare in the face and replyed absolutly not!!! This was the day we said good bye!!! media was wild. letters were coming from all over the phone did not stop. Our case hit the congressional floor and for 20 months we were apart. We were lucky a private bill was passed and signed. he was on his way home. That is the story in a nut shell. INS has already to much discretion and does not know the laws as they stand. new laws are not the answer!!! tougher laws are not the answer. A strong look into our INS system would be a great way to start solving the "problem". At times I still have sleepless nights thinking about what we went through. Law makers can blow smoke but when it clears the problem still remains. INS is allocated a huge amount of money. As I could see from the inside. Waste was the primary outlet. I saw I lived it and through allot of support was able to beat it. However, nothing changed!!! People still suffer from the wrath of the INS. They carry to much unregulated power And are clearly not afraid to step over the boundries. When peoples lives and more importently children lives hang on a process that snickers as a loving father and husband are being taken away. It tells me that as a country growing up is something that needs to start at home. Here in the US. We have many criminals from all origins not just from differnt countries. The facts of immigrants are never truly brought to life. The good and the bad. The four us us were judged and sentenced. All this time and money for a civil matter that could not get resolved. because the INS lost the addmission tape!!! I could go on for hours. However, The only thing I can add to help others is make allott of noise and never ever stop. get positive attention brought to you in any way. Always speak with your law makers. Don't give up hope.

I know someone that was incarcerated for drunk driving (no injuries). At the end of his sentence he was taken into custody by the INS on charges of aggravated felony (DUI). He is a legal permanent resident and has been in the U.S. for 40 years (all of which are legal). His entire family is here. However, this meant nothing to the INS. I went to the hearing and do not even know why the gov't provides them, their minds are already made up and these so called "INS judges" do not take anything into consideration.
He asked to be released on bond so that he could provide a defense but was denied several times. At the very minimum they should be allowed bail so they can have half a chance.
In any event, the individual being detained could not take it any longer being held in a corral (hygiene is not very important to the INS either if you're immigrant) and chose to give up the appeal and has thus been deported. This was very recent.
My concern is that he knows nobody in Mexico and can barely speak the language.
I would like to know about this law (I did not even know went into effect until this happened) and what I can do to reform it. This is not fair, and I would think that immigrants that have lived here their whole lives and paid taxes, etc., would be afforded rights also.
This law needs to be tailored on a case by case basis. I have not been able to find anyone that is really taking a stand on this issue and am willing to also help change this law and just came across your web site. I realize the only way the gov't listens is by a majority voice. I would appreciate any insight on this issue you can provide.
Thank you.

I have been a permanent resident in the US for over 30 years. 15 years ago, I was arrested on a minor shoplifting charge at a time in my life when I was profoundly unhappy and emotionally sick after a heart-breaking divorce. Because I had never been in trouble with the law before, my sentence was suspended and my record was sealed after one year, meaning that for all practical purposes, I do not have a criminal record.

Following this incident, I underwent two years of therapy to straighten out my head and my life. I raised my teenage daughter and build a successful career. Today, I have a responsible position with a respected firm, own property, pay taxes, contribute to the community, and regularly attend church. However, the shame over my only run-in with the law kept me from applying for citizenship all these years -- something I regret deeply.

Because of the new immigration law, I now face the very real possibility of deportation. Although my record is sealed, my fingerprints are on file with the FBI, to which the INS has undoubtedly access. I expect it will only be a matter of time before the INS knocks on my door or a letter arrives in the mail. I don't dare leave the country for fear that I will be apprehended upon my return.

Meanwhile, I am going through living hell. The prospect of being banned forever from this country in which I have deep roots causes me to have great anxiety and sleepless nights. I cannot bear the thought of being separated from my daughter (who is about to get married), the prospect of not being able to see my future grandchildren, leaving long-time friends behind, terminating a successful job (with no means of supporting myself in my native country), and loosing everything I've worked for honestly and hard.

I hope that the lawmakers who read this letter (and others like it) will take immediate action to amend this incredibly cruel law and restore the right to a court review before deportation can take effect. Without it, the law violates the basic rights of human beings and tears apart the lives of good people.

I thank the creators of this web site for the opportunity to tell my story and I urge everyone who is affected or plain offended by IIRAIRA to protest its injustice and speak out loudly to anyone who will listen.

My girlfriend is 23 and the daughter of refugees from Cambodia. She came to this country when she was five years old. Her parents had barely escaped the "killing fields" under the ruthless rule of Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge order. She herself became very sick from malnutrition while her parents labored for the Khmer Rouge in the mountains of Cambodia. Yet through it all, they managed to survive and had new hope in this land of opportunity, the United States of America. Her father had been an MP for the American Ambassador in Phenom Phen, so was able to bring his family to this country as refugees after spending two years in a camp in Thailand. They first settled in South Central Los Angeles, California. When my girl-friend became a teen, she got involved with the wrong friends and by the
time I met her, she was a severe drug addict hooked on crack cocaine and prostituting to maintain her habit. As much as I tried to help her she didn't want to stop. She was arrested for posession and prostitution a number of times in her juvenile and then in her adult life. Finally, she was charged with possession for sale because she had a container with a number of "rocks" in it and the officers also claimed that she told them that they were for sale. Ultimately she was sent to prison on a 3 year sentence and spent one and a half years there putting her life back in order. During her incarceration she learned that she had the option to voluntarily return to Cambodia instead of completeing her sentence. Of course, that option was out of the question as she had spent her whole life in the United States and had adopted all the cultural traits of an American. Her home was here and this is where she grew up. She had some idea about what her homeland was like through her parents and could speak some Cambodian, but otherwise she mostly identified with her American friends who were mostly all Black Americans. After being locked up for a
year, my girlfriend learned that she had an "immigration hold" placed on her, meaning that she would be transfered to INS custody as soon as she was released from prison. I, being an American citizen since birth and a caucasian, had no idea what this was all about or why she would have to be going through this. I consulted an immigration lawyer who offered to give her deportation defense and thought that he could help her if I finished getting my divorce and we got married. My girlfriend did not take this immigration matter seriously at first. I was spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on phone bills for making collect calls and providing her with things that she needed. When she was finally in INS custody,it became immediately clear that this was an extremely serious situation and that unless she got some kind of help she would be deported. Other lawyers that I tried to consult gave me a very grim picture about her situation and basicly gave no hope or desire of defending her. She was fortunate enough to have been granted a bail of only $3,500. However, I could not use my property to obtain a bond nor did I have that much cash on hand. Considering that Cambodia was still under a state of violent upheaval and a country in which human rights was still a big issue, I recommended to her that she apply for political assylum as this would be the only thing to stop deportation. As I couldn't afford an attorney, I did all the research and filled out the necessary forms for her myself at paying the high price of having a severely bleeding stomache ulcer that landed me in the hospital. Fortunately, she was able to be released on bail before the trial date arrived and she was able to come home. However, once out she again had problems of a different kind. The county where she was arrested before she went to prison had expected her to appear at the probation department on a previous matter. They had knowledge of her release from prison but did not know that INS had held her in custody for six months. They issued a warrant for her arrest. Furthermore, she became involved with an old friend of hers (male) and there was so much unhappiness from that affair that I called her parole officer on her and the police took her away because now she had not only the warrant but also a parole violation. I should have known better than to put her in a situation where she would wind up back in INS custody again and be facing still more that the INS could stack up against her. Regardless of what happened between her and that man, I still love her with all my heart and she sees things
a lot clearer now too as well, but it is all too late. Now I don't know if the INS will allow her to go ahead with the assylum proceedings or throw it out considering the latest set of circumstances. I am glad that I have had a chance to locate this web site and have learned a great deal more than before from being able to browse the web and find links to so many areas of this subject I had no knowledge of before. I was witness to so many different stories while standing in line waiting to visit my girl- friend while she was in INS custody. I am glad to see that there are so many united voices against these new harsh and inhumane laws. My girl-friend is a victim of the American culture and all of its illnesses yet she has to go through all this. I see American citizens go in and out of jail over and over again for drug crimes or prostitution crimes and these are the ones who influence the daughters and sons of immigrants who come here. I am an American citizen since birth and I am appaled and disgusted with what my government has done. You can count on my support and letters to do whatever is necessary to stop this inhumanity. I would sincerely appreciate any help that anyone could give me regarding how I may find legal help and advice regarding my girlfriend's current situation. If not your help, please keep us in your prayers. Bill and Veasna. Temporary E-mail address:jfranks@oclc.k12.ca.us. Thank you. P.S. My funds are limited, but we still need help no matter how costly.

My name is Maria D. Moreno AND I AM A 21 YR. OLD SINGLE AMERICAN CITIZEN MOM. AS A SINGLE MOTHER I OBTAIN A FULL TIME JOB AS WELL AS ATTEND MIAMI DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT NIGHT. HOWEVER I NOW MUST DROP OUT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT MY PARENTS NEED MY HELP. i NOW LIVE WITH MY MOTHER, MY DAUGHTER AND MY QUADRIPLEGIC GRANDMOTHER. WE AS WELL LIVED WITH MY FATHER WHOM SUPPORTED US EMOTIONALLY AS WELL AS FINANCIALLY. ON OCTOBER 23, 1998, MY FATHER WENT TO IMMIGRATION WITH OUR LAWYER TO RE-APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION FOR STAY OF DEPORTATION. THE REASON FOR HIS EXTENSION IS BECAUSE WE WERE STILL WAITING TO OBTAIN A DECISION BY THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION OF APPEALS (BIA) OR THE OFFICE OF THE US PARDON ATTORNEY. HOWEVER THE EXTENSION WAS DENIED AND MY FATHER WAS ARRESTED AND DETAINED AT CHROME.
ON OCTOBER 27, 1998 OUR LAWYER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE (BIA) IN WHICH THE STAY OF DEPORTATION IS GRANTED. NEVERTHELESS MY FATHER HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AND IS BEING DETAINED WITHOUT REASON. MY FATHER HAS COMPLIED WITH THE US LAW EVER SINCE AFTER SERVING HIS SENTENCE IN 1985, FOLLOWED BY A 2 YR PROBATION, IN WHICH HE COMPLETED SUCCESFULLY.
THE REASON FOR MY TELLING MY STORY IS TO BRING TO WHOM CARES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ATTENTION,THE UNJUSTIFIED ACTION THAT IS BEING COMMITED WITH THIS NEW LAW. NOT ONLY MY FAMILY YET MANY OTHER FAMILIES ARE BEING SEPARATED FOR ERRORS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID FOR AND YET WERE COMMITED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. MY MOTHER AND I DO NOT KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO. ALL I KNOW IS THAT MY FATHER AS MANY OTHER FATHER'S AND HUSBANDS ARE BEING DETAINED IN CHROME UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW. PLEASE IF ANYONE KNOWS OF SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT ANY MORE FAMILIES FROM BEING TORN APART I ASK FOR YOU TO INFORM ME. I KNOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS LAW HAS BEEN DISASTROUS AND EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO MANY FAMILIES.

Hello : My name is Paula ,I am one of the many illigals in this country,But I am a good citizen,I do my work,paid my taxes,work as a voluntair in my library,I am deeply in love of a recident we want to get marry but with the new law ,we are afraid to be separate, this is painful unfair and sad if our opinion helps please count us in. thanks

My brother was involved in a criminal situation back in 1993. due to this offence there is now deportation procedings going on. he has serve in the U.S. Navy for 8 Years 4 active and 4 on the resereves. he received a honnorable discharge from the navy in 1994. he has also served his time for the crime that he committed. is there any help that we can receive from the Navy in order to help him. he has been a permanent resident since 1978, when we first came to america. this is the only runin with the law that he has had. he has a 7yr old son that he takes care of as well as being a strong impact of the lives of his family. he has alot of community ties trough the church. he goes to noise detention center to talk to juveniles to strees the important of the choices they make in life along with the importance of havi our Lord Jessus Christ in their live. It would be an injust if he was deported because that would put a strain on alot of peoples lives that are U.S. citizens especially his son. There are so many good things that out way the one situation that caused him to be in this possition. do you have any advice to give me in order to help him?

my situation is just that I met and married an american after having lived alone with my son since he was five years old we have a strong bond because of this. I have two sisters who live here in the states and was always thinking of being sponsored by them but I decided that my sons education might suffer as I was not in the financial position to send him to university here in the states I therefore decided to send him to university in Britain, while he was at university I met and married my husband in Scotland we came here to the states to discover that my son cannot join us as he is 21 years old now. He could go to a university here in the states now as I am in the financial position to send him but it appears that this is not allowed as I am a permanent resident and sponsoring my son to come here when it is legally possible. I have now also discovered that he cannot come for visit while this is in progress whick is 5 years approx. this is inhumane I love and miss my son and we would never do anything illegal he will have a degree in two years and he would never jempordise his future in this world by doing anything that was against the law therefore am I to live this way as my son only has me and I could never leave him for so long. I could return to visit him but he has bonded with my husband and this would only make him feel less of a family link. Why is it that one is guilty until proven innocent in this country whereas the law should be innocent until proven guilty.

hi, i would like to say my part in this new law. my husband is already starting to worry about what will happen to him. even though he has his green card, he still believes that he will be deported. we have three beautifull children that should not grow up with out their father. the only other choice is to go to a country that does not allow the growth of a child. that they will be restricted, no food, no housing, if you open your mouth you will be put in jail. besides that even if we go with their father to their fathers country, he will be in jail, we would be with no family in a strange land. what a wonderful outlook. cuba. is no place for american children up in. america is turning its children over to misery. may god help us all.

I, like so many others, am going through hell!!! Here is my story. My husband is legal-alien and applied for citizenship - he told the truth on his application and listed that he had been arrested nearly 10 years ago for possession of narcotics. We went to Portugal on vacation and on our return home he was detained at Kennedy airport - humiliated, and scared to death - his green card and passport were taken from him and he was given a trial date. We were able to have the trial date moved, since we do not live in New York. Now eight months later, we have not yet had another date - we had one last week, but it was cancelled. I am terrified that I will have to leave my home and my family over something that happened years ago and for which he paid his dues!! I think it is trully unfair.

I am an American citizen who is trying very hard to move back to the U.S. The only problem is that I fell in love with a Canadian citizen, who I met in the U.S. while attending college, and married him. We are currently living in Canada, but want to go back to the U.S. We have only been in Canada for a year and a half. It is very for me to imagine being apart from him, but according to the government, if we want to go south I have to move without him. Who knows how long we will have to be apart, but I will not let anyone come between my family. I have rights as a human being and no one in Congress, the Senate or any other branch of government would even consider being torn apart from their families. I have a letter almost ready to be sent to my Congressman. I hope it helps. Concerned citizen.

been here 18yrs, Minor conviction 10 years ago,
have green card, Now deportable,Probably will be,
results: Us citizen family...homeless
Kids................Fatherless
self................very angry
hungry, angry, lonley and tired
this is how terrorists are born
why plant the seed??

Hi,
I have been a green card holder since 1984, I was arrested and charged with possession of a gram of cocaine in 1988, that has been my one and only charge, I was given 90 days in county jail i did about 30+ days in jail and made a deal with the judge that i would go to an inpatient programme and clean up my act.I passed the programme with flying colours and have been clean since(no alchohol and drugs) I am married now ,i have two beauti ful children BOY6 and a girl 10.
I have gone to school and have a journeyman card as a carpenter with the Union. In the past 10 years I have kept up my jobs paid my taxes and been a totally law abiding person, a faithful husbandand a very caring and loving father. My wife is an american citizen and obviously my children are too. My wife who i love dearly(we have been togeather 12 yrs, Married for 9 yrs) Is also an amputee She lost her leg to cancer And also has other medical problems ,(she will be needing a new knee soon) My daughter has developed asthama. I am the sole provider in the house I have very good insurance benifits through my job. Just recently
I was informed that because of the one violation i have against me I was deportable. How can they do that where am i going to go and who is going to take care of my kids when they become homeless, who is going to take care of my wife and her medical needs, Are they saying that this country is so heartless that they would actually Break up a happy family I really have a hard time believing that Im lost here, and dont know what to do I dont want to live in hiding, I feel i have already done my time for the crime and paid my dues Why cant i have some rights to be with my family My green card expires next year i have no idea what to do seems like the attoronies cant help me either, Its like my life will be taken away from me, Id rather them hang me than deportme How can a person live so far away from their loved ones knowing that your children are homeless and your wife is dying and you cant do anything..Its is not only unfair its cruel. american citizens can kill their own child and serve only a couple of years in jail and my minor offence is giving me life without life. I have worked very hard to be where iam now how can they take it all away.Is there any justice, is there a god. HELP

hi my name is luis avilez when the e.u open is frontier to the people that whant to work i was one of tem I make a aplication for the simpson rodino the I.N.S. give to me apermision to stay in the us territory to work but they forget something give me my social security number so I never can get some work,so when I come to the office of inmigration locate in the city of Yuma Az.the agent, of inmigration told me that I can get my temporary residence because I don´t have my social security card I told that the departmen never send the card so he told me that no have nothing to do,for me so my aplication for temporary resident are in the archives of the I.N.S department,so i have to go back to my country and work there that was in the year of 1998 so resently I aply to the local passport and they denied to give to me because my record exist and they toldme that if I broke the law wen i was an ilegal alien ,now are goin to made mor easely whit the local pasport(this pasport are give to the us I.N.S for the people thats live in is frontier)so my cuestion is can i can rescue my aplication for temporary resident? and can work and live in the u.s,they say i never come to the interviu,so I whant to get my resident alien card if you have a coment please send a e-mail to chiquilino@yahoo.com

After being in the US since 1977 my family is now threatened with the new law concerning immigrants. My brother was only 3 years old when we left Vietnam. After spending 21 years of his life in the U.S. he has now learned that he may be deported back there. He was convicted of burglary of a vehicle which did not jeopardize another citizen. This new law has affected my family tremendously because we do not have family over there and he barely speaks the language which could make the activities of daily living quite difficult. In addition, he is married to a U.S. citizen and has a child who was born here, both of them need his support terribly.

My name is Robin Adamson and I married an Australian. We had been together since June of 97 and he came to the USA December of 97 for Christmas. When he arrived here we decided to marry so we did in February. He wanted me to return to Australia with him to move him here. I contacted a lawyer and asked if it was allright to go and he told me yes when you return we can take care of the paperwork, he was not an immigration lawyer and did not know the laws and misinformed us. Upon our return back my husband and I were detained in California for many hours after having been flying for over 14 with no rest. They stopped us and asked if we were married as I still had my passport in my other name but explained I was told to use it and my tickets as if I did not I would loose them as they had been bought before I had gotten married. In the end they told us we had been misinformed and sent him back to Australia with nothing. All he had was a suitecase, as he had quit his job, sold his car. Fortunately he had his parents which are not happy as he cant work just wait for the United States to let him home here with me and his two step children. I am forced to work around the clock to save our home and its like the government does not care. Why cant he come home and do the paperwork its not like we are trying to cheat the government he sent me all his money to bring our bills up to date and he has nothing. I just really think it unfair and Im told over and over you will have to wait until they reach his I-130. They are working on applications received January 98 his was received April 28, 1998 and Im told maybe for christmas. How do you explain to two children that miss there father that he might not be here for christmas. its very difficult. I am all alone here and now he cant even talk to me on the internet I have to call him on the phone luckily I have a long distance company that charges me 30 cents a minute so I get to talk to him for 10 minutes every week. We truely love each other and its like we are being punished. If anyone would like to write me with anything please do my email is
bluesc@bbtel.com .I'm at my wits end. Thank you.

I will like to know the new laws that concerning Immigrant like me
who stayed this country last five years, and all that time paying
all the Taxes due my income, and evary think I have, will I be treated
like some one is illigal,

My girlfriend is actually 8 months pregnant and due to extreme circumstances, I wasn't able to marry her before her visa expired or even before the section 245(i) was removed so now she is illegal but she CANNOT leave the States because ALL the airlines we have contacted refused to transport her to her country and her doctor doesn't want to write a letter to allow her to fly. I wanna marry her because I am now free to do so but I am now afraid that we will be separated and I will never be able to see her or my child. This is killing me and she is trying her best to be optimistic but I can hear her cry every night and I feel so guilty for bringing her here before my divorce was final, which took three years. She never commited any crimes, (her only crime in the eyes of justice being her illegal status) her knowledge of the American Language and Culture is even better than certain people that we know. But due to those drastic changes in the immigration laws, I am afraid for our future and I do not want to lose her or my unborn child..... And even by taking a lawyer after our marriage, I don't know if we will be ALLOWED to stay together !!! I don't know what we can do in order to soften the immigration laws as far as FAMILY ISSUES are concerned....

I am an 'ABC Class Member' resident for 14 years of this country, who through many efforts and without any sort of government aid, graduated from San Jose State University as a Civil Engineer three years ago. I will shortly find myself negotiating my permanent residence and will have to face the severe immigration
laws that could separate me from my wife or drastically change my life by sending me to a country I no longer know as I have been in the United States nearly half of my life. I feel I represent no bearing load on this society nor would I look for any source of public aid for my family as long as I can work. The new implemented reforms to immigration, as it stands now, greatly diminish the possibility for my wife and I to stay together. I am hereby pleading to those who exercise power to modify or revoke these unjust laws.

My name is Lorentzos. I came in this country from Greece 11 years ago as a student. I spent 3 semesters to learn English. Then I went to a Community College
where I earned a degree. Then I transfered to State University of NY at Albany from which I got my BA and ny MA in Economics. Now, for the last
3 years I am trying to get my Green Card. But because of all the new changes so far I can not do it. I know the ways to obtain a G.C. Like get maried
find a job in your major, start your own business or do the DSV lottery. I have been to 3 different immigration lawyers. All of them they tell me
the things that I know. My dream to obtain a G.C started in 1979. That year was the first time that I came into this country for vacation. My father used to worked for the American Embassy in Athens, Greece for 37 years before he retired. All my life I was assocciated with Americans. I asked my 3 lawyers if there is a loop hole in the system. All 3 told me without thinking or pausing or blinking a eye flat out NO. I can not believe that especially in this country there is no loophole. If people can get off with murder it has to be a way for people like me to stay in this country. P L E A S E If anybody know something that I do not know please let me know. My e-mail is PP0346@CNSVAX.ALBANY.EDU
I will appreciate any input.

A True Love Story.
They met six years ago and immediately realized it was love at first sight. Against their beliefs, customs, family's wishes, they moved in together after dating for a year. 3 years after, she obtained her green card and was able to marry him. He worked in a Factory, she worked for a law firm. They were madly in love and had a dream of buying a house and having two children by the time they were 29. On September 1997, all their plans and dreams came to an end. He had not yet obtained his visa, the wait was four years, and she did'nt qualify for citizenship yet. They were hoping 245(i) would be renewed but Congress did not decide until it was too late. At that point and under those circumstances they decided he should leave the U.S. to avoid the 3 year bar. A family waiver based on "extreme hardship" seemed impossible in their case. They didn't have any children, and she was not financially dependant on him. Without any more hesitation, they purchased two tickets to Mexico. One round trip and one one-way. They thought leaving together would be easier for them to say goodbye. She returned three days after and fell into a deep depression contempleting the idea of suicide. Their strong love for eachother and the expensive calls every other day, gave her the strenght to go on. she enrolled in the State University full time, worked full time and part time on weekends, to keep herself from going crazy. It's been a year since they've been apart and she still cryies every night, alone, in her bed. she has been back twice to see him and know that their love will survive the next four years they have to live separately. Neither has ever had a criminal record, asked for public assistance or even financial aid. They are the best example of "good citizens". Their only crime was to meet and fall in love in a country where color and money are the basis for happiness. (TM)

In 1993, I married a Canadian woman, we have a son together and have paid U.S. taxes of over$200,000 since we have been together. I wrote a letter to a congressman and in it states that we had been held up at the border for five hours and wanted to find out what was happening with my wife's green card application and complained about the treatment we had had from the INS, how slow, rude, etc (you know) and the INS canceled our application because I said in our letter that we had left the U.S. Amazing. I had complained in my letter that we had never heard anything back from the INS and the INS said it was because we had never sent them the required medical exam. Even though we had sent the required medical via certified mail and have a receipt signedby the INS as recieving those documents, they told us our case was never adjudicated because they never got those papers. Even though that medical cost us $200 and was critical to the adjudication process, they refused to respond to questions as to what they may have did with it or what may have happened to our paperwork. Even in cases of negligence and incompetence (or outright lying) by the INS, there is still no right to due process. Amazing. I guess we just keep paying taxes and paying the INS fees
and hope they don't lose the next batch of paperwork. No accountability at all required of these jerks. We just keep paying more fees and paying taxes and hope they don't take our house or deport my wife someday. I voted for Clinton and deeply regrett it. I'm a born "real" American and I would rather have all of Mexico here than to have one INS Natzi at the border (or in the White House). The legagcy of Hitler lives on in the U.S. Land of the Free. America is turning into a laughing stock on the international scene.

My name is Ralph W. Hesselbach,I'm a Disabled Viet Nam Veteran on a 70 % disability from theV.A. for wounds sustained in war.I have lived in this country
for 37 years.On Aug. 12th INS took me from my home and said that I will be deported.I was arrested in 1994 served my time (1yr.) finished my parole in July of 1997 and now four years after my arrest they want to deport me.There is not one living soul that I know in Germany all my family is here my daughter, son, grand-daughter, brother and my 73year old Mother.I'm also on life sustaining drugs.My court date is September 14th 1998. If there is any help Your
orginization could provide I would be most thankful.

Hi, my name is Robin Adamson and I am an American Citizen. I met my Australian husband over a year and a half ago. He came here last December 97 for Christmas and a visit. We got married on February 2, 1998 and because where he worked he had to appear in person and prove to them he was moving here. He also wanted me to see his country and understand him. All my life I have been abused by men when finally I met my soul mate, and life here was so wonderful. I had already bought my airplane tickets and had my passport in my other name and was told by a lawyer I could go to Australia and when I returned we can take care of the paperwork to keep my husband here. I went over to Australia for the best three week honeymoon one could ever hope for. The day came when we were to return home and we had flown for 14 hours and upon arriving at LA airport, he was pulled out of line and sent to the authorities. We both were traveling single as the tickets were already bought that way before we had married. He was asked the question was I has wife, and because he never lies we told the truth and our story. We were then notified after being detained that we were misinformed and in the end they sent him back to Australia that night. They treated him like a criminal fingerprinted him and then took him to a roach infested motel and left me to be at the LA airport for over 14 hours all alone with all the baggage. A man collecting money for the poor came to my rescue to help me and I waited until my husbands flight was to leave when I saw him one last time, it was the most painful thing I had to do and that was to say goodby. I was told to go home and do a petition I-130 and he would be back with me in 6 months. I did do that and texas received in April 28. When we checked in July they were only working on October 97 applications. As of September 1 they are in January 98 so im praying they reach him soon. You see we have a home, and he has 2 step children, im working full time days and part time nights from 1 to whenever and then i go to my day job to save our home as he gave up everything to be with us. He is also stuck in Australia with no job, car, nothing but a suitcase and I dont know if I can hold up until he gets home. I am praying he gets here for christmas. I realize there are rules but when misinfomred is there nothing that can be done. I miss my husband so much and dont want to loose what I have worked for all my life, finally a man that loves me for me and also my children. If you would like to email me with any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated, my email is bluesc@bbtel.com . Thank you for reading my story.

As I write this to you, I am in tears. About a year ago, I met the most wonderful man. He is kind, generous and supportive. We fell in love. During the process of coming to know him, I discovered that he was living in the US illegally. This made me sad and nervous, but love or the value of a person can not be judged by race, color, language or citizenship status. My heart can't see any of these things and it makes me very sad to realize that the hearts of our of lawmakers and of many
people in this "melting pot" of a country are blinded to the goodness in a person simply by the place in which they were born. I was fortunate enough to be born an American citizen. However, my grandmother was not born in the United States. Fortunately for her and my family, the hearts of people were not as calloused then. During her life, she was able to gain the rights of an American citizen. Unfortunately, for my child which will be born in December, the hearts of Americans have
become blind to their history. I know that my husband, my child and I will always have to live in fear of his deportation. I am very sad to know that I must teach my child this fear. I wish I had an option, I wish I knew the cruelty of this system was a bit less willing to leave my child and I living in proverty if our sole source of support, my husband, is deported. I pray God for an answer to this problem however, my mind does not easily find one. I guess I can only wait for God to shine a light of goodness into the hearts of those callous minds which have created and enforced this law.

The IIRIRA of 1996 is the most unfair and cruel set of laws ever to exist in the United States. It is hard to believe that a country that professes to stand for human rights would violate human rights in such a cruel way itself. There are more than a couple parts of the new laws that are senseless and and serve no purpose except to be mean and hateful toward immigrants. A couple in particular are the new rules for people who want to apply for a green card on the basis of having U.S. citizen spouses and children. The family in the U.S. must earn a pretty hefty income or the immigrant will not be allowed to join his family. No matter that the immigrant has
several job offers from former employers in the U.S. No matter that the immigrants wife and child are disabled and on SSI and cannot work to earn the income that the INS insists on. No matter that the family is dependant on the income of the immigrant visa applicant to live on but he is not allowed to join his family and support them BECAUSE they are not already rich!!! Make sense? I think not!! Another cruel part of the law is the part that says the INS can consider even minor misdemeanors to be "aggravated felonies" for their own purposes. This is unbelievable. I wonder if ANY person in government can honestly say tht they or anyone else related to them has never been arrested for a minor misdemeanor or drunk driving or anything at all.

Hello everyone! These last couple of months have been very stressful to me. I cannot begin to tell you how much I can relate to all of you. I thought I was one of the few with a "special case," and realize that I'm not alone. I came to this the US over 10 years ago when I was 12 and have since then graduated from High School and college. I have a BSME and have not asked for help from the government. I believe I am a productive member of society and I do not have a criminal record. I follow the law and pay taxes. I recently got married to a U.S. citizen and because of that my status has changed. And now things are up in the air. There are worse cases out there, but if I were to go back to my country, I would suffer just the same. These laws are too general and do not consider that there are legitimate cases when the circumstances should be looked at closer. I am not upset with the US and with most of the citizens as I have been treated fair (there are always some ignorant people out there). But, I believe that immigrants are the soil from which this country has grown and flourished. There are exceptions and not all immigrants are the same. But, for those of us who have been here for some time, and have shown to be responsible and productive, more so than some citizens, should be allowed to give back to the country which we have learned to be proud to be a part of. Will this ever be read by the people who really need to? Probably not, but at least it gives us a sense of belonging and it gives us a place to discharge all these emotions.

My fiance is a law abiding citizen. He is currently appealing his order of deportation based on the new immigration laws. He was convicted of a minor misdeamenor 5 years ago and was sentenced to 3 years probation and a $1000 fine. He was a first time offender and has paid his fines. Why is he being punished twice based on the AEDPA act? Why are they wasting their time and money trying to deport individuals who are not criminals? Also, how can a law be retroactive? This law also does not provide any relief or a chance to be heard in court! This law is clearly unconstitutional!!!! It's ashame that people are suffering from this. I know that I, his two children, and family who are all U.S. citizens will be devasted if this happens! This law needs to be ammended immediately!!!

MY HUSBAND A CITIZEN OF INDIA, LEGAL RESIDENT OF USA , LIVED IN USA SINCE 1979, BECAME LEGAL RESIDENT AROUND 1982-1984. COMMITTED A FELONY AON AUGUST 6, 1986, SEVERED HIS SENTENCE OF 30 MONTHS, WHICH ENDED 1991 NOVEMBER. HAS NOT PENDING CHARGES, HAD PAID ALL TAXES. MY HUSBAND WAS RETURNING FROM OVERSEAS TRIP 1997 DECEMBER TO MIAMI, AND WAS DETAINED AT INS CAMP AND FINALLY AFTER 2-3 MONTHS OF DETAINMENT, SIGNED DEPORTATION, UNDER THE RETROACTIVE INS LAW REFERED BY YOU. I AM USA CITIZEN, MY 3 CHILDREN ARE ALSO USA BORN USA CITIZEN, AND WE HAVE THE STRONG DESIRE TO SUPPORT AND FIGHT FOR THE OVERTURN OF THIS RATHER VERY HARSH LAW. BY ANY STANDARD THIS LAW DOES NOT BELONG TO THE USA, WHICH IS A COUNTRY THAT PREACHES DEMOCRAACY, FREEDOM AND LIBERTY FOR ALL.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT KIND OF HELP, SUPPORT I CAN PROVIDE. WE HAVE WRITTEN TO SEVERAL CONGRESSMEN, SENATORS, INCLUDING JANET RENO'S OFFICE TOO,WITHOUT MUCH LUCK. MY HUSBAND EVEN APPLIED FOR A NON-IMMIGRATE WAIVER AT A FOREIGN EMBASSY, AND THAT REQUEST ALTHOUGH RECOMMENDED BY THE U.S.CONSUL TO INS, WAS DENIED BY THE INS DESK AT THE EMBASSY. NEEDLESS TO SAY ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT MYSELF AND OUR 3 CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING UNDER THE ABOVE UNJUST AND UNFAIR LAW. MY HUSBAND IS NOT A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY ,AND WAS INFACT ELIGBILE FOR USA CITIZENSHIP BEFORE THIS LAW AS ENACTED.

July 28, 1998

To Whom It Concerns:

I write this letter to you today, hoping that somewhere, someone can offer me some help. My fiance was born in Germany in 1977. When he was five years old his mother was brutally raped and murdered. He was legally adopted by his aunt, and has been here in the U.S. since 1982. He does not read, write, or speak German.
When he was seventeen years old, he fell in with a 'bad crowd' and got into doing some things he should not have done. He didn't even fully realize the seriousness of the crimes he committed. He regrets the mistakes he made, and he's serving time for those mistakes. (None of his crimes were violent. They were theft related.) Now as he is reaching the end of his prison sentence almost three and a half years later, he is going to be deported back to Germany. Behind he leaves a heartbroken family: two sisters, two brothers, an aunt, a cousin, as well as myself. The heartbreak of him going to prison was hard enough, but now to lose him across an ocean for a period exceeding his prison sentence is absolutely devastating! I am watching the man I love, get deported back to a country, where he no longer knows the language, and his only living relative remaining in Germany is a grandfather who is in failing health that he barely knows. His grandfather rarely ever showed an interest in the family, and therefore my fiance had virtually no contact with him. When his grandfather was asked if he could help in giving my fiance a place to stay temporarily, he informed us that there was nothing he would be able to do for him. Making the situation even more complicated is my custody situation. I have split custody with the father of my two daughters, ages 6 and 7. Therefore, if I were to go with my fiance to Germany, I would be giving up my daughters, and if I stay I would be giving up the man I love, (and who my daughters love as well.) So many would probably be quick to say "Who cares? He broke the law, and he's getting what he deserves." But how many upstanding, law-abiding citizens have had someone close to them someone that they love, that has messed up somewhere along the way. A son, a daughter, a brother, or a sister- who maybe broke the law, or got involved with drugs, or some other type of negative behavior? It's really easy not to care until it's someone close to you someone that YOU LOVE! Then it becomes a different story. In writing this letter, I am hoping to find an ear that will listen, and hopefully be able to help. In addition, I hope to bring forward others who may share my plight, so that we may come together and with the strong voice of unity, perhaps we can bring forth CHANGE! Something must be done to stop what is happening, right here in our own country! These new laws are not fair or just!! Families are being ripped apart. It is both devastating and heartbreaking. In fact, it's downright shameful. Just the mention of the INS fills me with anger and disgust. This has become a nightmare for all of us.

Hi, first i would like to thank you for providing me with an opportunity to tell my story.
I have a best friend who moved to the United States about six years ago, she finished high school here and was very excited about going to college, but her dreams were shatered when she found out she could not get a loan from the government or the school, or the banks becouse she is not a US citizen. She went to the immigrations office, and showed them all her papers, but they told her that there was nothing they could do she has to apply and wait just like everybody else.
She also recently got married to a wonderfull guy whom she loves very much, and as far a i thought when you get married to a US citizen you get your temporary greencard to then later receive a permanent one. But I was wrong, It turns out that she has to wait for more than two years and she just can't do that she wants to start her life now and have the american dream. I feel realy bad bocouse she is a wonderfull person and she deserves to go to school and get the same help as me or other American citizens
I wanted to do something to help her so I went on line and foud you guys, but it seems to me ,the more i keep reading about this new law that was sighned by Clinton in 1996 the more I realize that its going to be even harder on her in the future.
WHY DOESN'T ANYBODY CARE??????
What can i do to help her? Can you help me understand more??.

Hello. My name is Paul Silva, and my families relationship with this country goes back almost fifty years . My two oldest uncles had been living here since the early 50's, both of which served in the military and even fought in the Korean war. The wish for a more fulfilling and prosperous life drew my parents here, and thus, in 1965, they too made the move to the U.S., taking along with them my three older brothers and my older sister. Myself and two others were born here in this country, and so although, our family is Mexican in roots, it is American in nature. My reason for writing to this forum is my search for answers and perhaps help with my families current problems, brought on by these new Immigration laws. One of my older brothers faces deportation, and although he has a son and common law wife who are both citizens, he will be sent back (?) to Mexico because of his criminal conviction. It's hard enough to try to straighten out your life after you've served jail time, but problems and stress can mount two fold when your whole world and sense of security are yanked from underneath your feet. Triple, in this case, since other Immigration laws are also affecting the government aid my parents have been receiving for years. You'd think that since you've been living here all this time, abided the laws, followed all rules and tried living a decent life that there would be some safety, but no! Every lawyer we've spoken to in regards to my brother's case tells us that things look grim, and anti-Immigrant resentment grows more everyday. Hopefully, there is a voice strong enough to be heard by those governing bodies of power who have made these laws, and if they do hear it, may compassion win out.

I'm a white female citizen who has been married to a hispanic from chile for 22 years. We have two sons age 20 an d 16. Spouse has had green card for 25 years and had never broken the law until 1990. He after being in his country for a visit got involved with a freind who was being survailed by the feds for 6 months. He helped the day of arrest only. Since the goverment was trying to sell to his freind of course they were caught the day of what the government calls a re verse sting.
My husband was charged with conspirisy to by but given the lesser charge of monylaudering. He was taped saying he needed money to help his family. Moneylaudering charge was given to get a lessor sentence. It was not a deportable offense when he was sentenced. but they applied it to him retroactivly.
He served 3 and 1/2 years. got out lived a experily life. got off probation early an d received a 212 waiver from an immagraion judge which she said his family ties and solid clean life in the US out weighed his conviction. And he proved her right by 3 years of totally clean record on all counts of life. INS appealed and because we had little money chose a unreliable lawyern and did not tell us he failed to respond to the Appeal and we lost automatically . when we went to appeal and 5th curciit denied under new law /no jurisdiction. He was demanded to turn himself in 3years later which he was jailed for 1 month. We filed a habis corpis which the judge said she beleived he had a right to stay but under the new law she had no jurisdiction.
The 1st curciut in boston and one other has now ruled that retroactive is un constitututional. Ibeleive the INS played by crooked rules to deport my husband.
And I beleive I could win if I sued them, I also was in the front page ohf Houston Chronicle 5-31-98

my brother was born in ireland but has been living in this country since he was sixteen. Our parents never filled out the naturalization papers that they could have easily done and now he is up for a hearing on deportation . he is now 44 years old . He risked his life for the u.s while in the u.s marine corps. they don't concider this at all. He has a teenage son whom needs him here. they say that doesn't matter and the most inhumane thing of all is that he has had open heart surgery twice already and needs another surgery in the near future, if he is depoted back to ireland he would have to live there foe 3 years until he could get medical coverage, he does not have that long to wait. He is being deported because of a veery small amount of cocaine that a girlfriend at the time put in his pocket and he was cought with it. he could have fought and won at that time which was over ten years ago., but he just pleaded guilty and paid the $100.00 fine, he didn't realize the implications in his future. He is a wonderful father, brother and son. We are all american citizens. and he should be too. this is too too much for him to handle , the stress could in alreality kill him because his heart is weak and he can't even sleep anymore. His son, who was born here needs him desperately and we need help to save him if anyone who has any ideas in how they could help please contact me. also the immigration lawyer wants $10,000 (his sons college tuition) to handle his case for the hearing . Yet the experts say he has barely a prayer. so how can he afford to loose that much money?????.

I'm a family member affected by this new immigration laws. My son a permanent resident of the U.S is facing deportation due to a felony he comitted in 1992. He broke probation n 1997 due to a fight he had in a local club. While he was in probation he had changed his life around which included going to a community college ,and other things to keep kim out of trouble. However, he faced this last mistake which he thought it was nothing major, but he broke probation sending him to prison. He know faces deportation. What I know is that if they deport my son , he would be going to a country he hardly even know anything abou, since he came to the U.S when he was only 5 yars of age. He is 22 know and has a daughter of 3 years of age and is a born citizen. What hearts me the most ,is that he would be apart from his daughter and us in cause he faces deportation. I personally think that the 1996 immigration laws should'nt act retroactivally ,cause that would hurt alot of families and those U.S residents that fall in that category

In may of 1997 my whife was deported out of the country.We were traying to get her deportation case open by INS by they denied a few time. I'm a U.S. Citizen i was rob by my owm lawyer more than $3000.00 U.S. dollar .
The only way i got the cituation back was going and do the things by miseslf.

I am writing this letter in the hope that someone somewhere can stop the nightmare that my family is now living. My fiance was born in Italy in 1964 moved to the US when he was 2 and has lived here all his life. His brothers were born here and his entire family are US ciizens. He does not read, write or speak the language and knows no one there. My love, friend and partner is now in INS custody and is awaiting deportation proceedings. He is the most gentle loving man I have ever known and would NEVER hurt anyone. In 1995 he was convicted of burglary. Before 1995 he had never been in trouble. He knows what he did was a mistake and he has paid for his crime for the last 3yrs in prison. Suddenly days before his release he was told the INS had a detainer for criminal deportation. If he is deported he will be subject to an addition incareration for failing to serve in the Italian military. He has been in America for 32yrs. According to this Immigration Reform Law his crime is considered an aggravated felony even though it was a non-violent crime. This law is devastating families like ours. Unfortunately 2yrs ago I was diagnosed with an incurable liver disease and his absence has been unbearable. All my time is now spent trying to see justice done and it is so physically and mentally exhausting. It is hard for me to believe the country that I have loved could participate in such inhumanity. I have believed when you do something wrong you pay for it but this is in essence a life sentence for both of us. My medical insurance and our families (including my children) are in America.

I just finished reading Vince's letter. I am the U.S. Citizen wife of a long time legal resident alien from Canada, currently in deportation proceedings because of the new law. Our story is not unlike yours. After begging lawmakers to listen for several months, I decided to it was time for all of us in this situation to stand together. I have formed a coalition called Citizens and Immigrants for Equal Justice. If you would like to join us in our objective to get these laws amended before they destroy more families, please contact us a VARIE18187@aol.com. Together we can make a difference.

Hi, My name is Vince. I am 32 years old. My family moved to the United States from Canada was I was a year old. I have lived in the U.S. for 31 years and have never really considered myself to be Canadian. When I was 24 I plead guilty to a felony charge. I made ammends for my crime and paid the penalties the law required. Last Friday I recieved a letter from the INS asking me to appear at a meeting with the INS on Mar 27th. It did not tell why they wanted to see me or any details at all as to what was happening. I contacted an immigration attorney fearing that there may be something serious happening to me. He told me a new law had been passed and that because of this new law I was going to be deported. My life changed that very moment. I couldn't believe that I would be deported to a country where I do not know a single person and have no job no place to live. So far everyone I have talked to says there is no hope and I will be deported. What is the sense in this. I was convicted 8 years ago. I have gone on to have a productive life. I own my own corporation. I pay taxes and I have not done a thing wrong in the past 8 years since I was convicted. Some of the losses I will face now are hard to put into words or to try and add up to really get an idea of the severity of this action the U.S. has decided to take. Things like family gatherings weddings,birthdays,funerals. My parents and one brother are the only family I have ever had. We all came here 31 years ago and have no other relatives in the U.S.. Apparently I do have some cousins in Canada but because I grew up in the U.S. I never really got to know any of them except for the 2 day visit every 3 or 4 years. What happens when mom or dad passes away? I can not attend the funeral I can not grieve with my family. I have a beautiful niece (16) and a handsome nephew (14) who I have always thought of as my own because I have no children. Now I can not share in the pride of their graduation or weddings. Everything I call home is hear in Minnesota. The schools I went to the neighborhood I grew up in all my friends and support are here. To move is one thing but to be told to leave and that you can not ever come back, my God know one can imagine how horrible a nightmare this is. I truely believe God can work miracles in this situation and lets prey that he does.

I am an immigrant who came to the U.S. 19 years ago at age 15. I am married to a U.S. citizen and the father of two boys ages 9 and 4. The strong possibility exists that I will be deported and seperated from my family. Recent changes in immigration law makes it impossible for me to adjust my status. At age 19 I plead guilty to a small drug charge and was placed on probation. Upon completion of my probation the record was sealed (first offender statute), and under Florida law I do not have a criminal conviction. However for INS purposes I am considered a convicted drug offender. Prior to changes in the laws, I was advised by attorneys that my only hope of adjusting my status was to wait and apply after 10 years for suspension of deportation. At that time I was told I would have to make a case before a judge showing rehabilitation and that extreme hardship would befall my family. This provision has now been removed and I am now being told that I have no hope of adjusting my status as there is no longer any judicial discretion. The new laws reflect America's rightful disgust with drugs, but the American concept of fairness seems to have disappeared. I have spent most of my life in the U.S. and my immediate family are all U.S. residents or citizens. The new law also forever forbids me from visiting my family should I choose relieve myself of this millstone by returning to my native country. My boys will face the same problems as I did, growing up without a father in the home. Currently my family is living the American dream. My wife and myself are both college educated and we own a comfortable home. If and when I am deported they will begin to live the American nightmare.I fully understand the need to exclude "criminals" from the U.S. however summary judgement without review seems unduly harsh. My hope is that Congress will see fit to put some discretion back into the process. Thanks to Micasa for this site, and the oppurtunity to speak. Keep up the good work. D.

My husband entered this country (USA) legally, as a student, about 23 years ago. We have been married for over 16 years and have two children. My husband is a self-employed, hard working, tax paying man, who is devoted to me and our children. On February 25, 1997 a posse of INS agents entered our home and abducted my husband because at some vague point twenty some-odd years ago he failed to do his paperwork. Our children are living through a nightmare that most Amricans only see on TV happening in some other country. I had to fire our employee (a single parent, an American) and found myself struggling to run the business. We have lost our life savings, the cash value in our life insurance and may soon loose our home. Our children are traumatized. Yet the INS does not see this as 'extreme hardship' and have not issued him a return visa. I have spent the past nine months in a circuitous labrynth of paperwork hell, filing petition after petition, but with no movement.!! The same week my husband was abducted and exiled by the INS, my brother was assaulted and nearly killed by an illegal alien. The US says it's OK for that alien to stay here. What is missing in this picture? Compassion. Good common sense. A regard for human rights... How can the US possibly benefit from excluding a tax paying family man, whose wife and children will face a lifetime of hardship without him? How is this possibly portecting the USA, our community or these American children? Maybe you have some insight?

People of the world, please do not let this web site die out. It is here that we can speak out against the cruel abuses that our free and democratic government is subjecting us to. The Abuse of Power by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service is absolutely repulsive, and it is time that WE did something about it. I have just read all the heart breaking stories here in the townmeeting and I am so thoroughly disgusted that I know in my heart of hearts that I will not be able to sleep tonight. My hopes, my wishes, and my prayers goes out to everyone who is or will be affected by IIRAIRA. I also hope that we can pull together to fight this anti-american law....FOR MANY SINGLE SMALL VOICES CAN UNITE INTO ONE SINGLE LOUD CRY FOR JUSTICE!!!!!! I am/will be affected by this incomprehensible law. I am American (although at times like this I am ashamed to admit it). I am well-educated and a hard worker. I love to travel and I am open to new people, customs, and experiences. I love my country, but I also realizethat we are certainly not always right....I am now engaged to an illegal Mexican immigrant. He is wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better soul mate. I love him with all of my heart and the mere thought that I may have to spend three years without him makes my stomach wrench in pain. If he is forced to leave this country -- the country that both he and I call home -- I will be forced leave too. He IS my world. My country--my home will be kicking me out as well. That kills me. My mother was an immigrant she moved here in the 1950's from Canada. My father was a first-generation American (his family came from Germany). Yet, despite this ancestoral history, I am considered an American. And am supposed to be proud of this....my American forefathers raped, murdered, and robbed the true Americans of their rights as human beings. And now my government wants me to support them in this inhumame law. I simply won't and can't do it when that law my force me from my country. Don't forget that the men and the women who gave their lives for this country came from a variety a backgrounds and nationalities yet, they were all fighting for the American dream. We can not let that dream slip away. A concerned soon without-country American.

Hi, I would like to tell the american public that NOT every citizen of a developing or third world country wants to live in the US!!!. Altough it may appear that way. I worked for four years as a Registered Nurse in my country of origen, I was single and yet unable to make ends meet as a result of the staggering Economical Crisis in my country. I was viewed, treated and called "maid" by my ridiculously wealthy patients. Despite all of these, I still did not want to leave my sisters and nephews, who are my only living relatives. But,I had to. I have seen my circumstances repeated over and over again. Highly qualified professionals leaving everything behind for the shear reason of financial need. Believe me, it was no fun coming to this country where,even before you can understand the language, you know exactly how unwelcome you are. Where everything is driven by the desire of having more and more money. All we are seeking is a simple and stable life. Yes, I have heard the "those mexicans that come to take our jobs away" frase many times at my office... no, I don't clean it. I work as a researcher. That's the fun part, when people around you realized too late that you ARE one of "them". Don't worry, my refusal to allow ignorance and bigotry to ruin my life is my best response. Well, as just wanted to tell the american people that we are not all illiterate farmers...but we all hurt the same.

Hi, I'm Mexican. My name is "Juan Doe". I have finished with my GED but I have been working in this country, paying taxes, supporting Americans who don't want to work. Now I'm taking classes at the University. But I'm sure you don't want to hear that. All you want Mexicans to do here in your country is to pick grapes, but not to be able to read or to speak English. That makes you happy. I have been in your country and I have learned to be racist. That is what your country has taught me: not to like people that are darker than me, I guess, because I am a light-skinned Mexican. When I came to this country, I didn't speak much English, but as time went by I realized that this country is, as any other country, with poverty and riches both. As much as I want to graduate here in the United States, I must just tell you that I won't tolerate this ignorance. I am here producing for me and for your country. I am not taking anybody's job. I work hard for my money and I study hard for my school. Send me back. I'm sure that's what you want. Certainly I won't beg you. The only thing I can tell you is that what goes around comes around. So much for the land of opportunity. I am sorry, if I misspelled anything or if my grammar is not correct, but I'm sure I'm not the only one. Gracias.

I am very concerned as a U.S. Citizen that my country has gone off the deep end and created a law that will be devastating to so many families, however, I had not heard about the law really until reading an article in the paper yesterday and in asking my friends about it they were not aware of any immigration laws that had changed or the horrible effect the law is having on so many families and when I showed them the article or many I was talking with over the telephone and asked them to read the newspaper, they were shocked and had not heard about the law and how the young children of this country would be placed in such inhumane consequences. Please understand that most of the citizens of this country have no clue about immigration and in fact, may not ever say the word immigration but 5 times in their lives because we are born here and we have no real understanding of what is involved in immigrating to this country, why would we? If you want the public to know about this law and how it is affecting families you need to be LOUD and broadcast, broadcast, broadcast get these stories in the news, newspapers, blast the media with the impact of these families being destroyed. When I read in the paper, which of course is something that was just there and I read it, I am shocked of how this law is so inhumane and this is the first I have heard of this law and how it is going to affect families. I was looking on the internet this morning and wanted to see what other information or stories I could find on this and of course, the stories I have read are very sad and I can certainly see this is going to be horrible for so many people and young children. I hope that the people going through these horrible situations will get their stories out and let the people hear them. Maybe contacting their local news people, their local newspaper people, marching in the streets - you know that gets a lot of attention, it has helped other minority groups in the past as history as shown us. Anyway, my prayers are with the people who are under such persecution and I hope that the families will survive.

Hello my name is Ruben Madrigal and I'm a student at Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, Ca. I have been browsing through your page and I have to say, tension is built in. My mother has been living in this country for over fifteen years and never did she complain about the law or the government,until now. Her husband past away last year. Her only source of income was a few food stamps and some monies she would recieve every month. Which was to feed a family of three. Now one thing I don't understand is, her money was reduced by 30% her food stamps taken away. She is left to borrow money from people so she could pay the bills. The lady is fifty-five, diabetic but, the government want her to find a job! Who in their right mind is going to hire a fifty-five year-old lady with diabeties who can barely walk down the street without filling nauseated and has to return home!!! I feel enraged hao the government has put provisions and restrictions and in return hurt the people who need the help the most. Without any money left from her late husband she has to find a new way to come up with 100.00 dollars to summit an application to the I.N.S for citizenship.

I am a registered nurse working in an urgent care clinic. I have seen many "illegals" with injuries brought in by their employers for medical care due to injuries suffered on the job. These employers are paying for this care out of their own pockets. They are not draining our "social security" resources. Recently I tended to a lovely, articulate young lady from Costa Rica who has suffered many times from burns to her arms but had hidden them from her employer so not to draw attention to herself. Finally the burn that brought her in did not escape their notice and I found that she was beside herself that she would be caught since she was working here in a local grocery store while on a visitors visa. She and her husband want desperately to work here and make a better life for themselves, and to send the little that they can back home to their families. Please where is the crime in this? This woman was doing a job that not one spoiled teenager in my city would want to do. It is hard work and dangerous, as her injuries reveal. But she wanted nothing more than to continue to work. Her real distress was they she will be sent back to Costa Rica. I could not stand it any longer. These hard working eager people deserve a chance to WORK, not to live off our social programs. They contribute immensely to our economy. I welcome these people, I want this woman as my neighbor. She was one of the noblest people I have ever met.

Hello, I came to this country legally as a 10-year-old kid with parents were on a temporary work visa. In 1986 my parents have applied and been approved for Permanent Residency and were told by INS that it'd take approximately 4 years for the PR interview and the Green Card. My parents didn't feel right to have an approved Permanent Residency petition and at the same time renew our (temporary) non-immigrant visa. About TEN years later, in 1996, the INS'd finally contacted my parents and they went through a month of grueling interrogation-interview and got their PR. But by that time I have already turned 21 and was no longer eligible as a dependent minor child of my parents. So I became an illegal undocumented alien. I am almost 25 years old now and I have lived most of my life in this country. My "first" language is English now and I have lost most of the Chinese I've learned as a child. I hold a Master's degree in engineering and am expecting a Ph.D. in a year and a half. All of this and I'm still compelled to leave this country, because of the IIRAIRA, because of some stupid mistake my parents made when I was still in junior high, because I may now adjust my status ONLY in my home country, Taiwan, where I face mandatory conscription into its military for three years for being an able-bodied male under 35. I don't understand what has happened to this country with which I have grown to identify. I AM an American by every measure but because of my paperwork (or the lack thereof) I hold membership in the faceless amalgam of "illegals" who are somehow the dregs of the American society and "burden" to the public. It is politically expedient to sacrifice us. And we are expendable. If this were truly the "American Century," the Americans are doing a great job in ending it this way. I care and fear for the future of America, we ALL do. It's a pity most Americans cannot or refuse to see that, a pity most Americans don't vote, a pity most Americans don't stand up and organize for those standing in line behind them. This "we got it... now screw you!" attitude is not the basis on which this country was founded. But then what do little illegals like me know about this country anyways? - b.c.

Please see my recent posting in the Roundtable section. I would sincerely like to hear from anyone who could offer some sort of helpful advice on this rather unique deportation matter. If anyone is familiar with how deportation can be avoided by citing the section of the law regarding "crime of moral turpitude" (first and only offence) I would be ever so grateful. Thank you.

My wife arrived Chicago on H1A visa in Sept. 95 and I and our two children followed her as H-4. The H1A program ended and an EB-3 petition was filed and approval obtained. In June 96 we filed our adjustment of status applications and received our employment authorization cards. In the meantime we fell out of status and the new law was passed. Until we attended our interview this May we didn't know there was a problem. To our shock, we were told by the adjudicator that we filed our I-485 applications when there were no visas available. From nowhere, visas became unavailable In June (was current until May, 95). Under the harsh provisions of the new law we have to leave the country by Sept. 27 to avoid the 3 year bar. We have bought a house by putting a large down payment from our earnings in the middle east and have made other commitments. We are awaiting to see if visa would become current by next month or the 245 (i) provision would be extended. We hope and pray for that. Is there anything we can do? Our chilren are enrolled in school here. We are in a very bad situation and will take a great financial loss if we have to leave. It took a lot of time and money to establish here.

(this is the letter I wrote to a congressman and President Clinton) Dear Sir, I am writing to you as a despaired wife and young mother. I will be forced to become a single mother, separated from my husband. Our happy family is on the verge of destruction because of the new immigration law. My husband and I both came to the United States as a F-1 students. I arrived in this free land in 1989, and reunited with my husband (then boy friend) one and a half years later. During the past eight years, we both worked extremely hard, earning four Master's degrees between us. At the same time, we have also been assimilated into the American culture . I am currently working for a university, and my husband is pursuing another advanced degree. We got married in 1994 and has now a lovely 8 month old son. We hope to have another kid next year and buy a house. We firmly believed that if we work hard in the United States, our American dream can, and will one day be realized. We also hope to contribute to this land that has been good to us. However, our beautiful American dreams have been cruelly crushed by the new immigration law. My husband has been in the queue for a Green Card ever since I petitioned for a green card for him as a permanent resident in 1994. According to the previous immigration law, he can stay in the United States to wait for the green card. Therefore he didn't renew his F-1 student status or change to another status when it expired. However, the 1996 immigration law changed that policy, leaving people who abided by it victims of the changes. My husband will be forced to leave the United States in September this year, and cannot return to his family in America until his green card waiting period has ended. According to current waiting period, he will have to return to China and be separated from his wife and his young son for at least three years. Our eight-month old son, an American citizen, will grow up in a fatherless household. My husband will never be able to see how his baby grows up in his first three years of life. I will be forced to become a single mother, juggling between a full-time job and my young son in poor health, without physical or moral support from my dear husband. My husband and I are both near our mid thirties, but we don't dare to have another kid now. Since the situation in China is highly unstable, this temporary separation may be longer, and can even mean goodbye. Every day we are living with an unspeakable pain and fear that we will never see each other again. A happy family is on the verge of destruction, not due to natural disaster, but due to the new immigration law. The United States is a humane society that respects human rights and strong family values. I do not believe, and cannot believe, that it will allow an inhumane thing such as forcing a wife to be separated from a husband, and a baby to be separated from a father to happen. Mr. ..., as a law maker of the free world, you are the representative of humanities, human rights, and democracy. As immigrants in a new land, we may make mistakes, but we are law-abiding people. We do not wish under any circumstances to violate the law. I don't know where else to turn to but you. I wish you can help me so my husband can stay in the United States with me and his baby while he is waiting for his green card. Please help me.

With the 1996 I N A that took effect recently making it more difficult for aliens like myself to seek relief under the 240 proceedings, I am left with no other alternative but to leave the United States, with my wife behind, sell properties we own, find her a safe place to stay, etc. and go back to my country to wait for her to adjust status before re-applying back as an immigrant, my case being dependent so much upon my wife's adjustment for permanent residency under Labor Certification Laws for healthcare workers of which the I N S is still at a stand still being so critical about its position in the implementation of these new provisions. Unfortunately , the time given me for extension of voluntary departure is to expire July 1, 1997 and it will be certain that I will be separated from my wife, my job, my home, and everything that freedom and democracy stand for if she cannot adjust before that time. I am ready to depart and had expressed willingness to do so before, although my main concern is my wife being very much dependent upon me for her motor skills and dealing with other people and most of all for emotional support. Nearly dying of cerebral aneurysm while taking a shower on the evening of March 9, 1992, she was just lucky enough to be able to dial 911 with the paramedics finding her lying down the bathtub unconcious while hot water scald her legs. I got a call later that evening that she was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition and then found out that she has to undergo surgery as soon as possible to have the aneurysm clipped. After three holes being drilled through her skull and sawed through each other and an agonizing month later she was released and had to undergo six months of physical therapy. They say she's recovered and sent her back to work but to this very day, I still feel that I am her light and her staff. Her guide to everyday living.If family unity is one goal of this immigration reform, the opposite is true to me. I have been in this country seven straight years since May 1990, never availed of any welfare privileges and had contributed to social security since 1985 with a report from the social securuty office dated December 1996 to attest to that.

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ARCHIVES TWO - Stories between November, 1998 and June, 1997

...Honest Voices Speak Out About the IIRAIRA Law:

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