Some Illegal Immigrants Are More Illegal Than Others
With apologies to Will Rogers, there are a lot of folks back in my native Central California who never met an illegal immigrant they liked.
That is, until recently. Many residents of Fresno, CA are experiencing warm and fuzzy feelings for 17-year-old illegal immigrant and high school valedictorian Arthur Mkoyan. Until a few days ago, Arthur was slated for deportation back to his native Armenia along with his parents. You see, all three are illegal immigrants. The family also includes Arthur’s 12-year-old brother, a U.S.-born citizen who the family had planned to take with them if forced to leave the country.
According to the Fresno Bee, Arthur’s father came to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1991, and sought political asylum. Arthur and his mother joined him a few years later. When the family’s asylum application was rejected, and their appeals in court were denied, the U.S. government began deportation proceedings.
The family was granted an extension of the deportation order so that Arthur could attend his graduation from high school; that extension was to expire on June 20th.
By now, the family would be on their way out of the country. If not for one thing: Fresno has a sizable and powerful Armenian community, and this became a cause celebre. Armenian groups pressured local politicians. There was also support for the young man on talk radio and the Internet.
But what the family really needed was for someone in Congress to introduce a rare private immigration bill to grant legal status to Arthur and his parents. This week, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced such a bill. While not likely to pass, the legislation can be re-introduced each year. And the deportation process is frozen until Congress resolves the matter. So the bill has the effect of keeping Arthur and his parents in the United States indefinitely.
That’s good news for the family and their supporters. And, in a way, it makes good sense. Here you have an all-American kid who hasn’t seen Armenia since he was a toddler. He doesn’t belong there. Besides, these are precisely the kind of young people we should want to keep — and not export.
But is it good for the country, and good for the integrity of our immigration laws?
I don’t think so. I think Arthur and his parents should be deported. After all, I have to be consistent. I said the same thing in 2002 about Jesus Apodaca, an honors student in Denver, who also faced deportation and also got a legislative reprieve — from Democratic Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Another member of Congress tried to push Apodaca out of the country and all but pack his bags. Anti-illegal immigration crusader Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, pressured the Immigration and Naturalization Service to deport Apodaca. Tancredo was cheered on at the time by anti-immigration hardliners, who fret there are too many Mexicans in the United States having too big impact on the culture and language.
Those groups were uncharacteristically silent about the scofflaw Arthur Mkoyan. And I suspect that many of the same folks in the Central Valley who have been demanding mercy for this young man, six years ago, had very little to offer another.
There should be one standard in these cases, and it should based on the law and the individual circumstances — and not influenced by nativism, prejudice or cultural hysteria.
Consider the email I received from a reader spelling out the differences between Armenian and Mexican immigrants while insisting that “we have more than we can stand” of the latter. She even made up a list of 15 ways in which Armenians were not like Mexicans. My favorite: “Armenians don’t eat foods that produce large amounts of intestinal gases.” Personally, I think that lady is full of beans.
So congratulations, Arthur. The law may not have been on your side. But, in the minds of many of your supporters, you had at least one thing going for you: You aren’t Mexican.
Good for you.
I don’t know too much about Arthur’s story, but it strikes me as a classic “immigrating to America to find freedom” story, especially since he’s Armenian. You know, some immigrant family happily arrives at the United States after years of oppression from their communist / totalitarian motherland, and their grandkids achieve the American dream years later. More American than apple pie and bound to warm up the hearts of Americans. But what’s the narrative for some Mexican illegals? “If you kick us out who’s gonna pick your fruits and wash your dishes? You need us to do your dirty jobs for you” Counterproductive, friends.
The author is objecting to the apparent double standards involving illegal Mexicans. This is an occasional complaint from Mexicans who beleive that they’re targeted while Asian or European illegal immigrants are left alone.
The answer is quite simple IMO. For one thing there’s a whole lot more illegal Mexicans in America (especially in California) compared to the Vietnamese or French or whoever. Their community is sizeable and they receive more exposure from the media one way or another. Non Mexicans arrive here invisibly on planes, but most Mexicans simply cross the border. Americans can actully SEE them move here illeaglly.
And it really doesn’t help that many Latino activists appraoach the immigration issue with a sense of entitlement. They’ll wave Mexican flags, trumpet “raza” themes, run their mouths about how the US stole Mexican land, and basically thump their chests defiantly to enrage “Minuteman” types who aren’t sympathetic to their cause to begin with.
Now, I know how hard it is to obtain a green card, I have friends who are still illegal. I’m not quite on the camp that argues every illegal should be rounded up and booted off the country. But there’s a proper way to work on immigration reform. Some Mexicans decided to act like democrats, which involves making a lot of noise, randomly accuse the other side of bigotry, and rail about the evils of America.
If you gently promote America as a safe haven of democracy where Arthur’s story is made possible, you can win over some minds. You acknowldege America’s right to its borders and honor the concept of legal immigration, but also make the case for the decent, law abiding illegal families whose family and children are alreadly well rooted here. Make some sort of compromise
The author: “According to the Fresno Bee, Arthur’s father came to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1991, and sought political asylum.” — “After all, I have to be consistent.”
Well, Mr. Navarrette, do you want to tell us that those south of the border are coming across seeking political asylum? You make an appalling and disgusting comparison here, one which I find inexcusable for even a hack journalist.
Let’s be honest, okay?
People are sick of Mexicans.
We’re sick of their culture, not their race. We’d be just as sick of white blondes illegally crossing the border in the millions, leaving trash everywhere, insisting on speaking their own language, breeding chickens and goats in their yards, setting up clown houses that bring down the value of our homes, getting drunk and runnings us down in their unlicensed and uninsured and polluting jalopies, crowding us out of our hospitals, shutting down our emergency rooms, buying and selling forged documents, leaving shopping carts everywhere, demanding we educate their kids for free, spreading medieval diseases like TB, and breaking every law they could.
We’re sick of Mexicans, because they’re taking advantage and they’re belligerent.
Send them all back to their hopeless third-world craphole.
I don’t care anymore. They’re ruining my country by bringing down my standard of living, and they’re defiant about it.
Get rid of them.
How’s that for honesty?
“There are none so blind….”
This is why John McCain is right on Amnesty and the Conservatives will be left—left behind, that is!
There may well be 19,000,000 Latino illegals in the USA but there are also 1,000,000 Limeys, Ozzies, Froggies, Huns, Bolshies, Menshies, not to mention Buddhists, Islamists, Jews, and Hindus.
“One Law for you and for the stranger among you…” says the Torah.
It’s the institutionalized anarchy that Americans are upset with.
Were there millions of illegals from Armenia here and those millions we were encouraged by the Armenian government to come here illegally, and those Armenians brought crime, drugs, and gangs along with them, and those Armenians placed heavy burdens on our schools, hospitals, and communities there would also be considerable outrage. I’m reasonably certain of that.
Let’s Reduce the number of Mexican illegals down to the number of Armenian illegals – Once we achieve that, we can revisit the particulars of carefully cherry-picked individual cases.
Mr. Navarrette is disingenuous and displaying his own brand of bigotry here.
So much for, ‘illegal is illegal’.
I don’t know why I read Mr Navarette’s dishonest ranting, maybe it’s to get my blood flowing in the morning.
My only information comes from Mr Navarette’s column and from what I read, Arthur Mkoyan’s father HAS done everything legally. He applied for political asylum. I can’t tell, but it looks like he brought his family here legally. He went through our legal procedures and lost. Now, he’s using his last legal option, to turn toward elected representatives to put forward a private bill. Which is legal. Mr Navarette, here’s the word: LEGAL.
Here’s some differences between Armenia and Mexico. Armenia has no territorial claims on the United States. Armenia has no government supported plan to send millions, now tens of millions of it’s citizens into the United States. Armenia has no plan to impose its language and culture on the United States or parts of the United States.
For Mr Navarette, this scenario is simply “to fret” about, when the Mexican Government and millions of Mexican citizens in this country illegally shout it from the rooftops. For Mr Navarette, the only explanation for this concern is racism.
Mr Navarette is a dishonest, double-dealing, demagogue, who loves accusing his fellow citizens of racism. Like I said, I don’t know why I bother to read his column.
The two situations are very different.
I disagree with the original premise – the two situations are different:
1. Someone who sneaks across the border and uses a fake SSN.
2. Arthur’s family – who came here openly with a valid (or at least debatable) claim to legally stay here; who has stayed here openly and engaged in the process of getting a permanent visa.
If Arthur’s family weren’t here openly and with the knowledge of the government they would be able to contact their senator.
Also – we used to admit the “best and brightest” (see definition of valedictorian).
That should have been “wouldn’t be able to contact”
“I don’t know why I read Mr Navarette’s dishonest ranting.”
I don’t either. Maybe it’s because it’s soo poorly written and shallow, and he is so obviously a product of America’s affirmative action, that it befuddles us as to why he whines so much.
Others have already disproved his argument, but overall, the story of this fellow and 90% of Mexicans are clearly mutually exclusive.
I grew up in SD with a school that was 50% Hispanic, then taught, 20 years later in a school that was 80% Hispanic. Thanks to writers like Ruben and this left-wing PC world, something had changed: the kids I grew up with in the 80s WANTED to be Americans, spoke English at home, did not protest/march, etc. Now, in 2005, they, like Muslims, feel entitled, march against this country they immigrated to, do not speak English at home, etc.
I blame the courts, liberal politicians, CNN/MSNBC and writers like Ruben who focus on this issue in the wrong manner over and over.
My Jewish ancestors came to America in 1903, renounced their heritage, learned English, embraced America, and were producing Ivy League offspring w/in two generations. Hispanic can do the same, but plantation owners like Ruben and the media tell them not to.
Shame, shame…just like Jesse and Al.
Ruben, immigrants who do not leanr English and cause problems receive the ire of Americans. Personally, I am more concerned with Muslims coming here via Detroit, than Latinos via El Paso BUT this is such a cliche, generic article. You leave out so much and just pigeonhole one story. That you are a “frequent lecturer” scares me. What do you “lecture” people about? How America is the ONLY nation that practices a reverse racist policy like affirmative action so that fools like you can write for CNN?
From what is in the article, I am still trying to understand what is illegal about the presence of the Mkoyans? According to the article, they came with the full knowledge of the government and have gone through the process (though losing) to become legal residents. There is room for a complaint about the slowness of our system and, perhaps, the affect of local politics on the fact that the Mkoyans are still here, but that does not make them illegal aliens.
So, we have some guy here (I never read Mr. Navarette before, and see no reason to ever bother with his tripe again) who uses an incorrect term and some sort of twisted reasoning (I’m being generous with the word ‘reasoning’) to try and prove that people aren’t againt ILLEGAL ALIENS, but only use that as a foil to bash Mexicans. Absolutely shameless and inane.
I’ll tell what, Navarette, when the Mkoyan’s final appeal is rejected and they go on the lam to avoid deportation, then get back to us. Of course, in that case, almost all of the people against ILLEGAL ALIENS will say that they should be found, scooped up, and deported as soon as possible.
The amnesty folks have no shame, and less sense. Pathetic.
“From what is in the article, I am still trying to understand what is illegal about the presence of the Mkoyans?”
Nothing. Ruben cares nothing about facts. This is a non story that he cherrypicked for his agenda. Ruben, this fluff may work with the morons at CNN.com, but not at Pajamas Media where people have brains.
mishu:
So much for, ‘illegal is illegal’.
***************
Yep. Depends on what “is” is, I guess.
A high school valedictorian? He and his family stay. I definitely believe in the standard of welcoming the “best and brightest.”
I can understand people being so desperate to enter this country that they do so illegally. WOP originally meant “WithOut Papers” The mistake we made was allowing mafia families to remain in our country. The only Mafioso we deported who we should have allowed to stay was Luciano, who had kept our docks free of German saboteurs and enemy agents. That should have earned him the right to stay.
Russian gangsters? Deport them. Fast.
Mexican immigrants campaign to annex the Southwest?
Deport them to their country of origin.
When Muslim immigrants begin pushing for Sharia law, again they should be urged to return to their country.
I would never vote for someone because they are of the same gender, race, ethnicity or religion. Anyone who would is probably ignorant and a tad stupid. (that means Feminists (Hillary), Blacks (Obama) Hispanics (Richardson), Jews (Bloomberg) and Irish Catholics (Kennedy). Bill Buckley (Irish Catholic) strongly supported (Joe Liebermann), he did not support the Kennedys.
I revere the “dead white men” who founded this country: Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison, Adams. They were the greatest collection of geniuses the world has known since Aristotle studied with Plato who had learned from Socrates.
Among the many gifts our Founding Fathers gave us was an end to religious wars. If the King/Queen was Catholic, European Protestants were in danger. If the King/Queen was Protestant, Catholics were in danger. Our Founding Fathers put an end to that with separation of Church and State and now we have a minority, devout Muslims who want to bring this horror to our shores as they to country after country once they exceed 10% of the population.
Muslims were a minority in Christian Lebanon (read Bridget Gabriel’s book BECAUSE THEY HATE) and in Iran. They become a majority by force majeure, by breeding like rabbits and by killing the Christians.
Obama’s half-brother, Abongo Obama, and his cousin, Odinga, wanted to put Muslim Sharia Law in Kenya in an election they lost (although Obama went over to help) last year to a pro-American regime. They have been instituting mass violence and locked Christian men, women and children in a church and burned them to death. During the New Hampshire primary, Obama called them probably to tell them to cool it till after the election. (google Obama Odinga)
What is it about “illegal” does Ms. Feinstein not understand? We cannot have separate laws because we “like” someone or these individuals have a powerful lobby. That sets precedents and flies in the face of our Constitution and laws. What about the rest of us????
For shame on CNN, and Diane Feinstein for supporting this type of amnesty.
Bravo ,Tom W. ! Ruben you should be deported. Americans have had it with you and yours chimi-chami sniveling.Ruben,my guess is you are a member in good standing in the subversive groups, LaRaza and MEChA.
I think Mr. Navarette and Michelle Obama should get together for a little complain-fest.
Way back in the early 1990s, Mr. Navarette, a ‘Chicano’, wrote a book around being a Chicano at Harvard College.
Sounds a lot like Michelle Obama, a black, writing a senior thesis about being black at Princeton.
This is what happens when affirmative action sends kids to institutions they’re really not qualified to attend — they end up writing intellectually puerile treatises on themselves, essentially, because they’re not intelligent enough to think of something more interesting or relevant, the whole time believing themselves thoroughly oppressed and picked upon as they attend elite institutions that qualify them for eventual prominence (or wealth). When they reach prominence they then consider it their duty to ‘give back’ to their fellow put-upon racial brothers and sisters by supporting wealth re-distribution, artifically inflated grades/salaries, and other collectivist nonsense from 2nd rate minds.
Poppycock. Mr. Navarette is just another 1980s/early 1990s university hack turned ‘journalist’, one of the knuckleheads who took his ethnic studies and other ‘oppression studies’ classes seriously. The man actually believes Mexico would be a land of plenty if not for the gringo and capitalism. The man believes America owes Mexicans free jobs, free services, a free pass. That is the theme that pervades ALL of his writings and career.
I’d bet my house that this jerk has never given to a charity that supports ALL people. He’s the kind of guy who only supports charities that support a specific race (Hispanic), using his self-identified label of ‘advocate’ to hide his true self: racist.
Now get thee back to CNN, Mr. Navarette. There are simply too many people at Pajamas Media who know what you’re about. People here know how to Google. And read. In English.
Sure, three of the family members are illegal and the fourth, a minor is a citizen. Should all be deported? No. This loose use of the word “consistent” is irrelevant. The talk of “integrity of our immigration laws” is laughable. While it is impossible to look at the countless instances of illegals on a case by case basis, here we are offered one we can look at.
The valedictorian is by all definition a model citizen aside from the fact that he is not a citizen. Should he be made to suffer due to the long ago transgressions of his parents? Or should we reward the kid for rising to the top of his class by giving him a chance to pursue his education and possibly become an honorable citizen?
And what about the youngest, who is actually a citizen? If his parents are kicked out then he has to go with them. How is can that be considered a justifiable way to treat an American citizen? As the founding fathers made clear: you are born here, you are American. That should supersede all else. His parents, whether deserving or not, get a free pass because their son is American. It happens all the time with the families or spouses of naturalized or home grown citizens.
The whole thing is awash with complications. The local officials made the call and decided to let the kids stay to graduate. What is the harm in letting him continue his schooling? You got a hot shot student and an actual American. Whatever example we may wish to impart by being “tough” on immigration is outweighed by the example we set of America kicking out someone who actually is on the path to live up to the promise of America that so many are so proud to trumpet.
Bobby McGill
idlewordship.com
The Armenian-American community is very well organized and politically active… but does Mr. Navarette really think it has as much leverage as the Mexican-American community? Numbers alone would seem to dictate the opposite.
these people were trying to legally come to this country, claiming political asylum…this does NOT mean they are illegal aliens…they were aliens trying to LEGALLY come to this country. The political asylum was denied and they were granted an extention to deportation so their oldest could graduate…after their graduation, they were going to go back to their home country without complaint. Also note, they were going to take their other child, who was a US citizen back with them, rather than whine they had to abandon their child here.
There is a big difference here. Obviously, the Illegal Alien support groups want to make political hay out of this…but there isn’t anything here for them to work with.
Bobby McGill: “As the founding fathers made clear: you are born here, you are American.”
Which founding fathers are you talking about? Certainly not those of the United States. The 14th amendment addressed this point. No founders involved.
The rest of your comments are in total conflict with what the article says. I don’t know who’s lying (though both of you seem quite free of the bounds of logic) so I can’t say more about this.
In the hypothetical, however, of a minor US citizen with illegal alien parents, they have to ship out. If the kid can be placed in a legal household, here, then there’s no reason s/he has to go, but otherwise, it’s “bon voyage”. The parents should have had the welfare of their own child in mind.
But hey, you could always have child services go take the child away from the family and placed in foster care. Liberals love that sort of stuff.
I apologize for incorrectly saying that your situation didn’t fit the article, Bobby. That was clearly my mistake (for not rereading it before posting). I leave the rest of my comments as they are, but apologize for an errant accusation.
This author is himself a racist. For Mexicans and to hell with everyone else. Never mind his lack of regard of the rights and policies of a sorvereign nation (the US). Oh no, Not only does he lead the charge of “occupation” by force from a foreign entity, which is what 12million illegal mexicans in the US represent, no, he promotes breaking the laws of a country by outsiders. Mainly of HIS ethnicity.
If 12million Americans marched over the border into mexico and proceded to demand free healthcare, free social security, Jobs, free education, and demanded Spanish not be the official language, marched and protested all over Mexico city waving the US flag…Mexico would declare war on the US.
What the illegals of mexico have done by their actions thus far is just that. Declared war.
Why do I keep reading this dunce?
To remind myself of how liberals respond from a position of moral equivalence and justification.
1 illegal Armenian family = Millions illegal Mexicans.
1 high achieving illegal kid = Tens of thousands of illegal Mexican anchor babies and millions of illegal and uneducated peasants.
Dear Mr. PJM: Please stop publishing this boob.
This is NOT a case of “other” immigrants (white), over Mexican immigrants. No, this young man is no more illegal or legal, than any other immigrant still being processed by the system as a result of a legal application.
His case is not one of sneaking into America!
His case is not one of illegally overstaying a work permit, Visa, or a judicially issued deportation order, by ignoring it.
His case is, they came seeking asylum. It was not granted for whatever reason. They sought &
“legally” obtained an extension of the deportation notice.
To date, there is NOTHING AT ALL ILLEGAL about this young man & his family.
In fact, by attempting to work through the system & tolerate its idiosyncrasies, he gets credit in my book for trying to do it the right way!
His mistake was not requesting his application status to be adjusted, but stuck to the original asylum request rather than a resident, work, education, or other request.
This article & especially its title attempts to portray a bias that is not there. This is a deliberate attempt to vilify one over another & portray a systemic bias toward one group over another, by making the system appear racist & prejudicial toward whites.
Is it any wonder this nation has riots & kids learn about hatred?! If you “promote” bias’ & hatreds and if you push for people to believe they have been victimized, you can oftentimes get that result.
Shame on any in journalism who use their sacred trust, to create animosities among peoples, so they can push their own partisan, biased, bigoted agenda of hate toward any who do not give them whatever “they” want!
This young man did it the legal & right way. Perhaps the author should give classes on how those he sympathizes with could try coming here legally the right way rather than the illegal way!?
Promoting bias, hatreds, and falsely claiming bias’ where none exists, makes you and your actions, despicable! In my own personal opinion, its tantamount to crying fire in a crowded theater, where there is no fire!
When dealing with over 20 million illegals it is impossible not to find some feel good stories. Many if not most of the illegals are decent people who would rank high on any list of potential legal immigrants. It is too bad that some really wonderful folks have to go home. But they do. I’m sorry for the family and I’m sorry for Arthur but I don’t think Mr Navarette has any more point than those who turned Ryan White into a crusade to fund AIDS research. Anecdotal evidence is simply anecdotes. Mr Navarette apparently feels that if some bigots don’t like illegal immigration from Mexico, anyone who doesn’t want to open the border is a racist. The are bigots who hate murder, rape and robbery. Are we to conclude that anyone against violent crime is a bigot?
As normal Mr Navarette will use any excuse to promote his agenda which is certainly more racist than those who simply want the laws enforced. People from all over the world, including Armenia and Mexico, deserve to be let in fairly, not excluded because Mr Navarette would rather have their places taken by an almost exclusively Mexican collection of illegals. Racism?
You know… used to be Pajamas Media wouldn’t publish crap like this. I don’t know what has changed behind the scenes, but they are letting a lot more drivel in. This piece is exhibit A.
Ruben… don’t you long for the days when all you had to do was sneak a weak piece like this past a publisher and, except for the occasional reader mail, you were off scot free? Darn those blog commenters for pointing out logic lapses and incorrect assertions.
Disagree, Steve.
PJM publishes what people are saying. THAT’S journalism. THAT’S information.
THAT’S what the MSM stopped doing long ago.
Be glad PJM is finally taking up the slack.
I dunno Ruben, is he parading around with his native flag, sucking up welfare $$, wasting police resources etc?
Ruben I grew up here in SoCal,so leave my LEGAL Mexican friends out of it,Our problem is the Central Americans,BTW Doesn’t anybody go to school south of the border?The basic lack of fundamental skills is sickening,and I don’t like dumb racists.Sums it up for me,
Bob
Navarette’s a waste of space and an oxygen thief. Time spent reading his bilge is truly not just time wasted but time spent doing something deleterious to one’s intellect.
I hope the SD paper keeps publishing him, though. Guys like him are why the MSM’s stock prices are dropping like rocks. It will only take a few more Navarrettes and Olbermanns to drive those propaganda factories completely into the economic ground. Good riddance when they’re gone.
Ok, I just finished reading Hutchinson’ article telling Obama to lay off black fathers…I went to read this article as the title proposed something other than what was really served…anyway wanted to read the comments, and I think basically everyone should go read cfbleachers response to the obama author, and then read john’s propsal (short)…I believe that their thoughts in those two comments are just as relavant here.
O.K. I don’t see la raza championing this young lad. If here were Mexican (or latino) it would be all over the media, so maybe some illegals are more illegal.
What kind of system lets the family stay all these years while their assylum app is processed? the whole assylum sytem should be nixed–it’s rife with fruad and favoritism anyway.
Ruben, es bien facil y entendible: solo queremos que se vayan los RAZISTAS.
NO! NO SE PUEDE!
When I first read this article in a local newspaper, I re-read it, thinking that somehow I had missed the point. Nope. The second reading resulted in the same impression as the first, which was: is the author kidding? Could he actually be serious about this? I will give him credit for one thing: he actually uses the word “Mexican”, not some other hyphenated euphemism. But if there remains one thing that some Americans of Mexican descent seem to be blind to, it’s this: one Mexican entering the country illegally and working hard to become part of the society is perhaps an endearing story. Millions of Mexicans entering the country ( any country ) and acting as if it’s no big deal is – at the very least – a problem. For the author to make the convoluted moral equivalency he does between Mexican immigration and this particular non-Mexican immigrant is more evidence of how detached from reality people can become when they have made up their minds in advance. ( Another word for this phenomenon is prejudice, the driving force behind racial tensions. )
Ruben Navarrette is and has always been a Mexican owned pro-illegal immigration political activist hiding behind a typewriter and getting away with lies on a daily basis in the San Diego area.
But, on this one- he’s got it right. Race and ethnicity should have no impact on enforcing our laws. They should, and must be, enforced with equal weight against anyone that breaks our laws.
Hatch in Escondido, bingo.
Laws are laws. Until they’re changed.
Laws should be enforced equally. But it sounds like like these people are in the system, making their appeals and not blowing off court dates or re-enetering the country illegally for the n’th time.
It’s Mr Navarette’s disingenuousness that rightly has come under fire here, using an exception in an attempt to negate the rule altogether. Using one wrong to excuse millions of other wrongs. His goal is open borders that favor Hispanics over all others – not enforced laws. It’s fitting that he catch flack for it. He’s not an honest broker.
Ben Nighthorse-Campbell was NOT a Democrat then and is not one now. But it DOES make for a better “eww, those lousy Democrats, disagreeing with poor Republican Tom Tancredo.” Campbell was a Republican. Sloppy attempt at a smear, Mr. Navarette, and very very transparent.
I’ve reread your essay several times and this is what I came away with:
Two known illegal aliens, both honors students, received special federal legislative assistance to remain in this country.
This is counterpointed with resident opposition to unknown thousands of illegal aliens, documented as mostly Latino, with undetermined personal skills and/or abilities.
Possibly the racialist e-mail, you cited, clouded your view of what seemed to be a rational point – “There should be one standard in these cases, and it should based on the law and the individual circumstances — and not influenced by nativism, prejudice or cultural hysteria.” (Your words)
One small but important fact correction to your statement: “- from Democratic Sen Ben Nighthorse Campbell.”. Senator Campbell was a Republican in 2002. I didn’t want you to leave your readers with the impression that only Democratic Congressmembers were capable of intelligent reasoning and compassionate thought.
Navarrete is right; these folks broke the law and should be deported;however,Unlike the overwhelming majority of mexicans invading the US, they called attention to themselves, by excelling in school, and having professional aspirations. They thus broke one of the fundamental rules of plutocratic america: We want you here, but only if you agree to do scut work for craop wages.Don’t worry Mr, Navarrete;even if the Mikoyans get to stay, they’ll soon find oout that the jobs they aspired to have been exported to China and India:when they do,they will leave
Give Mr. Navarette his due, if we want to get serious about enforcing the law, we have to start with the Mikoyans.
Yes Javelin, you are right; I really do believe the Mikiyans should go,and all other illegals as well ,regardless of nationality.
Illegals are illegals, send them all back. Wasn’t it last summer that we (85%) stormed the Congress with this illegal migration and the Congress didn’t move much did it. We the people of the United States have lost our voice in Washington DC. With the posts on the internet it quite obvious that the people of America are a heck of a lot smarter than the politicians think we are.
That’s the problem Jude,Smart, aware Americans.The plutocracy wants to replace them with desperately poor, ignorant, imigrant masses,not informed citizens to seize total control, and bring back dickensian working conditions for all.The goal is to turn the US into a clone of Mexico.
Jude, deguello (and others):
You’d do well to at least browse through the other comments before perpetuating the liablous smear thrown at the Mikoyans in this commentary’s title. At no time have they been ILLEGAL !! They have worked LEGALLY through the system all these years, have been model LEGAL resident aliens, and are simply asking for one last consideration that many feel they deserve. If anything, this family is a role model for LEGAL immigration. Arthur’s father is a prime candidate for at least a green card, and Arthur should apply for (and receive) a student visa. His younger brother is already a citizen, and his mother could be (at worst) an au pair.
The only thing that would make them better “legal immigration” poster children would be if they were actually Mexican! Surely there are successful, legal, Mexican immigrants out there that Navarrette could have chosen to libel and crucify, but somehow I don’t think that would mesh with his racist agenda.
Fair enough DBooth,they are,as you say,working through the system.What happens when they lose? Do we then countenance their illegally remaining in the country?There are successful Mexican, and other latino immigrants in the USA, who are model citizens, but such people are hated by the plutocracy,and their half wit intellectual lackeys like Navarrette,who want to turn the USA, into a version of Mexico.
Fair enough deguello. If the Mikoyans lose their “final appeal,” they would have to leave the country. But to me, this would represent the epitome of our FUBAR immigration policy … law-abiding, successful, integrated immigrants being cut no slack (ultimately), then very publicly being crucified and driven out on a rail by “compassionate” socialists who, in the same breath, proclaim that millions of invading “serfs” deserve immunity for criminal fraud and identity theft.
In the event you’re still checking this blog, I’ll go ahead and take issue with your other assertion. Successful legal immigrants may be useless to Plutocrats, but as long as they are small in numbers, I think the Plutocrats regard them with indifference … the sort of begrudging indifference they feel towards any other successful American not under their control. The REAL hate comes from the nanny-state socialists and Mexican nationalists … and especially the Mexican national socialists
. The Mikoyans are the NEMESIS of such groups, not just because the Mikoyans are useless to their causes (not Mexican nationalists, not marginalized victims needing “representation”), but particularly because the Mikoyans represent success within a system they seek to destroy. Such “poster children for legal immigration” contradict the party line, and therefore must be vilified and destroyed.
Javelin said “we have to start with the Mikoyans.” Instilling such sentiments is the dream of evey Stalinist propagandist.
This country was founded by illegal immigrants. In case no one understands, I mean to say that the Anglos came here illegal from the beginning. The only true Americans here are the Native Americans. All you so called Americans can not even trace your ancestry over 400 years ago to this continent. What does that tell you? I hear your comments about being sick of the so called “invasion” by Mexicans. I’m sick of all you Anglos who actually think that you are native to this land. History does serve its purpose in telling the truth, and exploiting hypocrisy. The difference between Mexicans and all the other immigrants (including Anglos) is that at least Mexicans can say that their ancestors have been on this land for thousands of years. I wish the Native Americans could have deported all the true “illegals” of this land when they had the chance.
I am of Armenian Ancestry. Let me be the first to tell you that a lot of the posters here are writing with their feelings, not facts. I would like to rebut what one poster wrote stating that “Armenia has no plan to impose its language and culture on the United States or parts of the United States.”, I take it that you have never been to Glendale, CA or Pasadena, CA etc.
Every ethnic community has its goods and bads. That is why certain jokes within ethnic circles can cross into other ethnic cultures and be found funny. For instance there is an animated web series that is Armenian called “Harut” it shows an old lady speaking Armenian to her neighbor, her neighbor not understanding and proceeds to go home to complain to her husband “Can you believe after all these years of us living here our neighbors have yet to learn Armenian?”, if you change it to any race and their language people in that community will laugh because we all have those people. The Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Iranians, Indians, Greeks, Armenians, Mexicans,Italians. Everyone. That is why you have China Towns, Little India, Little Saigon, Little Italy and so forth in just about every major U.S. City.
Also what many people do not realize is that illegals who cross the border in Mexico are not generally Mexican. Most are from Central American countries believe it or not, it is just easier to classify them as Mexican and you know why? Because then the deportation process is less expensive for the U.S., they then only have to ship them to Mexico instead of their native country, wherever that may be. Think about that.
The fact is that anyone and everyone complains about whatever ethnic group is the majority in their city. Glendale complains about Armenians, Los Angeles complains about Mexicans, though I have heard Blacks as well but people are a lot quieter about it since it seems to be politically incorrect to do so, San Francisco complains about the Chinese and Russian immigrants and so on. It is to be expected though, as we are human and humans tend to be territorial.
The Sad Fact is that people will see what they want. The moment they hear the word “illegal” they will think of whatever ethnic group they don’t like. The moment people hear Latin, may will hear Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, etc. Not the actual nationality. The moment people hear Asian, they will hear Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, etc. Not the actual nationality. The moment people hear Middle Eastern, they will hear, Iraqi, Iranian, Lebanese, etc. Not the actual nationality. Think about that.
The first part to finding a solution is to not be so blinded by our disdain for people and realize that the United States became a melting pot. The problem with that is that once you start something, it is really hard to stop it. It is like being in line to pay for anything and the person at the register closes mid line and says sorry I’m on break, the first thought in your head is “why not me too? you can ring one more person up, can’t you?” and you become the person who refuses to leave the line. Other customers will see you as the A-hole and others will say, he has a point we should be helped as well. Think about that.
There is no easy solution. The #1 thing is Strengthen all borders and treat the issue as a melting pot. Not just make it “per race or nationality”. The moment you add stipulations, you will get the “Why not me too?” people. It is human nature. Also, once you make it a race issue you weaken your stance and people will just say “Oh its just another loud mouth racist.”, not “Oh, that person has a valid stance on Immigration.” Period. Think about that.