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Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life

By TChris, Section Social Justice
Posted on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 03:54:55 PM EST
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by TChris

Five days after Estephanie Izaquirre graduated from high school in Des Moines, Iowa, immigration officials sent her an email that talked about "completing paperwork." Izaquirre thought she was going to get her green card, but the email was a ruse. When Izaquirre arrived at the office, she was arrested and detained for deportation.

It's a crime for you to lie to the government, but just fine if the government lies to you.

[Iowa Gov.] Vilsack, at a news conference Friday touting a new program that provides guidance and living expenses for vulnerable Iowa youths who age out of the foster care system when they turn 18, said it was "disappointing" that immigration officials were less than straightforward with Izaquirre.

The principal of McKinley Elementary School in Des Moines, Lorenzo Jasso, who is a member of Izaquirre's extended family, is among those upset about her arrest.

"As an educator, I'm just concerned that these almost predatory tactics are targeting children," said Jasso, who is Izaquirre's half sister's brother-in-law. "With the atmosphere of today's politics, everybody's 'just doing their job' with little or no regard to the fact we're talking about children."

Izaquirre is an abandoned, abused child who made her way to the U.S. when she was 13 so she could be with her sister. Her guardian in Honduras was forced into prostitution. Izaquirre hopes to avoid that fate (or worse) if she's sent back.

Yesterday, Sen. Tom Harkin joined protestors outside the jail where Izaquirre is being held. He agrees with others that the tactics used to arrest Izaquirre were unjust.

"That's playing dirty," said Lori Chesser, a Des Moines immigration lawyer. "What are we going after juveniles for? I mean, can't we concentrate on drug traffickers and human traffickers? I don't understand where we're going with this enforcement."

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    • Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life | 25 comments (25 topical)
    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#1)
    by jen on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 05:02:46 PM EST
    They go after those they are brave enough and competent enough to go after. Anyone older or more dangerous would be completely beyond their capabilities.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 05:28:27 PM EST
    "Hi! I'm from the Government and I'm here to help you!" Are your citizenship papers in order? Are you sure? Really?

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 05:31:36 PM EST
    The question you should ask is, what was an illegal alien doing attending school on the backs of US taxpayers? TChris is again baffled by the "illegal" part of illegal alien

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:01:49 PM EST
    "Izaquirre is an abandoned, abused child who made her way to the U.S. when she was 13 so she could be with her sister. Her guardian in Honduras was forced into prostitution. Izaquirre hopes to avoid that fate (or worse) if she's sent back." This is a brave byoumg lady, who hopefully perservere against repetitive, moronic fascists like James Robertson

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:06:03 PM EST
    JR- your scarcity argument is bogus bedwettery. If you want to find some dollars, corporate welfare is a better place to start. How about your precious tax dollars wasted wasting Iraqi civialian with guns and bombs. Educating children can help all of us. Take your miserly BS and focus it on things that actually have some negative financial impact on America.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:13:47 PM EST
    One would hope that Mr. Robertson's priorities were a bit less like those of our President. The taxpayers Mr. Robertson wishes to speak for have spent over 300 billion dollars attacking and occupying a country that did not attack us and which we now know that he knew was not threat. Perhaps we could consider sealing our borders and providing the money to police and protect our ports. Once that's been done, we can look at what's to be done about the 12 million people who have taken advantage of our plutocracy's addiction to cheap labor and crossed the border that our leaders have insisted be left unguarded.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#7)
    by jen on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:35:27 PM EST
    James Robertson You are happy then, with the thought that this is the worst criminal the immigrating authorities are capable of arresting? Their apparent refusal to go after big companies that EMPLOY all these illegal aliens thereby encouraging them to COME. Their apparent refusal to go after medium sized companies that employ even more, or even individuals.. well, that matters not one teensie weesie little bit, as long as we make sure children get molested you are happy?

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jo on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 06:54:20 PM EST
    Hm. So the email said they just wanted to talk about it, huh? So if they send me an email saying they want to talk to me about marijuana tax stamps, I should just go down there with my checkbook and my bag of pot to pay for my stamps, and expect them to not follow up on my criminal offenses? What was she thinking?

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#9)
    by jen on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 07:02:56 PM EST
    the note was sent to her lawyer, who was werking with her to get her legalized

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 07:52:17 PM EST
    So excuse me here but why didn't she apply for asylum five years ago when she showed up here. Sounds like she might have a case for it. Yes, the system is cumbersome, but so is turbotax and I manage to file a 1040 every year. Jimbo

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#12)
    by scarshapedstar on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 08:25:07 PM EST
    The smell of compassion emanating from JR is overwhelming. I'm out.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#13)
    by scarshapedstar on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 08:27:15 PM EST
    By the way, Jimbo, maybe it has to something to do with the fact that
    Izaquirre is an abandoned, abused child who made her way to the U.S. when she was 13 so she could be with her sister.
    I don't know how to seek asylum now. I certainly wouldn't have known it when I was 13, even being a native English speaker with a family and whatnot. Please tell me your post was a joke.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 08:30:20 PM EST
    I didn't pay much in taxes before I graduated from high school, yet I got this nice, free (Iowan) education. Oh, my family paid taxes? Well, so did hers.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 09:01:09 PM EST
    Squeaky squawks: JR- your scarcity argument is bogus bedwettery. Actually, grown-ups who have to worry about such things realize that we simply can't provide free social services to everyone in the world. However, you or TChris are free to sponsor the student. Why don't you do that, instead of trying to make everyone else pay for the services used by illegal aliens? I note also that all those who employ illegal aliens are getting a tremendous deal: they get "cheap" labor and force everyone else to pay for it. And, you and TChris are supporting those corrupt businesses. Jen chimes in: Their apparent refusal to go after big companies that EMPLOY all these illegal aliens thereby encouraging them to COME. I've seen a similar argument from other "liberals", but it's almost always hot air. As soon as anyone tries cracking down on employers, "liberals" begin moaning about all the illegal aliens who were put out of work. If you're going to end up supporting those corrupt banks and businesses that profit off illegal immigration, let me suggest at least trying to make money off it instead of being completely altruistic useful idiots.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#16)
    by cpinva on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 09:54:22 PM EST
    sorry boys & girls, though i loathe the means used, she is here illegally, period. while clearly i don't expect a 13 year-old child to know how to apply for political asylum, the adult members of her extended family certainly could have done so on her behalf. one of those members is cited as a principal of an elementary school, which in most states requires that you at least have a master's degree. we aren't talking about stupid people here. what happened? they just got lazy or didn't think about it, i guess. i really haven't a clue, you'd need to ask them. apparently, that subject has yet to be brought up. yes, absolutely, go after the companies employing illegals. however, lets not forget that, absent a ready supply, the employers couldn't be hiring them. i certainly empathize with this young lady's plight, and i sincerely hope she gets competent counsel to help her.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#17)
    by squeaky on Sun Jun 04, 2006 at 10:02:34 PM EST
    Actually, grown-ups who have to worry about such things realize that we simply can't provide free social services to everyone in the world.
    Putting the word big in front of your loser media blog is suppose to make you a grown-up? How's business over there big guy? You are real grown up. I am sure that you can convince some little girls who happen to not have their papers in order that Big Daddy can help her. Maybe you can get a bounty when you send them into prostitution. Scary all these illegals huh? Guess Rove's bedwetter plan is working...at least on you. Works like a charm. Look.....wild geese!!! No, I don't know what happened to your wallet. Pathetic. You guys are easy marks.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#18)
    by jen on Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 04:24:20 AM EST
    She already hads a lawyer. They probably HAVE been trying for five years. Desperately. the lack of compassion of the government officials is a given. YOURS is telling. It says you know abolutely not one single person who has ever gone through the process. It says not one single one of your family or friends or aquaintances knows one single person who has ever tried to go through the process. I know many. Some of my siblings had to go through a gazillion hoops to get their american passports because my stepmom isnt american and she went through *every single legal procedure* and STILL it took years and lawyers to get my sisters and brothers the passports. Oh, yeah, and then there was that underage airman (an appalachian kid) back in the early 80s that was sent to england with his wife. She had a daughter there. Only when the story hit the Atlanta-Journal Constitution did the US admit the kid was indeed a us citizen Y'all keep saying "they should just come in legally" as if that were something easier than winning the lottery.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 08:40:23 AM EST
    That's a new low for the govt....they should at least have the decency to go out and arrest persons wanted for immigration charges...not trick them in with a ray of hope for citizenship/legal status. I've heard of warrant stings by L.E. where they call people and say they won a prize and to come pick it up...that's unethical enough, this is especially harsh. Careful what we sow when we let the government openly lie to us.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#20)
    by Patrick on Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 09:02:16 AM EST
    U.S. immigration officials said Izaquirre was a fugitive - she sneaked across the U.S. border at age 13 - and there was an outstanding order for her deportation. "The e-mail was exactly what it says ... finalize the situation. Her attorney can say it's deliberately vague, but I think it's specific in saying we need to complete our paperwork and take action one way or another," said Marilu Cabrera, spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
    The emphasis is mine.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#21)
    by jen on Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 10:20:30 AM EST
    Meanwhile, Benzoni used a provision in the law that allows young immigrants who qualify as "children in need of assistance" to get a green card even if they're in the country illegally. Izaquirre at age 17 was granted special immigrant juvenile status as an abandoned, abused child with nowhere else to go.
    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jun 05, 2006 at 03:42:55 PM EST
    compasssion or not, it is the law. it is unfortunate for this young woman but just the same it is the law.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#23)
    by jen on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:00:45 AM EST
    So why doesn't she fly to Honduras, apply to college here as she plans to, and come on a student visa? A lot can happen in 4-8 years of school (e.g. family sponsorship, green card, marriage, etc).
    She can't even get that when she's HERE WITH HERE WITH THE ONLY LIVING FAMILY SHE HAS. See above re: lottery bmadison: telling

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#24)
    by Jo on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 10:22:13 AM EST
    Y'all keep saying "they should just come in legally" as if that were something easier than winning the lottery.
    Oh, you mean it's not like just going to the 7-11 and buying some scratch off tickets? Well then, to hell with the laws, they should all just forget about all that worrisome paperwork and stuff.
    That's a new low for the govt....they should at least have the decency to go out and arrest persons wanted for immigration charges...not trick them
    This isn't a new low at all. Having our president condone torture was a new low. I think this was a smart way of administering the law without introducing violence into the process. What would your suppossed alternative be, send the "Ruby Ridge" crew around the back while the "Waco" crew kicks in the front door?

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 10:45:31 AM EST
    I think this was a smart way of administering the law without introducing violence
    Really? I think it's lying. I think it's unethical. I expect better from governemt...to tell the truth and enforce the law openly, not by trickery.

    Re: Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 12:14:34 PM EST
    The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States Hmmm, I know, maybe we should only allow female illegals. Now, there's an idea.

    Gov't Ruse May Shatter Young Life | 25 comments (25 topical)