The Stuff That Dreams Are Made of

3239 Commentshttp://prernalal.com/2008/05/the-stuff-that-dreams-are-made-of/The+Stuff+That+Dreams+Are+Made+of2008-05-28+04%3A18%3A09Prerna

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  95FLHTCU

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  The very first sentence in your post is a blatant lie. The law made her a criminal. Using that logic, everyone in prison today for rape and murder is also just a victim of the law. A law they personally don’t like but that a majority of citizens think is a good idea. The laws are there for a reason. When you’re given a visa, you’re asking to come into the U.S. for a FINITE period of time. Weather to visit go to school or work, you’re saying that you want to come her for a certain period of time and then leave. When you break that agreement, you become an illegal alien. The people that apply for visas KNOW that. Yes, your parents and the parents of this girl in the video KNEW that a visa was not a green card and they were expected to leave. They CHOSE not to. When they were asked how long they wanted to be in the U.S. did they say “forever”? No. She makes it sound like she just didn’t have enough money to fly back home.

  The girl in the video states that she “had” to overstay her visa. NO, in fact, she didn’t. What she (or her guardian) should have done was apply for an extension or go back to Costa Rica and wait. She didn’t because her guardian never intended for her to go back. Frankly, if it took 10 years to get it, at least her application wouldn’t have been tainted by overstaying her visa and right now, she would be a citizen. Instead, she’s making videos about how the government wronged her. I guess the law also forced her to lie or use illegal means to get into Loyola. (Unless you no longer have to provide any identification or social security number on your application)

  One of the many great things about being a citizen is that you don’t HAVE to take a test for citizenship. Having two parents that are citizens is enough. That the average 20 year old student doesn’t know how many illegal aliens are in the states means nothing. They don’t need to know off the top of their head at 20 years old. Only illegal aliens are hyper aware of how many illegals there are, as they are also very sensitive to police presence that the average 20 year old doesn’t have to worry about. Hypocritical? I don’t think so. What you’re really saying is that if everyone knew the immigration system inside and out, then either we would sympathize with you or immediately change it for you. Neither of which is going to happen.

  What is wrong now if she went back to Costa Rica and used her education to help her own country? Blame and excuses aren’t what got her through college, why does she think that’s going to get her through life? In the end, she’ll probably marry a citizen and get her wish.

  I’m not sure that reminding everyone that 65,000 illegal aliens are graduating every year is the best way to get your point across. It reminds citizens that they’re not only paying for these students education (not to mention healthcare), but that a good number of them are taking seats in colleges that should be open to their kids first.

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  yave begnet

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  By your LIBERAL use of CAPS I can tell you’ve migrated over from the RESTRICT-O-SPHERE. Take a page from the Dreamers and EDUCATE yourself. If Sonia entered on a visa and overstayed, she violated no criminal law, therefore she is not a criminal. That makes the first TWO sentences of your comment a blatant lie.

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  95FLHTCU

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  4 times in 5 paragraphs is “liberal”? Obviously you didn’t read beyond the first paragraph. That doesn’t suprise me. You’re right, she wouldn’t be charged as a criminal, she would be arrested and ejected from the country and not allowed to re-enter for at least 10 years. Also, you’ve violated immigration law if you lied on your application or to a customs officer. I’m sure that all illegal aliens were just here visiting and became so enthralled that they just decided to stay. They didn’t lie or misrepresnt themselves to get in. I’m sure that’s always the case. The bottom line is that if your very presence here is subject to deportation if you’re caught, the average person considers that criminal. I see in my search that Congress is working on dealing with all the overstays. I’m glad to see that. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, we’ll get a handle on this. In the meantime, continue blaming your lack of citizenship on the big mean government and take no responsibility at all for your actions.

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  DREAMActivist

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  Yea, because a 2 year old has agency, had lied to immigration officers and can fill out immigration paperwork? What world do you live in? At most, Sonia is committing a misdemeanor, much like a traffic ticket. She’s not responsible for the situation she is in so why are you so hard-pressed on deporting our hard-working students, our K-12 investments? From a policy-making and humane standpoint, that makes no sense.

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  DreamAct

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  A person does not have to be under 21 years of age to qualify for the dream act. The person must be between 12 and 30 years of age at the time of the bill’s enactmnet.

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  Anonymous

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  It makes sense if you think it is important that our laws be respected and upheld.

  The 1986 Amnesty was supposed to “solve” the illegal migration problem. It didn’t, it just opened up the floodgates once it became apparent that there were no teeth in the enforcement of immigration laws. Going down the path to another amnesty is foolish. You don’t “solve” a problem by repeating the same solution.

  The solution is what the American people have finally demanded – enforcement of existing immigration laws. Attrition works. Enforcement works. The word is getting out that Americans want to see results and are fed up with a laissez-faire attitude towards immigration.

  Deliberately overstaying a visa is a wilful act and is not akin to a “traffic ticket”. I have no respect for those who show such contempt. It will only make getting visas harder for others, since the visa system is so abused by people like her.

  Her parents are responsible for the situation she is in. She is not the responsibility of American citizens, and they are under no obligation to “solve” her self-made dilemma.

  Maybe parents will start to get a clue that they will only make life more difficult for their kids when they lie to them and thumb their noses at US law and sovereignty.

  You need to “get a clue”. People are fed up with illegals, whether from illegal entry or visa overstays, and want action. And they ARE taking action — at the local level– check out AZ, OK, PWC, SC…..the tide is turning and the status quo is no longer acceptable to the majority of Americans.

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  BHappee

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  “From a policy-making and humane standpoint, that makes no sense.”

  You are right. Allowing those who entered illegally to stay and adjust their status, which is so incredibly unfair to those who patiently waited in line and followed the rules does not make sense from a policy-making and humane standpoint.

  It sends a message that our immigration policy, is capricious and rewards those who cheat and lie. It sends a terrible message to all those who are waiting to immigrate legally and honestly.

  You’re right. It doesn’t make sense to reward the undocumented with a path to legalization.

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  Anonymous

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  I was in the same position– I came here legally on a conditional visa and it took 8 years for INS to process the petition to remove the condition.

  I understand how frustrating it is that the system is so slow, but INS makes it VERY CLEAR that you should **NEVER** allow yourself to become “out of status”, and that that will make it almost impossible for you to remain. They don’t hide that fact.

  I was very close to being out of status when I contacted our Senator who was able to help and got my condition removed. I now have legal permanent residence and have applied for citizenship.

  I have NO sympathy for those who know they are going out of status and don’t care and just stay.
  They deserve to be deported since they have contempt for the system.

  I agree that the system needs to be changed, but just ignoring the administrative rules is NOT the way to do it.

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  adriana

  July 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  “…It reminds citizens that they’re not only paying for these students education (not to mention healthcare), but that a good number of them are taking seats in colleges that should be open to their kids first.”
  I would like to point out this statement made by
  95FLHTCU because it reflects how people, who
  oppose any type of immigration reform, feel.
  First off, you should be more educated and know that illegal immigrants DO pay taxes. Therefore, they
  are also contributing to the economy and that includes schools. Also, illegal immigrants are NOT eligible for health care, that’s another common misconception. And why shouldn’t a more hard working student take the seat at a college?
  I don’t think it should be a matter whether you’re
  here legally or illegaly, but who has the drive
  and the character to win that seat at a college.

  Here’s something else I would like to point out
  “, which is so incredibly unfair to those who patiently waited in line and followed the rules does not make sense from a policy-making and humane standpoint.”-BHappee. Once again here’s the person who has a minimal idea of what they’re talking about. It costs money to get a visa, heck it costs a lot of money to even get an appointment in another country to get a visa to come here. If you’re applying for any kind of
  way to get into this country then most likely you’re coming from a country where money is hard to come by. Even if you do get the money the waiting periods are TOO long.

  And the last one…”And they ARE taking action — at the local level– check out AZ, OK, PWC, SC…..the tide is turning and the status quo is no longer acceptable to the majority of Americans.” Oh yes, I live in AZ….it’s horrible to watch Sheriff Arpaio seperate immigrant families. Strangely enough Arpaio was the child of immigrants from Italy. I bet you didn’t know that one. The last statement makes me chuckle because many managers at hotels/restaurants/fast food places/factories KNOW that the people working there are illegal and yet they don’t do anything about it. Why would they? We are a major part of the work force whether you like it or not. Going back to the Arapaio issue I would like to explain that people in my community live in fear, I live in fear. You don’t know if your parents, friends, neighbors are going to come back home from WORK, the work Arizonans don’t want to do. And I can already guess what the opposers are saying “well it’s your fault for being illegal,” actually I had no choice, like many other Dreamers. Then the blame goes to the parents, because it’s just horrible for parents to want
  a better education for their children and food to feed them and a roof over their heads. After, the blame goes to the country of origin(most likely a Latin American country). The problem with this chain is that it goes back to the U.S., now I’m not blaming America for this, but it has screwed up Latin America. U.S. based companies go to Latin America and set up factories, stores, etc. and exploit workers over there and/or damage the economy of cities and towns. Then, people start losing jobs and begin thinking of immigrating to the US. I’m going to end it right here, but please to those who oppose all of this, just THINK about it for a second.

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