Mother Deported After 18 Years - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Blackthorn · 03-11-2006, 03:49 PM

I'm usually one who would fall on the unpopular side of this argument by thinking that we have immigration laws for a reason and well...if you break the law and are here as an illegal alien then deporation is something you should find unexpected.

18 years...she lived here for 18 years!! She managed to make a successful life for herself and is a critical part of a functioning family. This seems to me like she is just a target of opportunity. This is ridiculous...

Link to the story

Quote:

Mom deported after 18 years
U.S. gets tougher on immigration violations

BY DAN HORN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Fatima Raziuddin called her husband and children from an airport Tuesday night to say goodbye.

After 18 years in the United States, she was being deported to Pakistan for violating a student visa in 1989 by working at a fast-food restaurant. She had lived quietly, but illegally, in West Chester Township for the past decade.

Raziuddin sobbed as she talked to her husband about all she was leaving: Her two teenage sons, friends and neighbors, the doctors who treated her cancer and the children she taught at the local mosque.

Her life in America was over.

"Everybody loves her," her husband, Razi Dinn, said a few days later. "We need her. We can't live without her."

They might have no choice.

Raziuddin can't apply to re-enter the country for 10 years, and Dinn, a U.S. citizen, is wary of moving his kids to Pakistan, a country they've visited only once.

As a native of India, which has poor relations with Pakistan, Dinn isn't sure he could even make such a move.

The family's dilemma frustrates Raziuddin's friends and family, prompting them to join the growing national debate over the fairness and effectiveness of U.S. immigration law.

Federal authorities have struggled, especially since the 9/11 attacks, to create a tougher but fair enforcement policy.

Some say Raziuddin's case shows how lax enforcement allows illegal immigrants to linger in the United States for years. Others see her as proof that the law is harsh and inflexible, even when deportation is a hardship on spouses and children.

No one keeps statistics on how often deportations result in broken families, but some lawyers and experts think that the numbers are rising. The United States now deports about 200,000 people a year - the highest number in at least a decade.

"These are not all criminals," Raziuddin's lawyer, Charleston C.K. Wang, said. "This lady is not a felon. She is a wife and mother."

'MY CHILDREN NEED ME'

Raziuddin fought hard to stay in the United States, pleading with administrators and judges for years. But the mistake she made in 1989 - working part-time at a Popeye's restaurant in Texas - caught up to her last month.

Authorities arrested and jailed her after she tried for the third time to apply for citizenship.

Raziuddin does not dispute the old visa violation or that she later broke a promise to voluntarily leave the country. She argued instead that the life she led in America should outweigh her failure to follow the rules so long ago.

"I have been a good person," Raziuddin said in a telephone interview before she was deported. "My children need me. I'm always there for them.

"I would do anything to live in this country."

Immigration officials say they have no choice but to enforce the rules. They say illegal immigrants, even those who lead otherwise exemplary lives, flout laws intended to protect American citizens.

"We all have sympathy on the individual level, but we have a remarkably broken system," said John Keeley, spokesman for the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank that favors strict enforcement of immigration laws. "This highlights the fact that people are exploiting the system. We have someone here who pledged to return home and then ignored U.S. immigration law."

Raziuddin compounded her mistake when she failed to leave on her own in 1990. If she had done so, she could have reapplied for a visa in just six months and begun the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Instead, she stayed in Texas with her husband, dropped out of college and gave birth to her sons, Shabbir and Abbas.

"If she would have just voluntarily departed, she might have been able to come back in a matter of months," said Greg Palmore, a Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman. "When you don't do that, you become an absconder."

EMBRACING LIFE IN AMERICA

Raziuddin, who married Dinn in 1988, said she planned to leave after the birth of her second son in 1991, but she fell ill with thyroid cancer soon after he was born.

Her court records include hospital bills for treatment at various times from 1991 to 1997 at a hospital and cancer center at the University of Texas.

Raziuddin said she has been healthy since then but fears the possibility of a recurrence.

Dinn, who became a U.S. citizen in 1994, said his wife's illness left the family in financial trouble, making it difficult for her to leave the country. He said he and his wife were a team: She stayed home with the kids while he worked long hours as a restaurant manager.

"She gave me all my strength," Dinn said.

The family moved to Cincinnati in the mid-1990s after Dinn took a job with Frisch's. They bought a house in West Chester, and Raziuddin immediately embraced life as a suburban mom.

She signed up her sons for Boy Scouts, taught religion classes at the mosque, sold cosmetics door-to-door and began baby sitting for her neighbors.

"She's very kind and very giving," Barbara Reisen, a neighbor, said. "She's not affluent, but she was always giving someone gifts."

As she settled into life in West Chester, uncertainty about her immigration status hung over the family. She repeatedly tried to get citizenship and was denied every time because of the old violation.

By the late 1990s, deportation started to look like a very real possibility.

Her last attempt to get legal status ended last month when she went to Columbus to meet with an immigration official. She was arrested and sent to a jail in northern Ohio.

FORCED TO LEAVE

Despite the distance, Raziuddin did her best to stay involved in her sons' lives. During a call home two weeks ago, she talked to Shabbir, 16, and Abbas, 14, about their school work, the Boy Scouts and how they were eating.

"It's hard," Shabbir said after hanging up the phone. "It's just weird not having my mom here. We rely on her for everything."

Dinn nodded as his son spoke. He said his hours at the restaurant are unpredictable and often keep him out of the house at odd hours. He never worried before because his wife was always there.

Now, he doesn't know what he'll do.

Raziuddin's lawyer made a last-ditch try to keep her in the country a few weeks ago when he requested asylum for her. He said she might be harmed if she returns to Pakistan because she is a Shiite Muslim, while her husband is a member of the rival Sunni sect.

"I don't know what will happen in Pakistan," Raziuddin said two weeks ago. "I'm afraid to go to that country."

Her asylum request failed. A few days later, immigration officials took her to the airport, allowed her a phone call and put her on a plane to Pakistan.

Raziuddin cried into the phone when she asked her husband to pack some of her belongings - clothes, shoes, a family photo - and send them to her sister in Pakistan. She planned to live with her, at least for a while.

After hanging up, Dinn struggled to choose the right things. Soon, he realized nothing he could send would be enough.

"It's just too much," he said. "If it was the house that was destroyed, I can rebuild it. But this ..."

His voice trailed off.

"I'm without a wife," Dinn said. "My kids are without a mom."

E-mail dhorn@enquirer.com

absorbentishe · 03-11-2006, 05:37 PM

The part I'm struggling with is... if she married a U.S. citizen, shouldn't that have allowed her to stay?? But, on the flip side, if she didn't gain the visa needed to stay in the first place, she screwed herself.

I know the department of imigration is really cracking down on these type of cases, where either a visa extention wasn't filed or citizenship was never gained. There have been two cases like this in NW Ohio in the last 6 months. The first was a case against 2 parents from Korea who never filed for citizenship before their visa expired and were deported. The second was an 18 year old H.S. senior from germany that was in the country for the last 12 years, his grandparent never did the correct paperwork when he needed to.

Those cases, just as the one from the article, show how long it takes for the immigration department to catch up with you, but they will. No it isn't fair, but the law is the law, and it's there for a reason.

Toaster126 · 03-11-2006, 06:01 PM

She violated her visa agreement. The fact that she wasn't caught until now doesn't mean she gets a free pass. It just means the system is shitty and has failed yet again.

Gilda · 03-11-2006, 07:44 PM

This sucks. Just because it's the law doesn't make it right. Judges should have the discretion to make humanitarian exceptions to the general guidelines.

I can't help but look at that and think, if when my mom immigrated to the US, if dad didn't fill out the paperwork just right or they miss a deadline (she still has to renew her green card every ten years) that could be her, sent back to a country where she hasn't lived in thirty years.

I wonder, how many terrorists have been caught in the immigration crackdown?

Gilda

Bill O'Rights · 03-11-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

I wonder, how many terrorists have been caught in the immigration crackdown?

Indeed. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever know.

Does this suck? You betcha it does. I, for one would be willing to say; "Aww, just make an exception and look the other way". Unfortunately you can't play selective with the law. I'm sure that almost every illegal alien has a backstory that someone will consider a case worthy of exception. What're ya gonna do? No one's coming out ahead, in this one.

Gilda · 03-11-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

Indeed. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever know.

Does this suck? You betcha it does. I, for one would be willing to say; "Aww, just make an exception and look the other way". Unfortunately you can't play selective with the law. I'm sure that almost every illegal alien has a backstory that someone will consider a case worthy of exception. What're ya gonna do? No one's coming out ahead, in this one.

So why not make humanitarian exceptions in cases where there's no evidence that the person is any harm, and where the greater harm comes from deporting this person?

Gilda

Gatorade Frost · 03-11-2006, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

So why not make humanitarian exceptions in cases where there's no evidence that the person is any harm, and where the greater harm comes from deporting this person?

Gilda

They have asylum cases, but apparently it wasn't one.

raeanna74 · 03-11-2006, 08:53 PM

OK she had a student Visa, THEN married, Then violated the visa, THEN was told to leave voluntarily...

I hate to think what that family is going through but I would like to know what she was thinking. If she had a student visa, but married, wouldn't she have desired to stay in the states?? I must admit great ignorance in what the process is for an immigrent to become a U.S. Citizen. But wouldn't you have at least begun the process and attempted to become a citizen? Why would you even attempt to work without a permit (green card??) if you knew it could cause you to have to leave. She was taking a big chance then that she would get sent away from her husband.

Yet - She seems to be a productive member of society. I see so many others that I'll not name, who are immigrants and living illegally and yet the immigration offices are focusing their efforts on someone who has caused no trouble in 18 years besides one attempt to actually WORK. I can think of too many who don't work and shouldn't be here. It kindof seems like a false show of power instead of a real effort to correct a problem.

Dragonknight · 03-12-2006, 05:05 AM

Okay this does invoke the damn that sucks for her family and her in me, honestly it does. She broke the law numerous times though, because she didn't get caught once and got to live in the states for a long period of time does that mean it's okay to be here. Then the law would be to try for your green card, but if you don't and don't get caught for a while you'll be okay still. No matter how many times a child plays with fire sooner or later they'll get burned, and when they do is a lesson learned. Well unfortunately she played with fire for a very long time, and she finally got burned.

raeanna74 · 03-12-2006, 01:17 PM

So why isn't she applying for citizenship now?

"Otherwise Eligible Immediate Relatives

If "otherwise eligible" to immigrate to the U.S., immediate relatives may adjust status to LPR (get a "green card") in the United States even if they may have done any of the following:

* worked without permission,

* remained in the U.S. past the period of lawful admission (e.g., past the expiration date on your I-94) and filed for adjustment of status while in an unlawful status because of that,

* failed otherwise to maintain lawful status and with the proper immigration documentation, or

* have been admitted as a visitor without a visa under sections 212(l) or 217 of the Act (which are the 15-day admission under the Guam visa waiver program and the 90-day admission under the Visa Waiver Program, respectively). "USCIS.gov

flat5 · 03-12-2006, 06:50 PM

The punishment does not fit the crime.
The law does not have to be ruthless.

I believe in a higher law than "the law is the law".

If she was well connected this would not have gone down this way.

Ustwo · 03-12-2006, 07:35 PM

She can fly to Mexico and be back in 2 weeks.

Nirvana · 03-12-2006, 08:45 PM

I think that this situation is, like mentioned above, a show of power. this woman was clearly living a productive life. unfortunately, she did break the law and it did catch up with her. even though that may be the case, there are so many other cases where illegal immigrants are causing trouble and aren't being deported because no one is making an honest effort to catch those who can actually cause harm. this lady was just used as another example of "our laws are getting stricter so you'd better watch out." i hope the best for her and her family.

politicophile · 03-12-2006, 09:18 PM

She was living a good life... with the exception of her past as a lawbreaker. Her argument is predicated on the notion that time heals all wounds. It would have been the right thing to deport her the first time she broke the law. Nothing has changed, except for the sob-story benefits that come along with having a family to leave behind. If she had cared about her family, she wouldn't have taken this risk to begin with.

analog · 03-12-2006, 09:39 PM

But she didn't miss a deadline or misfile information, she specifically violated a rule of her student visa and rendered it void- then, on top of that, stayed for another decade illegally. She knew her visa had been voided. She said she'd leave voluntarily, but just stayed. I don't think leading an otherwise lawful life (outside of the "being here illegally") makes up for that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackthorn

She managed to make a successful life for herself and is a critical part of a functioning family.

"Mother" is always an important role in any family- that doesn't excuse illegal behavior. ALSO, i'd like to add, she violated her visa BEFORE she became a mother. For two years, she sat on what she knew was a voided visa, then became pregnant- so I don't want to hear about her being a mother. You think it's bad now? At least a 16 and 14 year old are autonomous, what if it was an 8 and 6 year old when she was finalyl caught?

Fire · 03-12-2006, 11:15 PM

I have a buddy who's mom was just deported under simmilar circumstances- he has been here since age 5, and just married another friend of mine- His visa was improperly filed by his dad when he was 12- and now they may deport him, despite the fact that he is a productive member of society who is married to an american citizen, owns a house, pays taxes, and works legally with a work visa that was given to him by the U.S. Gov. - they may, for no reason other than the fact that his dad fucked up, about 11 years ago, tear him away from his wife, family, and career, and not allow him back in for at least 2 years, possibly 10 (depends on how they find in the case, ie exactly what was violated where) right now he has about a 50/50 shot, and is awating a hearing- normaly, I have little sympathy if it is your own fuck up, but in this case it is just fucking stupid- law may be law, but when the law is stupid, fuck it- Law is not, and should never be, a god, and should not be held up as absoloute in all cases- this is why judges are supposed to have some leeway on their rulings- as many people have stated, why not some compassion, why not some fucking attention to people as more than numbers on a page............

raeanna74 · 03-13-2006, 06:17 AM

What I don't understand is why the government waited so long to enforce the law? If she was a functioning member of her family then her girls were probably going to school, her husband was filing for taxes as a married man possibly, and she probably wasn't moving from one place to another to avoid being found. So why did it take them so long to find her?? No wonder they can't find these Mexicans who sneak across the border. They're blind as bats.

JustJess · 03-13-2006, 06:38 AM

One: Her SECOND son was born in 1991. The first was 1989 - before she was expected to leave.

Two: Yeah, she worked on an F1. So what? The laws are ridiculous about not being able to work on student visas - but they expect you to be able to support yourself without working. Bullshit.

Three: They're just being asinine. They have the ability to supercede these things, but refuse to - as someone said, she's a nobody. All they have to do to find lots of illegal aliens is raid their nearest Italian restaurant. But they don't... because that would put people out of business. People who matter more, I guess.

Four: People need better lawyers. Seriously. There are so many shysters out there giving really awful advice and shoddy work product - and the people victimized are these people. Considering her children and husband etc., someone should have been able to make a case for her. Hell, *I* could have made a case for her!

Five: Yes, the laws need serious revision and change before they start getting all high and mighty and "oh, she broke the law" blah blah blah. Give me a break. Don't you have a murderer or a terrorist to catch or something? Sheesh.

highthief · 03-13-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

She can fly to Mexico and be back in 2 weeks.

Why would she go to Mexico? She's from Pakistan.

Blackthorn · 03-13-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by analog

.....

"Mother" is always an important role in any family- that doesn't excuse illegal behavior. ALSO, i'd like to add, she violated her visa BEFORE she became a mother. For two years, she sat on what she knew was a voided visa, then became pregnant- so I don't want to hear about her being a mother. You think it's bad now? At least a 16 and 14 year old are autonomous, what if it was an 8 and 6 year old when she was finalyl caught?

She also didn't run from authorities and in fact was seeking their help. The laws are there and on the books and no secret...that much is understood. We should not wait 18 years to take action and enforce those laws after allowing someone to build a productive life. If we let her stay here for 18 years then we are at least responsible in part for where this woman and her family now finds themselves: torn apart.

I guess my feeling is that laws don't exist to be arbitrarily applied (unless you are the NCAA tournament selction comittee using RPI as a "too"

). The wheels of justice may turn slowly but 18 years is a bit extreme.

03-11-2006, 06:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Toaster126 Extreme moderation Location: Kansas City, yo.	She violated her visa agreement. The fact that she wasn't caught until now doesn't mean she gets a free pass. It just means the system is shitty and has failed yet again. __________________ "The question isn't who is going to let me, it's who is going to stop me." (Ayn Rand) "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." (M. Scott Peck)

03-11-2006, 08:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	OK she had a student Visa, THEN married, Then violated the visa, THEN was told to leave voluntarily... I hate to think what that family is going through but I would like to know what she was thinking. If she had a student visa, but married, wouldn't she have desired to stay in the states?? I must admit great ignorance in what the process is for an immigrent to become a U.S. Citizen. But wouldn't you have at least begun the process and attempted to become a citizen? Why would you even attempt to work without a permit (green card??) if you knew it could cause you to have to leave. She was taking a big chance then that she would get sent away from her husband. Yet - She seems to be a productive member of society. I see so many others that I'll not name, who are immigrants and living illegally and yet the immigration offices are focusing their efforts on someone who has caused no trouble in 18 years besides one attempt to actually WORK. I can think of too many who don't work and shouldn't be here. It kindof seems like a false show of power instead of a real effort to correct a problem. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

03-12-2006, 05:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dragonknight Insane Location: Hawaii	Okay this does invoke the damn that sucks for her family and her in me, honestly it does. She broke the law numerous times though, because she didn't get caught once and got to live in the states for a long period of time does that mean it's okay to be here. Then the law would be to try for your green card, but if you don't and don't get caught for a while you'll be okay still. No matter how many times a child plays with fire sooner or later they'll get burned, and when they do is a lesson learned. Well unfortunately she played with fire for a very long time, and she finally got burned. __________________ Freedom is NOT Free.

03-12-2006, 01:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	So why isn't she applying for citizenship now? "Otherwise Eligible Immediate Relatives If "otherwise eligible" to immigrate to the U.S., immediate relatives may adjust status to LPR (get a "green card") in the United States even if they may have done any of the following: * worked without permission, * remained in the U.S. past the period of lawful admission (e.g., past the expiration date on your I-94) and filed for adjustment of status while in an unlawful status because of that, * failed otherwise to maintain lawful status and with the proper immigration documentation, or * have been admitted as a visitor without a visa under sections 212(l) or 217 of the Act (which are the 15-day admission under the Guam visa waiver program and the 90-day admission under the Visa Waiver Program, respectively). "USCIS.gov __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

03-12-2006, 07:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	She can fly to Mexico and be back in 2 weeks. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

03-11-2006, 05:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
absorbentishe Boy am I horny today Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!	The part I'm struggling with is... if she married a U.S. citizen, shouldn't that have allowed her to stay?? But, on the flip side, if she didn't gain the visa needed to stay in the first place, she screwed herself. I know the department of imigration is really cracking down on these type of cases, where either a visa extention wasn't filed or citizenship was never gained. There have been two cases like this in NW Ohio in the last 6 months. The first was a case against 2 parents from Korea who never filed for citizenship before their visa expired and were deported. The second was an 18 year old H.S. senior from germany that was in the country for the last 12 years, his grandparent never did the correct paperwork when he needed to. Those cases, just as the one from the article, show how long it takes for the immigration department to catch up with you, but they will. No it isn't fair, but the law is the law, and it's there for a reason.

03-11-2006, 07:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	This sucks. Just because it's the law doesn't make it right. Judges should have the discretion to make humanitarian exceptions to the general guidelines. I can't help but look at that and think, if when my mom immigrated to the US, if dad didn't fill out the paperwork just right or they miss a deadline (she still has to renew her green card every ten years) that could be her, sent back to a country where she hasn't lived in thirty years. I wonder, how many terrorists have been caught in the immigration crackdown? Gilda

03-12-2006, 06:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	The punishment does not fit the crime. The law does not have to be ruthless. I believe in a higher law than "the law is the law". If she was well connected this would not have gone down this way.

03-12-2006, 08:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nirvana Crazy	I think that this situation is, like mentioned above, a show of power. this woman was clearly living a productive life. unfortunately, she did break the law and it did catch up with her. even though that may be the case, there are so many other cases where illegal immigrants are causing trouble and aren't being deported because no one is making an honest effort to catch those who can actually cause harm. this lady was just used as another example of "our laws are getting stricter so you'd better watch out." i hope the best for her and her family.

03-12-2006, 09:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
politicophile Addict	She was living a good life... with the exception of her past as a lawbreaker. Her argument is predicated on the notion that time heals all wounds. It would have been the right thing to deport her the first time she broke the law. Nothing has changed, except for the sob-story benefits that come along with having a family to leave behind. If she had cared about her family, she wouldn't have taken this risk to begin with. __________________ The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

03-12-2006, 11:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
Fire Warrior Smith Location: missouri	I have a buddy who's mom was just deported under simmilar circumstances- he has been here since age 5, and just married another friend of mine- His visa was improperly filed by his dad when he was 12- and now they may deport him, despite the fact that he is a productive member of society who is married to an american citizen, owns a house, pays taxes, and works legally with a work visa that was given to him by the U.S. Gov. - they may, for no reason other than the fact that his dad fucked up, about 11 years ago, tear him away from his wife, family, and career, and not allow him back in for at least 2 years, possibly 10 (depends on how they find in the case, ie exactly what was violated where) right now he has about a 50/50 shot, and is awating a hearing- normaly, I have little sympathy if it is your own fuck up, but in this case it is just fucking stupid- law may be law, but when the law is stupid, fuck it- Law is not, and should never be, a god, and should not be held up as absoloute in all cases- this is why judges are supposed to have some leeway on their rulings- as many people have stated, why not some compassion, why not some fucking attention to people as more than numbers on a page............ __________________ Thought the harder, Heart the bolder, Mood the more as our might lessens

03-13-2006, 06:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	What I don't understand is why the government waited so long to enforce the law? If she was a functioning member of her family then her girls were probably going to school, her husband was filing for taxes as a married man possibly, and she probably wasn't moving from one place to another to avoid being found. So why did it take them so long to find her?? No wonder they can't find these Mexicans who sneak across the border. They're blind as bats. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

03-13-2006, 06:38 AM	#18 (permalink)
JustJess Unencapsulated Location: Kittyville	One: Her SECOND son was born in 1991. The first was 1989 - before she was expected to leave. Two: Yeah, she worked on an F1. So what? The laws are ridiculous about not being able to work on student visas - but they expect you to be able to support yourself without working. Bullshit. Three: They're just being asinine. They have the ability to supercede these things, but refuse to - as someone said, she's a nobody. All they have to do to find lots of illegal aliens is raid their nearest Italian restaurant. But they don't... because that would put people out of business. People who matter more, I guess. Four: People need better lawyers. Seriously. There are so many shysters out there giving really awful advice and shoddy work product - and the people victimized are these people. Considering her children and husband etc., someone should have been able to make a case for her. Hell, I could have made a case for her! Five: Yes, the laws need serious revision and change before they start getting all high and mighty and "oh, she broke the law" blah blah blah. Give me a break. Don't you have a murderer or a terrorist to catch or something? Sheesh. __________________ My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.