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i will try not to have an agenda with this story...for discussion purposes only


the youngest eeb(ette), 21, is dating an indian guy, age 25, think i heard. been here since age 18. nice guy. quiet. worked in uncle's gas stations...no jokes please. came here legally, uncle is a citizen.

forgot to renew his papers about 2-3 yrs ago and then was scared to come forward, thinking he would be deported. worked 80 hrs a week for uncle, paid taxes, SS#, etc. saved about $ 250k.

immigration came to gas station looking for someone else. he couldnt produce valid "green card", so he was detained by the feds and taken to a holding area in north jersey. not a jail...but he couldnt leave.

thankfully, because he had the money to hire a good lawyer, and because he had done nothing wrong other than forgetting to renew his immigration papers and then trying to cover it up, it looks like he will be getting out next week, with his new green card. obviously, if my daughter marries him in '08 or '09, the green card issue becomes moot.

here's the kicker to this story. about a month ago, the holding area took small groups of these "non-threatening" ( my words) detainees on a day trip to sightsee in NYC. 3 escorting officers with about 8 of the detainees i think. no cuffs. no teathers, no ankle bracelets.

ok, i understand they felt these guys presented no danger to anyone, and all were probably within weeks of going back to their previous lives. i have no problem with the sightseeing. heck, they all probably needed to get out, guards too. my biggest question about all this is if these guys had jobs, prior to being detained, and were so innocuous that they could tour manhattan without fear of "escape", why in the hell shouldnt they have been returned to their lives, as long as they had a job or school to attend, and be kept under supervision by phone or meeting, until their cases were settled.

for those here who are the small government types, think of how much was spent to keep those 25 or so guys detained for another month or two. and for those like me who think every able bodied person working and paying taxes is more money my under-inflated government can spend, these guys can go back to contributing, not burdening.


ok, story-time is over.

1) Follow the rules of our Country if you come here legally. In Turkey you're penalty would be much more severe. See, "Midnight Express" if you want an example.


2) Friend of mine married a Mexican immigrant, not sure of her exact legality, but I do know that he kind of had to jump through hoops and pay some legal bills to get her a citizen AFTER they married. Just an FYI, eeb, you and your daughter may very well know more than I do on the subject.

The problem with your story is that this hard-working, bright kid "forgot to renew his papers" - as someone who has dealt with immigration (US-born living overseas) pretty extensively, I can tell you that no responsible person could just "forget" this and risk arrest/deportation/etc.

EEB, you're right. If these guys were as innocous as you've stated, I think a simple ankle bracelet should have sufficed.

Now on to my dealings with INS & the DoJ. Marriage to a US citizen DOES NOT confer citizenship automatically. In fact, it doesn't even change the immigrants status. All it does is give a "compelling reason" to the INS to expedite the process of applying for Permanent Residense Status.

When Mrs Fågelpojke & I got married, she was here on a 90 day tourist visa after having been here on a 12 month visa. When her 1st (12 month) visa expired, she had to return to Sweden. She applied for a new 12 visa, but was told that since she had just left the US, she could have only a 90 day visa with no extensions or change of status. The turnaround time for that was about 45 days, so she left in mid June and came back in late July. We were married in mid September and started to try to have her status changed. No dice. At the end of October, she was expelled from the US and had to return to Sweden until I could get her status changed. I was told by several immigration attorneys that it could take up to 2 years to do. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on legal fees and wait 2 years to start my life, I did what I do best. I bitched like Hell.

Congressman Tom Foglietta's office had a Constituent Liason Officer named Lillian Vassali. She was an Angel. She walked me through all the forms and sent them with a cover letter from the Congressman to the Department of Justice Director's office. Then she called every so often to check on Mrs Fågelpojke's case. I even elicited the help of Senators Arlen Spector & Jesse Helms.

All in all the process cost me around $500 (all INS fees) and 5 months to get my wife back. It could have been much more expensive and longer.

So, EEB, my advise to your daughter is, get in touch with a Member of Congress (it doesn't have to be your own). Tell them your plight and get them to help. After all that's their job.

or she could get an immigration lawyer. There are only tens of thousands of them across the country. A lawyer will know which forms need to be filled out, will fill them out correctly on the first try, will be able to handle any irregularities that come up, and will prep you for the 20 minute interview where an INS officer will determine whether you have to leave the country or not. I dunno. That's not something I would leave up to chance.

This is kind of what I was kind of trying to get at. In retrospect, my friend's now wife was here legally, she was a nanny up in Connecticut. But even after they got married I believe it took over a year and some cash paid to an immigration lawyer to get her status changed, or whatever.

2) Friend of mine married a Mexican immigrant, not sure of her exact legality, but I do know that he kind of had to jump through hoops and pay some legal bills to get her a citizen AFTER they married. Just an FYI, eeb, you and your daughter may very well know more than I do on the subject.

Just wanted to echo this. From what I understand, marrying a US citizen does not free you from the hassle. Plus it is pretty expensive to get completely legal once you are married.

Friend of mine is from Canada. Married a US citizen. He went back to visit his kids and was not allowed back into the US for a month. He even went to immigration to double check that he wouldn't have a problem before he left.

I think he has spent over 7 grand in paperwork and immigration hearings since he has been back.

Uber, a lawyer is fine. I just didn't see the need to pay somebody for work I could do myself and who would take longer to do the job than a US Congressman.

Just sayin'.

Maybe I'm missing the point here, but when I read Eeb's story, I thought the theme was the overkill and mixed messages.

Basically, if they are dangerous enough to be detained, why are they being taken sight seeing in NYC?

If they are harmless enough enough to go sightseeing without restraints, why are they being held while the paperwork is sorted out instead of being monitored?

Finally, who's paying for both holding these people who aren't dangerous AND taking them sight seeing (rhetorical)?

wow, and it only took 8 posts to get there. thanks FD. thought everyone missed the point. everyone has their own ideas on immigration. but whats the point of keeping someone detained when they are allowed to wonder NYC with nothing more than a nanny or two.

f-dallas said it well, its sending mixed messages and costing the taxpayers a lot to keep and "entertain" them, while they are apparently no threat to country or persons.

Of course it was Glenn who screwed it up

That means a lot, as the only poster here whose educational resume would probably be enhanced with a degree from Hamburger U.

NTFF. And they say I'm the elitist.

That means a lot, as the only poster here whose educational resume would probably be enhanced with a degree from Hamburger U

I hope you are not referring to me, sir- because if you were, despite being a gentleman I'd have to give you a thrashing with my shoe

How very Springer of you.

Sir,

No disrespect, but is Mrs. fågelpojke hot?

F49, that is a question best posed 11 years & 2 sons ago. She got a little war & tear showing. I still think she's gorgeous.

wear & tear

fågelpojke, you're the man, boss!