The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: Fatman on June 19, 2010, 03:37:19 PM
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Officials: Harvard student will not be deported
By RUSSELL CONTRERAS, Associated Press Writer Russell Contreras, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 17 mins ago
BOSTON – An undocumented Harvard University student is no longer facing deportation to Mexico after being detained nearly two weeks ago by immigration authorities at a Texas airport, officials said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said late Friday that they would not pursue the deportation of Eric Balderas. The 19-year-old was detained in June after he tried to use a university ID card to board a plane from San Antonio to Boston.
Mario Rodas, a friend of Balderas, said Balderas was granted deferred action, which can be used to halt deportation based on the merits of a case. Rodas said Balderas learned the news Saturday morning from his lawyer.
"He's very excited and ready to live a normal life," Rodas said. "He's ready to move forward."
Rodas said Balderas will be applying for a United States work permit and will keep trying to get permanent immigration status. He said that Balderas' lawyers have advised Balderas not to comment while the case is pending.
Balderas, who previously had used a Mexican passport to board planes but recently lost it, told The Associated Press that he became despondent and thought he was being deported to Mexico immediately after he was detained June 7. But he was released the next day.
According to a Facebook page set up to highlight his case, Balderas was brought to the U.S. from Mexico by his family at age 4. He said he doesn't remember living in Mexico.
He's studying molecular and cellular biology at Harvard and hopes to become a cancer researcher. He said he qualified for Harvard's privately funded scholarship package.
Harvard officials threw support behind Balderas after his detainment.
"Eric Balderas has already demonstrated the discipline and work ethic required for rigorous university work, and has, like so many of our undergraduates, expressed an interest in making a difference in the world," said Christine Heenan, Harvard's vice president of public affairs and communications.
The case also sparked a buzz on social media sites and among student immigrant activists who see the Balderas situation as the ideal test case to push the proposed DREAM act — a federal bill that would allow illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship through college enrollment or military service.
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Y'all know that I am pretty hardcore on the immigration issue.Yet I still strongly support the Dream act. These are the people we want. Educated folks who can support themselves and folks willing to serve in uniform, particularly in war time. Leaving aside the fact that there is a strong moral case to be made for it, it just makes good practical sense. We have enough ignorant bus boys. Send them home. I'll take a cancer researcher or a vetran.
FQ13
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Legal FIRST, just like my law abiding grandparents did. I have not forgotten what they and others like them did to get here, adapt and become an American. Sorry, those here illegally are criminals and should not be rewarded in any way, shape or form. Additionally, they are a slap in the face to my ancestors and many others who followed the law to get here.
Cost (and who pays) is just part of it, FQ. Police academy trainers have told me gangs and terror types are keeping members 'clean' and then trying to get them into the academy or the armed forces for obvious reasons. Seems some Islamic terrorists have already gotten into the military, from recent experiences.
Why in the hell would we facilitate their efforts by doing something like DREAM?
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Legal FIRST, just like my law abiding grandparents did. I have not forgotten what they and others like them did to get here, adapt and become an American. Sorry, those here illegally are criminals and should not be rewarded in any way, shape or form. Additionally, they are a slap in the face to my ancestors and many others who followed the law to get here.
Cost (and who pays) is just part of it, FQ. Police academy trainers have told me gangs and terror types are keeping members 'clean' and then trying to get them into the academy or the armed forces for obvious reasons. Seems some Islamic terrorists have already gotten into the military, from recent experiences.
Why in the hell would we facilitate their efforts by doing something like DREAM?
The Dream Act only covers those who came before they were sixteen. We are talking about kids who were brought over by their parents. They didn't get a choice, and America is the only country they know. Most of them have never even seen their "home" country. They are hardly a security risk, they have years of school records, and it just seems like the right thing to do.
FQ13
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Send them back where they belong.
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Send them back where they belong.
If you're talking about the parents, I agree. But the kids? Where do they belong? They've never been to Mexico or Guatemala since they were small. This country is all they know. As Operator said I want people who want to be Americans, not just make money. Well, these kids are Americans. Educated in our schools, raised in our culture, able to speak our language. What better immigrants could you ask for?
FQ13
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That seems like a problem for their criminal parents to figure out, if they had OBEYED the law they would not have that problem would they.
F*ck'em, I don't care if they die in the streets, as long as they don't mess up traffic.
What part of illegal gives you so much trouble ?
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That seems like a problem for their criminal parents to figure out, if they had OBEYED the law they would not have that problem would they.
F*ck'em, I don't care if they die in the streets, as long as they don't mess up traffic.
What part of illegal gives you so much trouble ?
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one then. I've pretty much given my arguments on this issue.
Peace
FQ13
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There is no need to deport the individual in this story as he clearly qualifies for a student visa, and would have quite an easy time getting one. I am extremely puzzled as to why you put the mil training in the title as it is quite legal for foreigners to serve in the US military, and the vast majority of them serve more honorably than their native counterparts(the ones who are too fat, too lazy, and too hopped up from using drugs all their adolescent and adult lives). Unfortunately due to the disgrace that is the American public school system and society, scientific jobs apply fully to the saying "illegals only do the jobs Americans don't want to do....."
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There is no need to deport the individual in this story as he clearly qualifies for a student visa, and would have quite an easy time getting one. I am extremely puzzled as to why you put the mil training in the title as it is quite legal for foreigners to serve in the US military, and the vast majority of them serve more honorably than their native counterparts(the ones who are too fat, too lazy, and too hopped up from using drugs all their adolescent and adult lives). Unfortunately due to the disgrace that is the American public school system and society, scientific jobs apply fully to the saying "illegals only do the jobs Americans don't want to do....."
You were in during the late 70's early 80's weren't you ?
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Can only agree with FQ on this one.
The kid did nothing illegal. He has shown that is is exactly what we should want for an American Citizen.
Justice is blind, but that doesn't mean there cannot be exceptions. We just need to keep a choker on those who are judging what the exceptions are.
Sticking to the Word of the Law seems akin to banning pictures of guns or toy soldiers on a kids hat from schools.
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I have gone through the hoops of INS, DHS, State Department, et al, during an adoption. The immigration system is a fustercluck of epic proportions, even by .gov standards. It needs to be fixed.
But still, no anchor babies. Parents are responsible for their children, but children have to pay for some sins/mistakes of the parents.
"FOR THE CHILDREN" is the biggest progressive con-job of them all.
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If you're talking about the parents, I agree. But the kids? Where do they belong? They've never been to Mexico or Guatemala since they were small. This country is all they know. As Operator said I want people who want to be Americans, not just make money. Well, these kids are Americans. Educated in our schools, raised in our culture, able to speak our language. What better immigrants could you ask for?
FQ13
Yeah, but I had the unfortunate privilege to be going to a community college for my CNE in NJ in 1996 w/ a young Islamic man here on a student visa ( he was granted it after he was found to be here illegally w/ his parents who were deported) who became the center of a missing persons search. He turned up on Sept 11, 2001.
I just don't know how to say it loud enough... if you are not here legally, you need to leave, be checked out like my relatives were before coming here, then actually make your own way. I'm working throughout the Reading area, and it is now a cesspool of crime, illegals and gangs, not to mention piss-poor. 20th most dangerous city in America, 6th for it's size. All this started with not getting a hand on the illegals. It is now their kids, and their kid's kids, gathering welfare and killing the area.
And to add insult to injury, Berks county has the news in Spanish every night at 10, because they never learned English. Their is no intention of assimilating, more like out-reproducing us while we pay for their kids, and they turn around and vote those in who will continue this.
Sounds a lot like Lebanon. History; history lessons ignored...