1st Soldier to die for US in Iraq was an illegal immigrant from Guatemala

[kpete]

According to the National Center for Immigration Law, one in ten U.S. soliders who have DIED in Iraq have been immigrants. Five percent of those serving in our military are illegal immigrants.

The first soldier to die for the United States in the current war in Iraq was Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_04_09_atrios_archive.html#114471312932539724http://alisavaldesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2006/04/more-stupidity-in-my-in-box.html

[joemurphy]

1. Thanks for posting this. It's something worth remembering. n/t

[marmar]

2. Fight in Iraq. Work for low wages and pay taxes.

... and then we'll toss you in jail for being an illegal!

My country 'tis of thee. :cry:

[The Backlash Cometh]

50. You do realize that this was a prearrangement, correct?

Bush lured aliens to fight this war for him with the promise that they would become citizens. You don't really believe that we have vast numbers of illegal aliens sneaking into our military, to be exposed later and thrown out of the country? People, you're embarrassing me.

Bush made prearrangements to give aliens a chance to win citizenship into our country in an honorable fashion: by serving in our military. Granted, the Iraq war was a dishonorable war, but that's not our military's fault.

[knowbody0]

3. so fucking sad

thanks for posting

[Subdivisions]

4. Your point is...?

If an undocumented alien can get into our Marines without the proper documents, then what does that say about our security?

If illegals can serve in our military, then can we rest assured that our Homeland Security Department is keeping us safe?


Texas Explorer

[kpete]

5. My point is

[Subdivisions]

9. Not trying to be disrespectful...

I'm just suggesting that if an illegal alien can become a Marine, then so can a terrorist.

If Cpl Gutierrez was indeed an illegal alien, and was willing to die for this country, why didn't he come here legally.

Don't get me wrong, Mr. Gutierrez deserves to be honored for his service and for giving his life for the cause.

[kpete]

11. honor is my only point

[joemurphy]

12. One of the ways to naturalize is by 2 years service in the

active military. Bush has expressly permitted this by executive order.

My guess is that one of the things motivating Jose Gutierrez in enlisting was a chance to obtain U.S. citizenship in this way.

I honor his memory.

[The Backlash Cometh]

52. I certainly don't fault anyone who honors his memory.

He deserves that and much more. But to take this and use him for the purpose that some DUers are using it is just as bad as somethings the Freepers do.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. Whether you're trying or not is irrelevant

You're succedding quite nicely, despite your flaccid qualifiers.

[RagingInMiami]

28. Maybe they use the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for illegal immigrants

[The Backlash Cometh]

53. Maybe you should get your facts straight:

Born in Guatemala, Gutierrez held permanent U.S. resident status, which he obtained in 1999.

At 14, with his parents dead, Gutierrez followed the path of 700,000 of his countrymen to California. He made the 2,000-mile journey from his Guatemala City neighborhood without entry papers. He hopped 14 freight trains to get through Mexico. U.S. immigration authorities detained him.

Fernando Castillo, Guatemala's consul general in Los Angeles, says the United States doesn't deport Guatemalan minors who arrive without family. Gutierrez was made a ward of Los Angeles Juvenile Court. He was placed in a series of group homes and foster families. He learned English and finished high school.

When he reached 18, he got residency documents, Castillo said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-24-gutierrez-bio_x.htm

[RagingInMiami]

58. Get my facts straight?

I was being sarcastic.

[cynatnite]

31. dupe n/t

[cynatnite]

32. The cause???

:wtf:

[caledesi]

33. You are being disrespectful Karl Rove by "swiftboating" this man

He fought our country - for YOU! The point is that a lot of neocons are saying that illegals are potential terrorists, crimainals, drug addicts and just want to leech off the US.

Why don't you go and sign up if you are so concerned about Homeland Security.

BTW,. 2 of the 9/11 terrorists came to the US from Canada.

[Canuckistanian]

37. I hope you're being sarcastic

NONE (Zero, nada, zilch) of the 9/11 hijackers came from Canada. They were ALL let in by the US government on visas.

And they didn't "come into the country on a ferry from Nova Scotia". That was a Faux News lie.

I apologize if you didn't know better.

[jsamuel]

42. "They were ALL let in by the US government on visas"- which they got AFTER

comming here

[caledesi]

57. Forgot the sarcasm mark. Just pointing out Faux crap and talking points.

[Mr_Spock]

34. I have a special respect for someone dying for a country they are not

even a citizen of. They want to be an American so bad, they are willing to fight and die to become a citizen. There are plenty of RW internet warriors who would not make that same sacrifice for their country.

This was posted to emphasize certain contrasts in this immigration debate that so many miss. Did you see the very successful Salvadoran family on Night line that are now finally becoming citizens. Good hard working motivated immigrants are what this country is entirely made of - unless you are an American Indian.

[EFerrari]

41. Oh, yeah. We need to be on guard

for all those al qaida gardeners and nannys.

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

44. Mansions Texas-wide are FULL of dangerous, terrorist governesses!!!!!

Named Consueulo and Ramona. :crazy:

[NNN0LHI]

7. I would conclude that the point is if they are good enough to die...

...for this country they should be good enough to live here.

There that wasn't so complicated was it?

Welcome to DU.

Don

[aaronbees]

40. Very well put!

Simple and so true.

[tandot]

8. The Department of Homeland Security apparently is keeping us safe

by looking for young girls on the Internet so they can molest and rape them...

That young man was willing to serve and die for America. Something too many young Republicans are not willing to do.

[0007]

17. Wonder how many spy's are in our armed forces?

[tandot]

26. Probably way less than the number of idiots we have in the White House

:shrug:

[MGKrebs]

18. Relevent executive order info:

" Recently, the President signed an Executive Order identifying September 11, 2001 and after as an authorized period of conflict.

Have you served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces during an authorized period of conflict?
After enlistment, were you lawfully admitted as a permanent resident of the United States, OR at the time or enlistment, reenlistment, or induction were you physically present in the United States or qualifying territory?"

http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/MilitaryBrochurev7.htm

http://sja.hqmc.usmc.mil/jal/Immigration/immigration_changes.htm

[walldude]

21. Welcome to DU...

And if it's security you are looking for demonizing illegals isn't going to help you. To quote my own sig "If it's security you want, build a society that no one wishes to attack you must" -Yoda Wiser words have never been spoken.

[struggle4progress]

30. I'm more concerned about how W got into the White House ..

.. than how this poor kid managed to get into the Marines.

Of course, when I hear the word "terrorist," I tend to imagine the Republicans who support bombing civilians and torturing people, and the corporate thugs who profit from the destruction, rather than some poor guy just trying to make a living ...

[The Backlash Cometh]

51. For crying out loud! He wasn't undocumented!

Get your facts straight, PLEASE!

Born in Guatemala, Gutierrez held permanent U.S. resident status, which he obtained in 1999.

At 14, with his parents dead, Gutierrez followed the path of 700,000 of his countrymen to California. He made the 2,000-mile journey from his Guatemala City neighborhood without entry papers. He hopped 14 freight trains to get through Mexico. U.S. immigration authorities detained him.

Fernando Castillo, Guatemala's consul general in Los Angeles, says the United States doesn't deport Guatemalan minors who arrive without family. Gutierrez was made a ward of Los Angeles Juvenile Court. He was placed in a series of group homes and foster families. He learned English and finished high school.

When he reached 18, he got residency documents, Castillo said.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-24-gutierrez-bio_x.htm

[LibDemAlways]

6. Sign up and we'll put you on the

fast track to US citizenship -- if we don't kill you first.

Meantime, young repukes avoid army recruiters like the plague while their folks sport "Support the Troops" stickers on their SUVs.

[Erika]

10. Good enough to serve but not good enough to be one of us?

Twisted priorities and twisted morality.

Especially when you consider the chickenhawks now occupying the WH and cabinet positions.

[Blue Diadem]

13. Here's the story from 60 minutes II..back in 2003

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/23/60II/main550779.shtml
snip:
He came from Guatemala, and he came to the United States illegally. Correspondent Bob Simon reports. We can tell you how his story ended. He was killed in a tank battle in southern Iraq on March 21.

We can also tell you how his story began. It began in a slum outside Guatemala City. We can’t show you any pictures of Jose, at least not when he was a boy. Jose was orphaned when he was 8 years old and became a street child. Street children in Guatemala do not get their pictures taken.

snip:
Several weeks after 60 Minutes II first broadcast this story, the U.S. military revealed the cause of Gutierrez's death. It was not from Iraqi guns, but friendly fire, from his fellow Americans.



:cry:

[alittlelark]

14. Perhaps the BFEE will offer citizenship to those illegals that enlist.

I know they are doing it currently, but mayhaps they have a racist-*supporter-flag waving option w/ allowing illegals to become 'legal' through the military.... no matter WHAT country they come from or WHEN they arrived (ie: advertise in other countries w/in the Americas).

This whole issue is about dividing the country to keep our focus away from the crimes of the BFEE.

I am still amazed that so many at DU, and around the country are being SUCKED INTO IT. The only way they can succeed is by dividing us......................................................


PS - He looks amazingly like Ron Gonzales (went to school w/ him from 6th to HS graduation). Ron's family had been in NM for at least 5 generations.

[PsN2Wind]

15. Actually he wasn't an illegal immigrant

He tried to enter illegally and instead was given asylum and placed in foster care in the U.S. It doesn't make as good a story though.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. Wait...wouldn't many consider that "awarding illegal behavior"?

Because that's what I see everytime the issue of amnesty comes up.

Regardless, you are wrong. He lied about his age to obtain that greencard. But alas, that ruins your attempt to disregard the story. Ah well.

[PsN2Wind]

25. He was fourteen

caught at the border attempting to enter the country illegally. Was granted asylum due to his age and placed in foster care in this country.
But stick with the enhanced story if it fits your agenda better than the truth.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

48. Wrong. Here's a link. He was 22.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/23/60II/main550779.shtml

Where's YOUR source?

[PsN2Wind]

49. Every account seems to state a different age

But the facts are, he had a green card even if he lied about his age to get it, he was killed very early in the war, not the first killed, and if any of you had been in the service you would know that he was a MARINE not a "soldier".

[Ioo]

16. How can ILLEGAL immigrant be Marine, I am sure he has SOME papers.

As a perosn who did serve, He may have come here on less than legal terms, but I know that when he was in the Marines he has some sort of papers that said he was allowed. He had to, at some point have a ligit SSN and so on...

I think it is great that service gives you a way in, I went to Basic Training with 2 Germans. I think that this post is a little dishonest, he was not illigal when he was in the Marines, he was on a visa of some sort

[kpete]

19. Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez

Age: 28
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Date of Death: 3/21/2003
Incident Location: Southern Iraq
Branch of Military: Marines
Rank: Lance Cpl.
Unit: 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Unit's Base: Camp Pendleton, Calif.


Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez was an orphan who grew up on the steets of war-torn Guatemala. As a youth, he traveled to the United States by train, foot and bus, seeking a new life. Gutierrez made it to Hollywood, Calif., where he found a temporary shelter at a homeless center. Social workers eventually placed him with foster parents, Nora and Marcelo Mosquera. He learned English, looked after the younger foster children, and enjoyed soccer and chess, according to the family. "He was just a good kid," recalled Robert Nobles, a teacher at North High in Torrance, Calif., where Gutierrez graduated in 2000. Partly to repay the United States, he became an infantry rifleman based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. "For him it was a question of honor," said his foster brother Max Mosquera. Gutierrez, 28, of Los Angeles, died March 21 in combat. He was awarded U.S. citizenship after his death.

http://www.legacy.com/Soldiers.asp?Page=FSStory&PersonID=3097035

[tandot]

22. Thank you, kpete.

What a sad story. :cry:

It makes me so angry that ignorant pro-war freepers drive around with those "support the troops" stickers but are unwilling to serve themselves. Anyone who still supports this war and Bush should enlist and get his/her ass to Iraq and fight.

[MGKrebs]

20. All you need is to be physically present:

"The relevant language in Section 329 of the INA allows naturalization of persons serving honorably in an active duty status during any period which the President shall designate as a period in which the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in military operations involving armed conflict with a hostile foreign force. Currently, any honorable active service after 11 Sept 01, for any length of time, will allow a non- citizen to apply for naturalization.

Changes to Naturalization Application Process:

Reference "Section 329" on the N 400 application in block 2C for applications based upon the Executive Order;

Ensure that the applicant was a lawful permanent resident at the time of enlistment or subsequent thereto. OR was physically present in the United States at the time the applicant enlisted, reenlisted, or extended enlistment;

Verify that the applicant had "active duty" service since 11 Sept 01;Characterize service as honorable, or other than honorable, as appropriate on the N 426. The SRB custodian (S-1 / CONAD) MUST complete and certify page 2 of the N 426;

Inform the applicant that any discharge from the service without a characterization of service of at least "under honorable conditions", may result in the applicant being denaturalized.

http://sja.hqmc.usmc.mil/jal/Immigration/immigration_changes.htm

[Blue Diadem]

23. He lied and said he was 16..he was really 22..so he got a green card

story and link referenced above.

here's the link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/04/23/60II/main550779.shtml

[Squatch]

29. As soon as you take up arms to defend

the ideals of the Constitution, can you really be considered an "illegal immigrant"? Don't only citizens wear the uniform of their country?

Crap, I would think that to do what LCpl Gutierrez did entitles him to immediate citizenship.

[pnorman]

35. Here's the site from which the above was extracted:

http://alisavaldesrodriguez.blogspot.com/2006/04/more-stupidity-in-my-in-box.html

There's much good reading and talking points there.

pnorman

[Canuckistanian]

36. I bet Faux new will never mention this

Nor will they mention that his aunt scrubs toilets for $3.00.Hr. Or that his cousin died from an infection back in Guatemala when he was 5 years old.

But at least they have a constitution in Iraq. And a new statue to look at.

[donheld]

38. I love your post. This needs to be pointed out FAR and WIDE.

[Kurovski]

39. K&R(nt)

[EFerrari]

43. We're good enough to die.

Perdonanos, Jose.

[VLC98]

45. Illegal immigrants serving in the military.

Your statistic, "Five percent of those serving in our military are illegal immigrants" is misleading. There may be members serving who entered the country illegally, but all recruits have to be legal green card holders. IMHO, any green card holder that joins the military to speed up the citizenship process, by 3 years I believe, is bonkers. No disrespect intended toward LCpl Gutierrez, who was one of the first, not the first, to die in Iraq, according to the CBS article linked above.

[Crayson]

46. Foreign Legion

That's what the French call it.
Die for us and we will grant you citizenship.
Not very moral, but at least they are honest about it.

[Vinca]

47. It's a volunteer army.

Every death in Iraq is tragic, whether legal or illegal.

[mzmolly]

54. "Jobs American's wont do?"

Very sad as the elites never fight their own battles. It's generally the under privledged that do it for them.

[Inland]

55. Then ALL illegal immigrants are great patriots, right? Right?

That is, great patriots for America. Gotta put that in on edit.

The concept that one can extrapolate to all the illegal immigrants that DON'T volunteer is silly.

See, I can just say that anyone who puts in seven years active duty gets his papers. Enlistees get in because we know something about them, and the remainder that we know nothing about aside from their desire to be here, and their willingness to break the law to do it. Seems fair to me.

[endarkenment]

56. Well we should undie him of course and send him back home.

Oh wait. But he's illegal! No that doesn't work either. But what if real americans wanted to die first! Nope. This isn't good. Can't we just erase the records?

Oh wait, I know, 'if this keeps up all of our kids are going to be dying in Spanish in some country whose name we can't even pronounce correctly'. How's that? No good, huh. There has to be some way to respin this.