Immigrant Soldiers Serve Country, Still Face Deportation

[proud2BlibKansan]

It jars the mind: immigrants who put their lives on the line, served in wars from Korea to Kosovo, and are being rewarded for their service by being deported from the United States. How can it be? And yet, many are.

The AP’s Juliana Barbassa reports that an estimated 4,000 immigrant veterans are facing deportation or have already been deported because of criminal convictions. Barbassa profiles Rohan Coombs, a 43-year-old Jamaican-born U.S. Marine who fell on hard times after he came back from serving in the Persian Gulf in the first Iraq war. Coombs was convicted of selling pot to an undercover cop in 2008, when he was working as a bouncer outside a club. He’s facing deportation now to a country he left when he was a child.

“If I had died,” Coombs tells Barbassa, “they would have made me a citizen, given me a military funeral, and given the flag to my mom. But I didn’t die. Here I am. I just want another chance.”

Barbassa reports that around 8,000 legal residents enlist in the military every year, and currently there are almost 17,000 people who are not citizens on active duty. Undocumented immigrants are barred from serving in the military.

more . . . http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/10/immigrant_vets_facing_deportation.html

[Cid_B]

1. Here's an idea..

QUIT BREAKIN' THE LAW!!

[proteus_lives]

2. What a ground-breaking concept!

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. And here's another idea:

READ THE ARTICLE


Barbassa reports that around 8,000 legal residents enlist in the military every year, and currently there are almost 17,000 people who are not citizens on active duty. Undocumented immigrants are barred from serving in the military.

[timo]

4. huh???

uhhhhh the guy who was CONVICTED for selling pot?!?!?!!??!

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And that makes him a hardened criminal who deserves to be deported?Huh is right.

I obviously disagree.

[timo]

7. as is your right

but the current laws, are the current laws, and until that gets changed, pot selling bouncer is OUT!!! He knew that selling pot was against the law,chose to ignore it, broke the law,got caught, and now whines like a bitch about the consequences....thats rules like them or not, do the crime, do the time, reap your reward!! whether you or I agree or disagree, thats way it IS!!! when your immigration status is pending your not supposed to be breaking the law, whether its selling pot, whipping your wifes ass, or doing shit that will get you arrested and then resisting that arrest....no brainer!!!

[pinboy3niner]

8. Nobody else gets DEPORTED for selling pot

That's not penalty for his crime; it's a consequence applied to someone considered a criminal alien, and it's grossly disproportionate to his offense.

Or should we also deport legal residents who have served in uniform defending this country for littering or spitting on the sidewalk or speeding?

P.S. Suggest you edit to remove "whines like a bitch." That's an offensive sexist remark.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Glad you get it.

:hi:

[timo]

5. self delete double post

[Alexander]

9. Winfield Scott proposed automatic citizenship after 1 year of military service, back in 1852.

Whig nominee Scott lost the election to Democrat Franklin Pierce.

[Obamanaut]

10. "...deported because of criminal convictions..." might be the key.

Don't commit crimes, and do the paperwork for citizenship. The citizenship application process can be started while serving on active duty. If the guy in the OP was in the first Iraq war, and his age is 43, there has been ample time to apply, AND no one forced him to commit a criminal offense.

You buys your ticket, you takes your ride.

[Cid_B]

11. Don't forget this part...

"a 43-year-old Jamaican-born U.S. Marine who fell on hard times after he came back from serving in the Persian Gulf in the first Iraq war."

Like his hard times somehow give him an excuse to peddle drugs...