Reader comments
John Florez: Cupid's arrows bounce off immigration laws

Stephen | 1:26 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

I fell victim to cupids arrow during my time in the Marine Corps,in Japan. When I got married to my wife I was already finished with my four year enlistment.I had no idea that my wife would end up being unable to live with me in the States. We have been married for over a year and she is still stuck in Japan, due to immigration laws. We have a son who is both American and Japanese, but because his mother is foreign he cannot be with both of his parents. After spending around $9000.00 on a lawyer to try to speed the process up we are only slightly closer to being together. The persuit of happiness is in the hands of the immigration department. America really needs to start focusing on the well being of families and its citizens.

Anthony | 2:53 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Here we go again. The Deseret News prints another pro-illegal immigration article, thinly disguised (this time) as an editorial.

To the editors of the News: Please stop. This is getting irritating. This year the legislature needs to pass meaningful laws that take away the job incentive from illegal immigrants. They also need to pass additional measures designed to deport those already here.

get real | 6:56 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Undocumented is ILLEGAL! not "otherwise law-abiding". Illegal activity is illegal activity. Why can't the media see this? What a slap in the face for those who pay the price to become citizens legally.

Comments continue below

anon | 7:15 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Stephen,

Have your Japanese wife move to Mexico and then have her cross the border to the U.S.

Dreamer | 7:50 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

John is so right on. Can we not emphasise with what it must be like to have our families separated for some 'legal rational'that has no heart. Would one not see things different if were to happen to us?

Craig | 8:22 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

To Stephen's point: Many come here illegally because it takes too long, and is unlikely they can come here legally.

The documentation process takes too long, and is too unpredictable. It has become a defacto 'wall' to legal imigration.

Get Real 2 | 8:25 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

I'm fine with get real's simplistic assessment above about "ILLEGAL is not otherwise law abiding", particularly if it's evenly applied.

Polygamists and their families are "ILLEGAL" and in violation of various state laws, the Utah Constitution and various federal laws. When I see the same vitriolic ferver associcated with foriegn national 'illegals' as I do with our home-grown Anglo 'illegals', I'll feel much better.

Lew Jeppson | 9:07 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

The issue here is fairness - to all concerned. Mr Florez should tell us what is fair to children of illegal immigrants, illegal immigrants, legal immigrants who have gone through the formal immigration process, and American citizens, as to hiring quotas, affirmative action, public benefits, and taxes. All of these issues must be dealt with at the same time. I doubt Mr Florez will take me up on this.

Virtual Wall | 9:28 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

It's true. If we expect people to "stand in line" and come here legally, we need to make the line move along at a reasonable pace. The process is too long and difficult these days. No wonder everyone wants to sneak in. The alternative just doesn't make sense most of the time.

Ethan | 11:16 a.m. Feb. 11, 2008

I don't like that people come here illegally and expect to get all the same benefits and rights that the rest of us get. It took awhile to get my wife immigrated here legally, so those who come illegally and get the same treatment is a huge slap in the face to us, not to mention they circumvented the costs we had to pay. If people want to come here, they need to go through the proper process. USCIS/DHS does need to SPEED UP the process, but people still need to do it the legal way.

howard | 1:21 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

All the illegals that snuck across the border will have to go. Ones that overstayed their visa will have to pay a fine and pass a background check that will include Dna, fingerprint, and photo. We have to do something about Mexico that say they will not deport if death penalty, if they commited the crime and death penalty warrants, it should be applied.
Mexico doesn't like for us to tell her what to do and neither do we. Illegal immigration must be enforced at the employers door step or they will keep coming.

united community | 2:24 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Great to see a community coming together on so many different things, isn't it?

Sweet William | 3:39 p.m. Feb. 11, 2008

Mr Florez, this may come as a shock to you, but not everyone that wants to live here gets the right to do so. We have immigration quotas. If we didn't I'm sure a majority of the other 6 billion people in the world would want to come here.

Just because Mexicans can walk here and want a better life doesn't they get what they want.

When they come here illegally, they know that they can be thrown out at any time. If they choose to start a family, or sneak one into the U.S., THEY are putting the family in jeopardy, not us.

It is a risk they are willing to take as part of their illegal activity. Why should we take pity when it is THEY that committed the crime and put their family in jeopardy.

Mr. Florez, not all of your country men will be allowed to come here, just accept that. If you want to be with your country men, you can always sneak across the border to visit them, or you can get a visa and do it legally.

The Old Submariner | 12:25 a.m. Feb. 13, 2008

To "Sweet William" you remind me of an old Texas joke. It depends on which side of the fence the oil well is on as to whether it smells sweet or just stinks. Your comments directed at Mr. Florez put you on the stinky side of the fence.

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