Reader comments
Seeking a better life

Sorry, I don't feel to sympathetic for those who choose to come here illegally. They chose to break the law! No one forced them to come!
We all have positive or negative consequences for our actions in life. Maybe she should have thought things through a little more cautiously.
Those who have had their identities stolen are the real victims here.

This is your wakeup call! If the polichikens, oops I mean politicians, don't do something quick about this mess, and I mean something quick, we will all be speaking spanish when we become overrun as a nation!

When peoples lives are being affected by the mess of immigration it seems foolish to care about something like spanish being spoken in a home. It wasn't too long ago that many Irish immigrants faced such signs as "No Irish Need Apply" (NINA). In fact it was because of this type of fear that many felt that we would be over-run by irish or polish immigrants, so we started this whole immigration issue. If you've ever been to Ellis Island or to a citizen swearing in ceremony you would feel proud to know that most people who come into the US want to be good citizens. The government knows this that's why they even have a system for illegal immigrants to pay taxes. Thats right, some of the PAY TAXES, but can't vote. Many become victims to violence and crimes, but can't report it for fear of being thrown in jail. While I understand the problem of identity theft, I lay the problem at the feet of our politicians who choose to play the public fear card to get re-elected instead of finding a solution to this debacle we call bureaucracy.

D.C. created this mess. They wanted it or they would have done something long ago. So long as we keep putting in the same old parties they aren't going to fix it. They'll change the law before they'll follow it, but don't you dare break it.

I'm getting more than a little tired of both local papers always writing sympathetic articles about law breakers.

I have sympathy for those who seek a better life here. I do not have sympathy for the identity theft which ruins the lives of innocent, unknowing people. Those who commit identity theft should be punished to the full extent of the law and made to pay restitution.

"she didn't rob". Tell that to the women whose identity was stolen. I am sure she will thing it was robbery of the worst kind.

More deportations of illegal lawbreakers are needed . Their dependent children need to be deported also. The added burden they add to our society in welfare, crime and other costs is staggering. American citizens cannot afford to pay for those who choose to break our laws. Come here legally or be deported!

Nice bleeding heart story except that the ILLEGAL MEXICAN has caused massive problems for other people while living a criminal life. How much money did having child out of wedlock cost the US taxpayers???

This woman has no regret about her criminal activity or the suffering she has caused others. She will do it again in a moments notice when she gets a chance. The next time, hubby gets jailed for criminal facilitation and conspiricy while the employer gets jail time.

I am appalled by the attitude of so many in this state. I doubt it either of the two previous commentators even read the article. It is so easy to say the things they do. They have never known the hard life that those who try to cross the borders here have known. I am at a loss for words because nothing I will say can change the rampant plague of ignorance that many people are infected with on this subject. Put yourself in their shoes, just try it. I don't think you can because you have no idea what life it like for them. Neither do I! But I can try, and I can refrain from such an ignorant judgemental attitude.

Her husban does not know when the family will be together again? How about he pack up everybody and move to Mexico! She both of them are currently conspireing to violate US Immigration law again. Arrest him next time for aiding in a criminal enterprise!

This is absolutely ridiculous. The woman crosses the border illegally and evidently contemplates the only way her family may be together again is to do it again.

If Maricela truly knows what she did was wrong (illegally crossing the border and later identity theft by purchasing someone else's Social Security number), she would at least try to take the legal option available.

Obviously the punsihment ISN'T harsh enough if the woman is still contemplating illegal activity and viewing herself as the victim.

What I am mad about is my neighbor who came here legally with her husband on a work visa and she has been waiting more than 5 years for the legal process to give her the ability to work. The whole process is not working even for those who want to follow the law. Her children can't attend college or even work to support themselves as adults! So I can see why people are forced into breaking the law, the law doesn't work either!

I am sick of the liberal whining about children of illegals being left here without parents!. I was under the impression that they have schools and children in Mexico!

"There but by the grace of God go I."

Nice you all live such sure and complete lives.

As a school teacher, allow me to share that the "better life" these people seek is seeing their kids receive free schooling, not necessarily seeing their kids graduate, get higher education, pursue a career. The high school parents I knew were happy their daughters were attending schoo, not on the streets, and not pregnant. Forget about being tardy, absent, receiving failing grades. The education of America is being seriously dumbed down to accomodate the non English speakers. We cannot put them in their own classes while they learn English, so, except for AP and CP classes and some classes with prerequisites,your sons' and daughters' curriculum has greatly changed.

To: Read the Article,
What is it you do not understand about the word "ILLEGAL?"
This nation will not survive with your "compassionate" attitude. Wake up and be a patriot or join the lawless society you are encourageing.

I have walked in their shoes and yet I came here legally and did not steal from others to do it either through identity theft or other. I made may way here and provided for my children within the law.

It can be done. I know many from Mexico who have been able to make a good life there with hard work and determination. It is possible.

Like other Americans I wish only that they do it legally as I did. Why did the father not go through the proper steps to make her legal a long time ago?

They should all go to Mexico and not split the family. It is of their own doing. Karma as they say

As a victim of identity theft myself, I am appalled at the attitude of the illegal immigrant in this article. This is apparently a common attitude by those who commit these crimes (legal citizens or illegal immigrants) in that they do not think they are hurting anyone else. I do not understand why they think that their punishment is so harsh. What would be the punishment if they did this in their own countries? Maricela Naranjos OPTED to be deported to Mexico to AVOID JAIL TIME. I have very little sympathy for her. Citizens do not have that option. She stole an identity, KNOWING that what she was doing was illegal and ignoring the fact that she might one day get caught. If her husband is a citizen, why did they not try to rectify the citizenship issue as soon as they were married or his citizenship was granted? Why did they leave her status quo? Don't play the "poor me" card with me- there are always other options. To me, this punishment is not quite just enough and if in their own context it is too harsh then it needs to be sent through the illegal community that this is what is going to happen if they get caught.

Theft is theft- and what part of the word "illegal" is no one understanding?

Comment was made that Ms. Carrasco's holdup on housing was from a $411 podiatry bill.

I have worked in the healthcare industry for years as a patient account rep (collector) and I have seen an alarming trend in the last few years. Hospitals cannot deny treatment to anyone and a lot of illegal immigrants are using identity theft to get healthcare. This is effecting our disabled and elderly, as also those Americans in actual need. Those who are using the stolen identities or not giving valid personal information are not only hurting the healthcare industry by them having to "eat" the cost of the medical services, but are costing the taxpayer monies for all the "charitable" writeoffs that need to be done or the accounts that cannot be collected (sometimes as much as 50% in any given month) because these people cannot be located or collected on. Do we wonder why health insurance premiums are so high? Hospitals and practitioners have to raise their costs to cover these losses by raising their prices, which in turn causes insurance companies to raise theirs. The illegals may claim they are not hurting anyone but they are going through their illegal life in blinders.