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give it up.. people are too stupid to understand the moral of the story.. might as well exploit the system by marrying an american citizen
New Mexico hero who saved girl says he's in United States illegally
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The man who chased down a suspected child abductor and saved a 6-year-old girl from what could have been a horrible fate will be honored as a hero Friday. But he is also gaining a new kind of celebrity: as a poster child of sorts for immigration rights in state and national immigration debates.
Antonio Diaz Chacon, 23, is married to an American and has been in the country for four years. But Chacon says he abandoned attempts to get legal residency because the process was difficult and expensive.
Diaz Chacon revealed his immigration status to Univision this week and confirmed to The Associated Press that he is illegal, prompting chatter on the Internet and social networking sites that his case underscored immigrant rights positions in two ongoing political debates.
Some argue he is an example of the kind of immigrant the federal government will now largely leave alone. The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that deportations would focus on criminals.
“As exceptional as his story is,” said Christina Parker, a spokeswoman for Border Network for Human Rights in El Paso, Texas, “it points to the fact that most undo ented immigrants living in the United States are not criminals. He’s more than not a criminal now. He’s a hero.”
Others used it to blast New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez’s ongoing attempts to repeal a state law that allows foreign nationals, including illegal immigrants, to obtain a driver’s license. The governor has put the repeal, which was defeated in the regular session earlier this year, on the agenda for a September special session.
Diaz Chacon’s status didn’t play a role in Albuquerque’s decision to honor his bravery. Mayor Richard Berry planned an afternoon ceremony to recognize the fact that Diaz Chacon jumped in his pickup and chased the suspect until he crashed into a light pole. Diaz Chacon then rescued the girl as the driver of the disabled van ran into the desert. The suspect was arrested later by police.
In deciding to hold the ceremony, city officials said the question of Diaz Chacon’s immigration status never even came up. “Today’s proclamation for Mr. Diaz Chacon is to celebrate the heroic actions that he demonstrated when he saved the life of a 6-year-old girl in danger,” the mayor’s spokesman, Chris Ramirez, said in a statement. “Mayor Berry is proud of Mr. Diaz Chacon’s actions and joins the community in honoring his heroism.”
The governor’s office said its position was unchanged and accused immigrant rights groups of exploiting Diaz Chacon. “The Governor believes foreign nationals here legally, whether through work pemits or visas, should be able to receive driver’s licenses, but is opposed to giving driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants,” Martinez’s office said in a statement.
“The radical special interest groups shamefully exploiting this man, who may or may not be here illegally, to further their cause cannot ignore the litany of well-do ented cases of this policy that put the public at risk, one of which occurred literally a few blocks away at a Denny’s restaurant in 2009 when gang members from El Salvador who had driver’s licenses committed a murder.”
Marcela Diaz, with the Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unido, said the larger question was the fact that Diaz Chacon could acknowledge to being illegal in New Mexico without fear of being deported, but the same might not be the case in other states. “The question I would ask is, ‘Would this have played out the same way if we were in Arizona, or Georgia or Alabama?’ ” she asked.
For his part, Diaz Chacon, a father of two, isn’t worried and said he doesn’t regret saving the girl. “I’m not worried. Why should I?” he said. “It’s not like I committed a murder or a felony.”
SO I guess they all aren't criminals...
give it up.. people are too stupid to understand the moral of the story.. might as well exploit the system by marrying an american citizen
They are all criminals. Being here illegally makes you a criminal.
Yeah. Just like all _________ aren't all bad. Funny how that works, huh?
what a concept!
It's pretty simple: If you are doing what you know to be against the law, you are a criminal. Sure there's a gradient where morality and ethics is concerned, especially when it comes to feeding your family and having a decent life, but where the law is concerned, it's cut and dry.
Actually, you aren't even required to be aware that you are breaking the law in order to be a criminal, however I am pretty sure most of the adult immigrants who are here illegally know they are here illegally.
Not really. Immigration is a civil matter, IIRC.
Let me rephrase that... barring any criminal activity, immigration is a civil matter.
I like how they hang Mexico's flag from their rearview mirrors. That's like me hanging Sweden's flag. I would never even think to do that?
those dern illegal civil matter breakers
those dern illegal civil matter breakers
Well, you're not a swede, right?
Even if I were.
Under le 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, "Improper Entry by Alien," any citizen of any country other than the United States who:
- Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers; or
- Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers; or
- Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact;
has committed a federal crime.
"Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not
in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be
imposed."
Plenty of 2nd and 3rd generation Italians do that kind of stuff here. Don't see what's wrong with it. They're fully aware they're 100% American.
Most illegal aliens do not enter illegally, but overstay their visas. That's why I said "barring criminal activity".
Once in the country, overstaying is not a criminal offense, just a civil administrative offense.
Perhaps it's geography. I only see Mexico flags in these parts.
Probably
BTW, Congress voted to change the "illegal entry" from a misdemeanor to a felony, but it didn't pass.
How could you possibly know that unless you know how many illegals there are? It kind of begs the question, doesn't it?
These s aren't overstaying visas. They are being carted in by coyotes for cash.
Last I checked, a misdemeanor was a crime as well. People overlook the potency of a misdemeanor.
It isn't really that unknown. US Officials do have some estimates on that because they have valid records for entry but not the I-94 record for exits.
From this article:
U.S. officials say the sheer number of people who stay after their visas expire – an estimated 300,000 a year – along with record-keeping and manpower constraints make it impossible to track every person with a story like Jose's and Guadalupe's.
I know I read a study not that long ago about it (I think it was a PEW research study), but I don't have a link handy. If you're really curious you should be able to spot it.
Not saying it isn't a crime at all. My comment was targeted more towards the hard-line posters here, to understand why some of these people are not locked up in all cases.
I don't think they should be locked up. They should be screened and legalized if possible.
IMO, barring any felony that they should do time for, they should be sent back. Locking them up for any extended period of time is a waste of time and money.
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