Oh, my goodness! No mention of TSA today?

(clutching chest, Redd Foxx impression) "Ooooh, this is it! This is the big one! 'Lizabeth! I'm coming to join you, honey!"

Kidding aside, I totally agree. Kick his ass out. And fuck the P.C. stuff for illegal aliens. They're not "undocumented." They are criminals, plain and simple.

A futher question, how does he hold a construction job without a valid Social Security number? and if he's using someone else's, then he's committing idenity theft and is a common criminal.

Or his employer is the criminal, hiring an illegal alien.

Offtopic—

Yo, Raddy... Assess and report.

(And isn't there at least one postdoc biologist who visits this blog? Anyone? It would really be convenient.)

Yo, everybody else... Be very cautious on this Cyber Monday.

As you were.

You think that's bad?

http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2010/09/01/feds-warn-us-citizens-off-interstate-in-arizona-controlled-by-mexican-drug-gangs/

The federal government has posted signs along a major interstate highway in Arizona, more than 100 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, warning travelers the area is unsafe because of drug and alien smugglers, and a local sheriff says Mexican drug cartels now control some parts of the state.

If we're going to do this, at least we could require some service to the country in return, either military, or Americorp, or requiring him to give free or dicounted legal services in poor areas for a few years. At least that would make sense.

I don't have a problem offering a pathway to citizenship to someone, like this young man, with the discipline and drive to succeed. Those are the types of citizens we need. Ultimately, when he's successful, he'll be paying taxes into the system, and perhaps have his own law firm, which will employ people. It's the freeloaders, popping out babies, that are the real drain.

Granted he was eight when he was smuggled across the border. So he is not to blame. I would grant him citizenship -- at the same time I would find his parents and have them deported for human smuggling and whatever else I can come up with.

The quote that comes to mind is: But there's a bright side to this, and a moral. I think morals are good for you, I love morals, and the moral of this story is: If you're walkin' on eggs, don't hop.

If he is sucking up our resources and then whining about it -- kiss my ass. You are an illegal alien -- go through the process to become legal. And that includes going back to Mexico and applying for the visa.

What part of illegal do you not understand? Especially considering that your are a law student.

what kind of lawyer would he make when he can't see the ethical dilemma here? herein is the problem, he doesn't SEE an ethical dilemma, he see's what most people call squatter's rights... if he stays here long enough, it'll be too complicated to kick him out. Actually that Blue Thunder quote is appropriate Jim... people stirring up trouble in the barrio. somewhere, someone has told people like this guy that he is high profile and he can use that to advantage to get other people amnesty or whatever push is in.

they say "see, see, here is a fine upstanding lawyer who made good, even though his parents brought him here illegally." Never mind his exceptional status... most of those kids don't bother with high school. The thing about getting citizenship with service in the armed forces, I can agree with, because they are providing PROOF that they wish to be citizens of this country. This kid on the other hand? Has proven that he knows how to take advantage of loopholes... I too want to know how he has done any of this without an SSN, and if he has been using a fake, then he should find himslef in jail for identity theft.

What was Tobar thinking!? Yes, the kid is eight when he is brought into the U.S. Yes, he cannot be blamed for his parent's actions during those years. However, Perez was bright enough to see that in order to attain tuition and enrollment as an illegal he must take advantage of the Dream Act. His actions have put him in a place where he may have influence over laws and future Acts involving illegal immigration.

Law school debt of $3,000? How is that possible? I’m in a State University and my tuition is $1,500 a class! You can’t get a law degree or certification (like a paralegal) for $3,000. I can only speculate who paid the rest of this guy’s tuition.

Perez doesn’t deserve national recognition for his choices. I believe the U.S. immigration law needs to be adopted from Mexico. Some might say it will cost too much money to take care of the problem, but ignoring the problem is just bleeding money out of our hands too.

Ethics have nothing to do with laws. If you want proof, you can start with Kelo. The law is a rigged game. You play, you lose.

This guy has defrauded the taxpayers of California into subsidizing his education. The legal issue is not disputed. Those charged with enforcing the law are ignoring it because they think it will benefit them politically. What a surprise.

There are bigger criminals getting away with more. Charlie Rangel comes to mind first, but he's not alone.

Regarding the identity theft aspects of illegal immigration, in the instances where there is no financial loss, the victim still spends many hours and dollars to rectify the situation.

Sometimes, the victim also has to prove to government agencies including the IRS that their SS# was used by someone else an the taxes are owed by the suspect.

Stealing someone's Social Security Number is not the victimless crime some folks claim.

The children smuggled across the border may not have made the decision themselves to break the law, but are here in violation of the law and should be deported along with the parents.
The goal of his parents has been achieved; they have successfully defrauded the United States of America. They cheated, lied, and stole from us to give their son a better life. Now this kid and his family (including any anchor children they have had since) should be prosecuted and deported.
This kid should fix the broken country he came from with the quality education he received courtesy of the American taxpayer.

I agree with lovelysoul. Granted I am against illegal immigration, but of all the millions of illegal immigrants we could and should be deporting, I hardly think that law students should be the first in line. This man has proven himself to be smart, motivated, and hardworking. I'd rather have him in our country than the millions of legal Americans who spend their entire lives on welfare and wouldn't dream of taking a construction job to pay the bills. Plus if he was educated on our country's dime shouldn't he stick around so that taxpayers can see a return on their investment?

I really like the idea of requiring military service for immigrants. What better way to prove you deserve to be in our country than by risking your life defending it? Prospective citizens would be required to serve 4-6 years, and those who had an aptitude would have the option of making a career out of it after the mandatory period.

what kind of lawyer would he make when he can't see the ethical dilemma here?

A great one.

If they want to fund a worthwhile stimulus package they should spend the money hiring workers to build a big, secure border fence the entire length of the southern border with Mexico and also spend money on actually rounding up and depirting illegals. It would significantly reduce the strain on schools and other public services, open up a vast number of jobs to provide income for otherwise unemployed Americans. It really sickens me that our government is NOT enforcing the laws of this country even when it's right under their noses and publicly admitted to. It's shameful!!!

> what kind of lawyer would he make when
> he can't see the ethical dilemma here?

> A great one.

Comment of the month.

We'll have Amy send you out an AGB windbreaker.

@bunnygirl - secure border fences work in both directions. I'd rather not be penned in.

I'm all for 4 years of military service in exchange for a clean slate and citizenship, for people who were smuggled over as kids. The "or go to college" part of the bill misses the mark wildly. Having done Americorps Vista in a demanding setting, I think that is too little to require, especially because in addition to being comparatively easy, it comes with a (small) education stipend and bestows federal hiring preference for a short time afterward.

On a related side note, I wish our government would reliably crack down on employers of illegal immigrants, collect large fines early and often, and thereby reduce the incentive for illegal hiring.

One of the things that struck me about the article was the lament that there was no immigration line for poor families...like his.

The implication seems to be that we are obligated to form a line to enable the unskilled and uneducated poor of another country to emigrate to our country.

If countries are obligated to provide opportunities for another country's unskilled and uneducated poor, can we send some of our less-productive citizens to another country?

Perhaps we start an exchange program with Mexico. Two professional wrestling fans for each farm laborer. A creationist for each busboy.

====================

This young man's parents were the exception, not the rule. They worked hard and raised their son to appreciate and take advantage of the opporutnities they stole for him. And he did. He worked hard to make something of himself. And we need more like them (both immigrant and native).

His parents may have given him an opportunity for a better life anyway. He's a graduate of a decent US university and law shool. He's well versed in American culture. Any Mexican law firm or corporation with extensive dealings in the US would probably be happy to have him - perhaps even sending him back here on a legally-obtained work visa.