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May 3, 2010
Immigrant Families Leave Arizona, Fearing Law
At Least 100,000 Illegal Immigrants Flee the State Fearing Legislation; Some Citizens Angered by Financial Impact


By Kelly Cobiella

(CBS) On a dusty block in Phoenix, 15 years of the Quintana family's possessions are for sale.

Manuela Quintana said that they decided to leave when the Arizona governor signed the new immigration law.

For years, their family thrived with jobs in restaurants and construction, reports CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella. Their 10 children were born here and are U.S. citizens. Both she and her husband are undocumented, and currently unemployed.

She said that her biggest fear is being put in jail and having her children taken away from her. Just the thought of moving scares their 12-year-old daughter Graciela.

"I think it's going to be my worst day," Graciela said.

Two years ago, this park was filled with families every weekend. Arizona was home to more than half a million illegal immigrants. Since then, at least 100,000 have left.

Poll: Majority Backs Arizona Immigration Bill

Kyle Kester is the Quintana's landlord - he's lost seven tenants in the past week.

"I would say on this block alone we have 20 vacancies at least," Kester said. "It's not just illegal immigrants who are affected by this. I was born in the U.S. and it's hurting me now."

Graciela's best friend fled to California with her family Saturday. She didn't get to say good-bye.

Manuela knows she broke the law when she came here 15 years ago. But she doesn’t see herself as a criminal.

"A criminal is someone who kills," she said in Spanish. "I just want to work."

The family packed up before dawn today and headed north to Colorado. Manuela says she's lost hope in this state. She thinks she'll find it again in another.


Looks like the law is doing it's job.
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One would think that if they lived here for 15 years, and decided it was where they wanted to stay, and have their children, then why would they not try to get proper documentation and paperwork so they could work legally? I am sorry but my compassion is wearing thin for these people. They were obviously using this for their own benefit since if they were undocumented they were able to slide beneath the "radar", work without paying taxes, nor being assessed for them. IMO, they have many options, but they all begin with getting the correct paperwork in order and doing what is required of every legally naturalized citizen who moves to this country.
quote:
Manuela knows she broke the law when she came here 15 years ago. But she doesn’t see herself as a criminal.

"A criminal is someone who kills," she said in Spanish. "I just want to work."



Breaking the law is breaking the law -- breaking the law makes you a criminal -- whether that is stealing a pack of gum, gunning a man down or entering the country illegally. If you know you broke the law when you came here illegally that makes you a criminal. You gave up any right you might have had to see legal employment when you break the law -- she deserves to be punished just like anyone else that breaks the law. She just wants to work -- so do others that are born and raised here and others that are here legally. She doesn't deserve anything. Sorry, I'm harsh -- I just can't stand how they justify and mitigate what they've done. It's like a sex offender saying sex with kids is natural or a man killing his wife and saying she deserved it. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Oh, this is just too funny, in the opinion of one who lived in Phoenix for 30 years. After speaking with many family members and friends who live there, the citizens are loving it. They have been trying/waiting for help from the government for many years, to no avail. Apparently they decided to throw a big pile of doodoo against the wall to see how much of it would stick so that the government would actually wake up and do something. Whether or not they do remains to be seen but at least something is getting done. I grew up among many, many immigrants.. most of which were legal, a surprising number which weren't. There is NO excuse for not going thru the system and making things right. The simple fact is... they didn't have to. No one made them. With no papers it is too easy to just disappear with no worries.
The problem is that the bleeding heart liberals will never let it become a federal law. There will be haven for them, and it will be left up to the states to do exactly what Arizona has done. In the end they will all go to California, New York, or Michigan, where they will be put on an illegitimate voter roll, and given the rights which they already had enjoyed illegally.
Unless every State will step up to the plate and not allow this to happen, Arizona's actions will be futile.
It burns me up to read a reporter actually put a statement in the paper and try to legitimze the fact that these people KNEW they were breaking the law, yet we are supposed to feel sorry for them, since they have evaded paying taxes and their responsibilities for years.
Wanna bet that everyone of those children born here, in an Arizona hospital, were delivered without reimbursement to the hospital nor the doctors who delivered them? Wanna bet that the majority of those children are probably on government assistance?
These are the exact people the law should be targeting. We are paying for their actions, yet we are supposed to send pity their way. Either do it right, or get the hell outta here.
WesternOne,
We don't want to get into "profiling" now do we???? "Papers?, We don't need no stinkin' papers!".....remember that? I heard on television the other day that if one goes to Canada, they have to have "papers" on them if they are not citizens; have we heard one word about Canada be "racist"? (In case I didn't come across clearly, I agree with you!)As long as votes can be bought, you can be sure something along the lines of amnesty is on the way....before 2012!
quote:
Originally posted by forumaddict2:
She will. Unless all states do this, it won't matter. It should be a federal law.


It is a federal law, that's why their called illegal immigrants. It's just not being enforced. That's the reason Arizona had to do what it did. Arizonas law is not really any different than the federal law already on the books except for one thing, Arizona will be enforcing it.
astepper55,

Profile away!!! If that's what it takes, I'm sorry, but you are sooooo right. Racist??? I think not! I think "legal/illegal" is what matters here and quite frankly, it would be easier to just get papers and follow the rules than it is to hide and stay under the radar. I mean.. come on! What it boils down to is if they have no legalization they have no taxes or the rest of the responsibility that goes along with doing things the "right way!"
quote:
Originally posted by teyates:
One would think that if they lived here for 15 years, and decided it was where they wanted to stay, and have their children, then why would they not try to get proper documentation and paperwork so they could work legally? I am sorry but my compassion is wearing thin for these people. They were obviously using this for their own benefit since if they were undocumented they were able to slide beneath the "radar", work without paying taxes, nor being assessed for them. IMO, they have many options, but they all begin with getting the correct paperwork in order and doing what is required of every legally naturalized citizen who moves to this country.



The "rest of the story" is irrelevant. This makes for a better news report. Roll Eyes You know, the poor immigrant being mistreated by the rich white man. In 15 years, they found time to have ten children (I wonder how they support them Wink ), but couldn't become legal. I wonder why. So they pack up their 10 children and move to another state. I wonder why they don't move south instead of north. They'll be just as illegal in Colorado as they were in Arizona...but no one will ask any questions...that's what they're counting on.

Trust me, the national media will bombard the airwaves with stories such as this, and count on people feeling sorry for the immigrant and not asking any questions.
quote:
Originally posted by WesternOne:
astepper55,

Profile away!!! If that's what it takes, I'm sorry, but you are sooooo right. Racist??? I think not! I think "legal/illegal" is what matters here and quite frankly, it would be easier to just get papers and follow the rules than it is to hide and stay under the radar. I mean.. come on! What it boils down to is if they have no legalization they have no taxes or the rest of the responsibility that goes along with doing things the "right way!"



Restaurant and construction work must pay real well in Arizona. Even if you don't pay taxes, raising ten kids without any assistance would be difficult. Wink
If the federal government will not protect the states, then the states have every right to protect themselves. If moving from an enforcement state to a friendly state, it will then become the friendly state's burden which they can fix as well, or prevent in the first place. I am not against the illegal immigrants and yes I said illegal, they need to be on a level playing field with US Citizens, or else give me the option of not paying into the Federal Vacuum system.
quote:
Originally posted by midknightrider:
quote:
Originally posted by WesternOne:
astepper55,

Profile away!!! If that's what it takes, I'm sorry, but you are sooooo right. Racist??? I think not! I think "legal/illegal" is what matters here and quite frankly, it would be easier to just get papers and follow the rules than it is to hide and stay under the radar. I mean.. come on! What it boils down to is if they have no legalization they have no taxes or the rest of the responsibility that goes along with doing things the "right way!"



Restaurant and construction work must pay real well in Arizona. Even if you don't pay taxes, raising ten kids without any assistance would be difficult. Wink


Well, if I had to "guess" I'd say that somewhere along the line there was probably a part left out of the story about how 15 adult family members shared the same house... Wink)
I'm sure that CBS used this story on purpose to make every one feel sorry for her and her 10 KIDS!
It also means her, hubby and those 10 kids got free medical care from the ER rooms, and I bet her kids get free lunches at school.

Does anyone know if they check if you are illegal before giving free lunches?

How did they pay rent when neither parent was working right now?
quote:
Originally posted by WesternOne:
quote:
Originally posted by midknightrider:
quote:
Originally posted by WesternOne:
astepper55,

Profile away!!! If that's what it takes, I'm sorry, but you are sooooo right. Racist??? I think not! I think "legal/illegal" is what matters here and quite frankly, it would be easier to just get papers and follow the rules than it is to hide and stay under the radar. I mean.. come on! What it boils down to is if they have no legalization they have no taxes or the rest of the responsibility that goes along with doing things the "right way!"



Restaurant and construction work must pay real well in Arizona. Even if you don't pay taxes, raising ten kids without any assistance would be difficult. Wink


Well, if I had to "guess" I'd say that somewhere along the line there was probably a part left out of the story about how 15 adult family members shared the same house... Wink)


The ten kids that were born here are citizens and as such qualify for any benefits they'd need if their income is within guidelines. Not only free lunches, but food stamps, medical care and other benefits. Whether the parents are legal doesn't come in to play. That's why so many illegals drop a few kids the first few years they're here. The kids used to be called anchor babies but evidently it's not PC to call them that anymore. Roll Eyes
Last edited by forumaddict2
tcf,
I have no idea how to respond to your statement. You have any facts to back that up or is this just stuff you made up?

The military can offer green cards to encourage enrollment particularity in Calif that can have 75% Latinos in some of the southern schools.

If you are insulting our military and legal immigrants, then you don't deserve a response.
quote:
Originally posted by b50m:
tcf,
...... you don't deserve a response.


you got that right. There is no excuse for what is happening. These poeple know how to manipulate the system, and anchor babies is the correct term, or has been for years. They can draw upwards of $1500 a month in social supplementations (food stamps, housing vouchers, etc), as well as qualifying for Medicaid and other healthcare. I do not fault the children, BUT the mother and father know that what they are doing is WRONG. There should be a limitation and these people should be forced into becoming a citizen if they wish to continue to receive the benefits. They are not paying taxes nor any of the other deductions which a legally employed individual would pay.
quote:
Originally posted by midknightrider:
While I certainly don't know the citizenship laws of every country in the world, being born in most countries does not automatically confer citizenship.


True, but it does here. It's no wonder they're all clamoring to get in here, drop an anchor, and ride the system. Of course, the parents work for cash so they don't have to show check stubs and tax records like the rest of us would have to to apply for help. All they have to do is say they have no income and there's absolutely no way to prove otherwise.
How so? You can't assume every brown person you see is illegal so why stop eating at Mexican restaurants? Personally, Hispanic influx doesn't bother me. Illegal influx does. There's a big difference. Illegal immigrants don't just come from Mexico, El Salvador, etc. You can have a green eyed redheaded white-as-a-lily illegal from Ireland, for that matter. Illegal is illegal. It doesn't matter the color or nationality. One is as serious a drain to this country as the other.

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