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Study: Kids of immigration raid arrestees face mental problems

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By OSKAR GARCIA / The Associated Press

Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 - 11:46:35 am CDT

GRAND ISLAND — Thousands of children whose parents are arrested in immigration raids face mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and depression, according to a new study to be released Wednesday by the Urban Institute.

A child is left without at least one parent for every two adults detained in workplace raids, the study said, and most of those children are citizens or legal immigrants.

“Those children were born in America, and we forgot about their rights during the raids, because they were left parentless,” said Steve Joel, superintendent of Grand Island Public Schools, which worked to get parents to keep their children in school following a December raid at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant.

Story Photo
In this Dec. 12, 2006 file photo, Domingo Raymundo Lopez examines documents including the birth certificate for niece, Marisela, in Grand Island. Marisela's mother was among those caught in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on the Swift meat packing plant in Grand Island. (LJS File)

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10.7.07: Study shows raid's effects on G.I. children

Researchers visited Grand Island and Greeley, Colo., two of six sites where ICE officers conducted a coordinated raid at Swift & Co. meatpacking plants resulting in about 1,300 arrests. Those arrested were mostly from Mexico and Guatemala.

Researchers also visited New Bedford, Mass., where more than 360 workers were arrested at Michael Bianco Inc., a factory that makes equipment and apparel for the U.S. military.

At the three sites studied, officials arrested 900 suspected illegal immigrants and 500 children abruptly lost contact with their mother, father or both parents. That left them with a combination of unstable supervision, stress, emotional trauma and material needs that can lead to mental health disorders, according to the study, which was commissioned by The National Council of La Raza, a Washington-based Hispanic civil rights organization.

Congress should take more control over how immigration officials handle workplace raids, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement should have a consistent policy about releasing arrested parents to minimize harm to their children, the study concluded.

Immigration agents release some arrested parents to care for their children, but the agency does not have a rigid rule for doing so, said ICE spokesman Tim Counts.

Counts said the agency goes above and beyond other law enforcement agencies to help parents ensure their children are cared for.

“This report takes the bizarre position that ICE is somehow responsible for family disruption caused by parents who make poor decisions,” Counts said. “Law enforcement agencies across the nation arrest people who have children every day. Everyone understands that parents are responsible for their actions and the resulting impact on their families.”

About 100 people were released in the days following the December Swift & Co. raids for humanitarian reasons, primarily to care for children. Many of them weren’t released the same day because they lied about whether they had children, Counts said. Some parents lie because they’re afraid their kids will be arrested, too.

Researchers with the study talked to about 30 parents, including some who had been arrested, and dozens of caregivers, religious leaders, school officials, lawyers, advocates and others at each site.

While many teachers and mental health professionals who directly talked to children and parents said they showed signs of various mental health problems, researchers heard about only one parent regularly seeing a psychologist and only one child and two parents who were prescribed psychotropic medications, the study said.

That’s because many Hispanic immigrants have low incomes and can’t afford to seek help, or because they don’t realize their children are suffering from mental health disorders, said mental health professionals interviewed for the study.

Among the study’s other findings:

— While children in most cases had one parent to care for them, that parent was often less accustomed to making decisions and in many cases, couldn’t access their spouse’s money.

— Families with two parents experienced more long-term separation than single-parent families because the arrested parent was less likely to be quickly released.

According to 2006 Pew Hispanic Center estimates, there are 3.1 million children who are U.S. citizens living with at least one illegal immigrant parent. And 1.8 million more children are themselves illegal immigrants.

Parents and others have long complained that procedures used by ICE agents make it hard for parents to arrange care for their children in case they are arrested, an observation affirmed by the study.

“We’re hearing these stories every week, of something happening, an enforcement action, and kids and families being separated, kids being left behind not taken care of,” La Raza spokeswoman Lisa Navarrete said. “Clearly that’s a major issue within this whole enforcement strategy.”

Counts said ICE stands by its standard arrest procedures, which include letting people make a phone call, asking about family and child care issues and giving a list of free or low-cost legal assistance organizations in the area.

Work site immigration arrests have dramatically increased in the past two years. According to ICE, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, agents arrested more than 4,000 people in workplace raids from October 2006 through September 2007 and 3,700 during the previous year.

That’s up from fewer than 500 arrests in 2002 and 2003, according to the agency.

“There are five million children with at least one undocumented parent,” said Randy Capps, one of the study’s co-authors. “There are a lot more children, if you will, that are at risk of consequences in the future if these work site raids are ongoing.”


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How about this? wrote on October 31, 2007 12:01 pm:
" Thousands of children whose parents are deployed to Iraq and Afganistan face mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and depression. But, as we all know, in the USA we all fight and die for, minorities now rule. Thank you democrats. "

 AD - of course - having a criminal for a parent is a hardship wrote on October 31, 2007 12:04 pm:
" It doesn't take a study to know that having a criminal for a parent would create hardship for their children. Illegal immigrants ARE criminals regardless of if they have legal children. If you are a criminal, you are subject to arrest and punishment regardless of how this affects your children. The parents (the criminals) are the ones responsible for negatively affecting their children, not those who enforce the laws that were broken. "

 Doc wrote on October 31, 2007 12:31 pm:
" We again need to revisit the 14th Amendment which has been used and abused for a child's "rights". It says, All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. I would maintain that the child being born to illegals even while in the U.S. is not subject to the jurisdiction thereof because their parents are not subject to the jurisdiction thereof. I would say that there would be a lot less stress if we ship them all home together after booking and fingerprinting them. Let them apply like everyone else and if they break the law again by coming in the backdoor, it's a minimum 5 year sentence at hard labor. No country club prisons. You came back you work for free. "

 If you are wrote on October 31, 2007 12:39 pm:
" an illegal, than you always risk the chance of being sent away and, if you also have children, you should have some plan as to what to do with those children if you are sent away...otherwise, you should pursue citizenship and that will stop this nonsense. You should prepare your children for those instances when you could be sent away from them so they will know what to do and where to go that's safe. You are in America. Americans are independent. Become independent. "

 Charges? wrote on October 31, 2007 12:40 pm:
" Any other parent subjecting their child to mental abuse would be charged with child abuse and/or neglect. Why aren't we adding those charges to the list of charges the illegal arrestee has racked up? "

 hey there straight shooter! wrote on October 31, 2007 12:46 pm:
" I just love the hard labor posts. Enlightened to be sure. You all should be dang happy you were born where you were. If not for the grace of god there go you! It makes it a whole lot easier to throw stones when you're the one standing on top of the hill. "

 How about that? wrote on October 31, 2007 12:57 pm:
" So are the democrats responsible for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the immigration problems, or all of the above? You might as well throw in global warming, the oil crunch, the North Koreans, and the cannibals in New Guinea. It's all the democrats fault! "

 How sad wrote on October 31, 2007 1:03 pm:
" My heart goes out to these poor children who are made to suffer for the choices of their parents. In this case the parents did the crime and the kids have to do the time. How sad. "

 Nina wrote on October 31, 2007 1:07 pm:
" Poor tykes - what did they expect would happen? For the children's sake we should put politics aside enough to see that they're together with their parents. Thier parents took a gamble by coming here to give their kids a better life, and they eventually got caught. But the children shouldn't suffer because the parents erred, OR because it is politically correct to prosecute illegal immigrants. All those involved would make this a better world if they have a heart and think, "Save the children," as first priority. Bless their innocent little hearts! "

 ol' Farmer wrote on October 31, 2007 1:14 pm:
" Hey, What About This? What about the minorities who are not citizens who serve in the US Armed Forces and die for the USA also? Check back issues of the Journal Star to see some of them featured in the war casualties printed every day. They are many in number, and commonly given citizenship posthumously. Indeed, what about someone who would give his/her life for a country that is not even yet theirs? "

 Jeez wrote on October 31, 2007 1:19 pm:
" LJS would you please stop running these sob stories about the poor illegals!!!! Why not do an indepth investigation on the AMERICAN workers who lost their jobs to these criminals or the hospital that had to close because treating illegals bankrupted them? I'm not without a heart and feel for these children but let's put the blame squarely where it belongs..on their LAWBREAKING parents. They are the ones responsible for their children's angst not the mean 'ole government who is actually enforcing our laws for a change. Why do you even lend any creditility to a racist organization like LaRaza? Who is standing up for AMERICANS?!! "

 Stinky wrote on October 31, 2007 1:27 pm:
" Well...that's just great! So now it is our fault that these people suffer because of their own choices? Legal citizens (taxpayers) can not afford to take care of their children. Now you want taxpayers to feel sorry for illegal immigrants (non-taxpayers) and their children? I wish we could take care of the whole world, but we can't. What are we to do? Seems to me we ought to concentrate on taking care of our own! "

 Amie wrote on October 31, 2007 1:27 pm:
" Re: How about this?: Can't you even try to disguise your racism a little bit? Your comment implies that you wouldn't have any issues with these immigrants if they were white. Oh, well, I know that you aren't alone in that position. "

 Josh wrote on October 31, 2007 1:31 pm:
" My wife is a recent LEGAL immigrant, and she feels just as strongly than many of us citizens do about illegals being nothing but criminals, and she feels they deserve no sympathy. After all why should she have to spend the large amounts of time and money to follow the legal path to get into this country, but yet all of these other people can just come illegally and get our sympathy? Somebody mentioned that "it's a lot easier to throw stones when you stand on top of the hill". The fact is yes, we are lucky to have been born here- but does that make it our obligation to take care of everyone on the planet who wants a better life ? Each nation is responsible for taking care of its citizens, and if those people want to come here they are welcomed with open arms- as long as they follow the LEGAL path as my wife did. Otherwise they get no sympathy from me- and those who do it illegally are spitting in the faces of every individual who has ever come here the legal way. "

 Matt wrote on October 31, 2007 1:46 pm:
" Well, Doc, you don't understand at all how to read the 14th amendment do you? It says in plain language, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". Do you know what "subject to the jurisdiction" even means?? First, the 14th amendment says NOTHING about their parents being subject to the U.S. You can "contend" all you want, but you don't just get to rewrite the 14th amendment. Second, when their parents are on American soil they ARE subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. (not that its even relevant). You have know idea what you're talking about, but just throw it out as fact. Please! The "illegals'" children have as much right to be here, provided they were born on U.S. soil, as your children do. Period! Its plain language in the U.S. Constitution and legal scholars over the past 230 years all agree with that conclusion. That is part of the beauty of the U.S. "Bring the tired and weak.." "

 Bob wrote on October 31, 2007 1:50 pm:
" I feel so sorry for illegal immigrants "

 So Much Compassion wrote on October 31, 2007 1:59 pm:
" The process for legal immigration is complex, bogged down by bureaucracy and often expensive. All of the people crying "just come legally" are willingly overlooking that fact. And the issue of work site raids is not just a matter of the workers' legality but of how the arrests and deportations are being handled--in a way that leaves the person very little ability to take care of issues like seeing that their children are appropriately taken care of. As for the 14th Amendment...if you really want to live in an America without guaranteed rights for citizens, then you don't want America. And if the jus soli principle of citizenship is taken away...I shudder to think of what can happen if we let the government determine who is a citizen and deserves the rights that come with citizenship. "

 Zoomie wrote on October 31, 2007 1:59 pm:
" Anyone know when the Hispanic immigration situation exploded (its always been there, but far smaller numbers)? Following the passage of NAFTA. Why? Well, for one, prior to NAFTA Mexico was self-sufficient for food, growing more corn than needed for their population (corn being a diet staple in Mexico). But thanks to NAFTA and subsidized ag industry in the U.S., literally tens of thousands of small acreage farmers lost their farms, since US corn was sold at below market costs. Now, where to the hundreds of thousands of unemployed, starving Mexicans go? While some initially went to the border areas for new factory jobs, many of those quickly disappeared as the companies moved the jobs to China and Vietnam. SO....they came to the U.S., long the country that said the welcomed the "tired, the poor, your huddled masses..."! After all, much of their economic misery was caused by the United States, so why not let the US help solve the problem! Oh, yeah, I forgot! We're greedy, selfish and extremely uncaring self-centered racists! "

 I come legally! wrote on October 31, 2007 2:49 pm:
" I come here from Europe legal. I pay fee and take test for immigration citizenship. Make illegals pay just like I had. "

 Children suffer wrote on October 31, 2007 3:23 pm:
" The way we do things makes these children suffer more than they need to, and it really isn't the child's fault. If a parent is deported and the child is left with NO parents here in the U.S. then the child should go back with thier parent who is being deported. Who takes care of the kids who are left with no parents? Another family member who could also possibly be deported, causing even more trauma? You think the kids really truly care if they are in Lincoln,NE or Mexico as long as they are with thier parents/family? Plus it saves us the headache of finding exactly what to do with them. Also, one of the parents is deported and other is still here...so if it is that hard on thier child wouldn't they go to be with thier significant other to save the child all the stress and trauma? I would if it were me left here with my child who was seriously traumatized. Who wouldn't do anything for thier children? "

 xgman wrote on October 31, 2007 4:42 pm:
" This is one sample of extreme liberal bias in the local press. Why don't you report in your next article the trauma on families when a U.S. citizen parent gets in trouble with the and goes to jail and/or prison. Let's not forget when a parent leaves on an overseas assignment with the military. Illegal aliens need to think about their immigration status, and lack thereof, BEFORE they choose to bring children into the picture, just as U.S. citizens need to think about possible consequences when they marry an illegal alien. ICE takes extraordinary measures to not remove a primary caregiver from a family unit. That parent is released on their own recognizance (don't even need to pay a bond). Of course they don't appear for their hearing and ultimately become a fugitive with a pending deportation warrant. As usual for the liberals, let the government solve all social issues and bear the expenses involved. How about the illegals taking responsibility for this matter??? "

 SB wrote on October 31, 2007 4:48 pm:
" The issue is that the American cultural demand of cheap goods and services have created an economic model that needs immigrant laborers to sustain itself. It is no different then in the 1800s when the US used slave labor to maximize agriculture profits, only today they are trying to meet the bottom line. The study is saying that the current conduct and procedures of ICE are creating a wave of mentally disabled LEGAL immigrants. Even if the parents are illegal, most likely the children are natural born US citizens therefore they have civil rights. Nobody has ever said to open up our borders and disregard all immigration laws, but shipping out America’s wave of working illegals and treating [legal and illegal] immigrants as second class citizens will only create economic ruin. It may sound PC and macho to say ‘ship em all back’ but the consequences would be dire, not to mention it tramples on legal immigrants constitutional rights. We have created the beast of illegal immigration and now it is time to reap what we have sown (hopefully we can reap in an adult manner). "

 Dave K wrote on October 31, 2007 4:58 pm:
" Funny, I know thousands of law-abiding citizens who don't have to worry about their kids having mental problems because they made poor choices. "

 Kristine wrote on October 31, 2007 4:59 pm:
" I am so embarrassed by the astoundingly ignorant, 'We don't take kindly to strangers' attitude that I keep reading in response to each and every news story. God forbid you were to ever walk a mile in someone else's shoes. "

 nitemare wrote on October 31, 2007 5:04 pm:
" Nobody but the parents own fault for subjecting the kids to this. If you're gonna play, you gotta pay! The knew they were here illegally. Now they have to pay the price. Just that simple. No reason to feel sorry for anybdy. The did it to themselves. "

 KiKi wrote on October 31, 2007 5:11 pm:
" It seems to me that if our big concern is these children, then we should go to the source. Instead of arresting these people who are in our country illegally, let's pass a law that says that if you employ an illegal alien, then you are fined $10,000 A DAY for each day that person works. I would think that a company would smarten up and realize that what they are doing is illegal and fire these people. If we don't supply them with jobs and opportunity, they'll will leave. America won't be such a great place for them now. Let's shut them off from doing everything we possibly can. And I'm with Doc, if you are born in this country to people who are not legal, then you are not legal either. Ship them all back together. I think it is so ridiculous that this article is even written. It's the parents fault if their kids are suffering anxiety and mental distress. It's real simple, don't break the law. Become a citizen if you really want to stay here, learn to speak English, it's not THAT hard. "

 Heather wrote on October 31, 2007 5:12 pm:
" Maybe their parents should think about that before putting them in that situation. It is the parents fault these children are suffering, not our country's fault for enforcing the law. Make the parents pay for counseling for these children. "

 Fed Up wrote on October 31, 2007 6:21 pm:
" Children born in the US shouldn't automatically become citizens unless their parents are here legally! This loophole needs to be closed.And it should be grandfathered in so all children now here have to go back. Of course law enforcement and society becomes the bad guy when trying to enforce immigration laws. WE didn't bring your children to a foreign country illegally. Politicians are just pandering to the Latino vote when they do nothing to stop the flood of illegals into our country. "

 Dale wrote on October 31, 2007 7:24 pm:
" Don't disagree with the article. It is a shame that some adults (who should know better) would put their children through this, knowing their own actions are illegal. "

 blame wrote on October 31, 2007 7:25 pm:
" you can only blame the illegal parents. No sympathy here! "

 I'm sorry wrote on October 31, 2007 8:41 pm:
" but the parents are illegal! Send them back. I think they should solve this problem right away and send the whole family back. Ammend the 14th. "

 this is not a race issue... wrote on October 31, 2007 8:50 pm:
" this is not a race issue my family came here legally. It is the fault of the parents for breaking the law. "

 Jerry wrote on October 31, 2007 9:28 pm:
" I want to touch on SB's comments for a moment, which reminded me of something my Uncle said this summer. He has a ranch in Western Nebraska with a LOT of cattle. When he discusses the "state of the economy" the "good old days" and so forth, he talks about the change he has seen as a rancher. He commented that he was very thankful for the illegal immigrants (which was said respectfully and sincerely) because if it wasn't for them, he would have no cattle, as there would be no one to process them. He said "people complain there are no jobs, but they don't want to work in a processing plant for $15.00 and hour, however someone else will." Yes, I noticed that when I had my roof done too! Guess we have to blame the lazy Caucasian, born in this country, AMERICAN DON'T WE! "

 whatever wrote on October 31, 2007 9:30 pm:
" NAFTA, one thing Clinton and Bush agreed on. "

 Tender wrote on October 31, 2007 10:00 pm:
" If they are so concerned for their children they should of stayed in Mexico!!!!!!!!! "

 glenda wrote on October 31, 2007 10:21 pm:
" It's a very sad thing to happen to the children of these illegal aliens.But honestly it is the parents faults! They know very well there is a chance they will be caught and deported for breaking immigration and many other laws. They use these children to try to stay. To get welfare, and other benefits. THAT ,to me, is Child Abuse! Listen, if I were to break a law and was caught and sent to jail. Being seperated from my children, would they cry for me? "

 so wrote on October 31, 2007 11:20 pm:
" so now what we have to bare the burden of mental health for the illegals too not enough they have ruined our economy and rob us blind now we have to take care of their mental health enough is enough time to put a stop to it "

 Matt Poulsen wrote on October 31, 2007 11:38 pm:
" The 14th Amendment is NOT a loophole!! Citizenship, to anyone born in the U.S., was left open for a reason! Take a history lesson. I agree that the problems of the children are a result of their parents actions, however those children have every right to be here, in fact, just as much right as your children...whether you like it or not. You can thank Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Adams, and etc. for that!! The opinions on this board simply disgust me. These are children...they had no choice in the matter. They are here and it is our moral duty to accept them...if you don't understand that concept then you have no idea what it is to be American. I tend to get the feeling by many of the posts that if these were the children of "illegal Canandians" you wouldn't have a problem with it. "

 Jason wrote on November 1, 2007 12:08 am:
" If the Nazis in the 1930's had had blogs about Jewish people, they would read just about like this one. The level of spewed hatred is disappointing, to say the least. If there is no empathy for children, what empathy exists? Or has living in a country that now justifies torture innoculated us from compassion for good? "

 Criminal Parents wrote on November 1, 2007 12:26 am:
" Their parents broke the law, so it's all their parents' fault! "

 Study: wrote on November 1, 2007 12:35 am:
" Nobody here gives a damn. "

 Here's Something..... wrote on November 1, 2007 3:02 am:
" CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about? Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage Consumers don't want expensive produce Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs But the bottom line is cheap labor The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie ~ there is no such thing as "cheap labor." Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or $6.00/ hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free. He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent He qualifies for food stamps He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school He requires bilingual teachers and books He qualifies for relief from high energy bills If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at that taxpayer's expense. He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance. Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material. He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00 /hour in benefits. Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/ hour l eft after paying their bills and his. The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash clean-up. Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people! "

 Children suffer wrote on November 1, 2007 7:48 am:
" Yes, the effects on the children when the parent is deported are the parents' fault. However, they are here, thier children are here and the children are defenseless. We can't rewind time and give the kids back, it's too late for that and it just don't work that way. We can politic all we want but our country is WAY too good to let these children suffer the way they are for it. We can say the whole "ship them all back", and "oh well for the kids, guess the parents should have thought of that" rhetoric but the fact is that these kids did not choose this and it is not thier fault, so why are we punishing the children? Send the children back with the parents who are deported. I understand they are just looking for a better life, and the legal process of becoming a citizen is very difficult, but wouldn't thier lives be better in the long run if they did this the legal way? And wouldn't thier lives be better in the long run if they are deported at least thier children go with them and do not have to suffer through the system or being bounced from family member to family member? (This is how criminals are made, this is how nonproductive members of society are made) We can either pay for care for these children mentally and physically until they age out, or we can pay a lesser amount to send them back with thier parents. Does the child's right to "be here" trump thier overall well being? I don't think so, and even those on this forum who are spitting venom most likely do not want these children to suffer so let's do something about it and get these kids sent back if they have no other stable and legal family to care for them here in the US after thier parent(s) leave. "

 Just a comment... wrote on November 1, 2007 7:56 am:
" Only legal citizens qualify for assistance. So if you have a family of 5, two parents and three children, and the parents are illegal and the children are legal, the benefits go to the children. The parents are not the ones we are giving the assistance to, it is the children. But any income the parents have is definitely looked at, they still have to qualify under all the same income guidelines. The medicaid only covers the children. The section 8 housing assistance is prorated so they only receive 60% of the benefit a family of 5 citizens would (the percentage is equal to the number of citizens in the family), thier food stamps are, for example, $300 rather than $500 that a family of 5 citizens might get. To my knowlege this is what the government has mandated be done as far as welfare goes. "

 Try this..... wrote on November 1, 2007 8:27 am:
" Come here LEGALLY and there won't be an issue! "

 Behind Skirts wrote on November 1, 2007 9:14 am:
" So, we should let the criminal parents hide behind the skirts of their anchor babies? Is that pretty much it? "

 Poor Examples of Christ's Love wrote on November 1, 2007 10:13 am:
" What "God Fearing" people rips parents away from their children? The people of Nebraska, that's who. Well, there is another spiritual principal that says what we sow, we will also reap. The hard hearted among you will make the rest of us suffer for your hypocrazy. And I guess we deserve it if we let you get away with it. "

 Grundle wrote on November 1, 2007 10:22 am:
" Thanks to one of the bloggers for taking the path of Godwin's law in their comparison to the Nazis. I would like to point out a few striking differences. First, the Jews that the Nazi Germans hated were already citizens of Germany, not entering the country en masse illegally. Secondly, the Germans acted on their racist hatred through the killing of Jews...whereas here in America, it is not racist hatred (as many like to claim) but rather, righteous anger over the non-enforcement of existing laws that gets people up in arms. And as far as the argument that "white people won't do the work!", I have to respectfully disagree. The most certainly will do the work, they just want to be paid appropriately for the work. The problem is not with the employees, it's with the consumers...everything has to be cheaper, cheaper, cheaper. Nobody cares that the few dollars they save has a negative impact on the hard-working legal American citizens...they just want to save a few bucks. They'll complain about the outsourcing of jobs to other countries, but don't take a second to look at the labels on the products they buy to see if they're made in America. Spoken buy a white guy who busted his butt on way more than a few hot roofs in the middle of July in Nebraska. "

 to CHILDREN SUFFER wrote on November 1, 2007 10:25 am:
" I'm sorry, writer, but that argument only works if you believe we should stay in Iraq after no weapons of mass destruction were found only because "we are already there and to leave now would hurt the Iraqi people." "

 Nate wrote on November 1, 2007 10:31 am:
" Yikes. How many people posting on this story are likely Christian or of a religion that promotes respecting humanity? Yet so many people overlook the fact these people are still human beings! They deserve to be treated humanely. Truly sad. "

 Middle of the Roader wrote on November 1, 2007 10:59 am:
" Isn't it funny that the Republican conservatives want the illegals here so they can use below market wages to fatten their profits. Then they complain because the illegals they bring here have children. Typical compassionate conservative hypocrisy. "

 shameful wrote on November 1, 2007 1:29 pm:
" It's a shame that the children of these illegal immigrants are the ones who suffer. These parents who make bad choices are not thinking of their children, only of themselves. The parents are responsible for bringing them here, having them here and then exposing them to these risks. The children should be reunited with their parents in whatever country they came from. "

 bob wrote on November 1, 2007 3:30 pm:
" what about our us. criminals?..no one says anything about the childern they have and how bad it is for them...If the law breakers don't think about the kids why should we "

 Gretta wrote on November 1, 2007 3:38 pm:
" I am an illegal immigrant, but nobody cares because I am white and protestant. I love USA, but I am going home to bear children because I not afford here. "

 huskerbob wrote on November 1, 2007 4:15 pm:
" illegal immigrants ....doing the jobs you and I don't want to do...for little pay. American dream anyone. Look back at how this country was formed. FYI the only original Americans were hearded up and put on reservations. "

 Doc wrote on November 1, 2007 4:27 pm:
" Wow! My 14th Amendment comment raised some hackles. It says "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". I don't know that the U.S. Supreme court has ruled on this, but is it possible that the children first belong to the parents, not the government and if they are the responsibility of the parents wouldn't we check the status of the parents before granting automatic citizenship. They are a minor and under the care of the parents. Remember I said that we deport the entire family, not splitting them up. Keep them intact. We can't pick and choose the laws we want to obey. Maybe I don't like a speed limit or having auto insurance, or paying income taxes. If we can't protect our own borders, then we are in worse shape than we thought. "

 Children suffer wrote on November 1, 2007 4:43 pm:
" How does saying we should send the children back with the parents compare to staying in Iraq after we found no weapons of mass destruction? If the kids have no where else to go, why keep them here only to go through the system which is terribly flawed? You would think that the kid should stay with thier family/parents. What would you propose we do? I'm open to your ideas. "

 Just admit it already... wrote on November 1, 2007 5:01 pm:
" I think all this anger toward these immigrants being "illegal" is really just masked racism. Why not admit it, folks? Why not just own up to the fact that you're not so much mad about that illegal Mexican taking "your" job (which you wouldn't do anyway, at least not for the paltry wages they're getting), you're mad at the idea of there being a growing Mexican population in this country?! This gritching and grousing about being sick of undocumented workers taking jobs (and bankrupting hospitals?!) is nothing but a load of hogswallow. Put the mirror in front of your face and recognize what you are- racist. And then remember that were it not for immigrants a few hundred years ago (many of whom came in "illegally"), you wouldn't be here to gripe about illegal immigration now. "

 All about family wrote on November 1, 2007 5:33 pm:
" I believe just the opposite of 'shameful'. Most of these people are not here for themselves, they are here to try and give their children a better life. It's true a countries government should be the ones to improve the quality of life for the people living there, but obviously that doesn't happen. Governments are full of corruption and greed. I am a white male and have been to Mexico. To see some of the conditions these people have to live in, you can't blame them. If it were me and my family, I would do everything possible to get them somewhere else that could provide a better life, legally or illegally. Unfortunatly, the children pay the price either way. If they stay in Mexico, the quality of life is very poor, which makes it worth the risk entering another country illegally because they have no other means financially to do it legal. "

 nemo wrote on November 1, 2007 8:37 pm:
" Get me some duct tape, my head is about to explode( a la Glenn Beck ) Why the hey is this treated as news? Uh a child either watches his/her parents get arrested or they are just gone when he/she gets out of school or whatever. and then they have problems. Well duh, I coulda told ya this without traveling around to "research" the thing. "

 Nope wrote on November 1, 2007 10:11 pm:
" It's not racism to be fed up with illegals in our country. I don't care if they're Canadians or Mexicans, if they want to come into the country and stay, they do it legally. I've seen news reports on border cities in Texas, where pregnant women cross the border so they can give birth in the US, thus have a child that is a citizen. They can't afford the health care here, but we have to give them care, we can't turn them away. The kids that are born here are pawns to be used by their parents. Proof of it is in the article and your comments. Poor tykes, sympathy for the illegal parents. Maybe some of you are filthy rich, but I'm not. If you are so concerned about the "poor tykes" take a dozen or two into your home and raise them. If you're not willing to do that, then you have not right to talk trash to those of us who oppose coming into the country illegally. "

 Simple Solution wrote on November 1, 2007 10:40 pm:
" No one is advocating separating children from their parents, they can return to their country of origin as a family. I don't care where the child was born, it's the parent who is illegal I'll even assist them on their journey, it could all be done with respect and dignity. "

 Matt Poulsen wrote on November 1, 2007 11:06 pm:
" Doc, the supreme court has ruled that anyone born in the U.S. is a U.S. citizen. Period. There is no discussion to have on that point. This is not new law nor is it controversial. I know you're trying to make an issue about it, but there isn't one. "

 nitemare wrote on November 2, 2007 5:40 am:
" To "Here's something": Well stated. I couldn't agree more completely. You have my vote!! "

 whatever wrote on November 2, 2007 8:52 am:
" "heres something..........", thanks for your post. I know people that live that way. My wife and I both work and make decent money, probably in the upper 20 to 25 percent in the state and we can't approach the lifestyle some of these immigrants live. And ALL of my kids work, sometimes doing the jobs "Americans won't do", yeah right. You have forgotten how Churches and Charitable Institutions will also provide free food and clothing, free private tutoring and sometimes even a car! It happens folks and it happens A LOT. Not all us "nativists" are living an elite lifestyle and we resent the implication that somehow we owe these lawbreakers something, or that we simply don't care. Many of us live frugal lifestyles, contribute to our community and don't mooch off the "system". And that's what it is mooching. As far as I'm concerned the "illegal immigration" crowd and their allies are a bunch of traitors. "

 To just a comment wrote on November 2, 2007 11:33 am:
" You are absolutely right. Illegal immigrants do not qualify for welfare benefits. When they come in and apply, benefits are only given to those that have social security numbers. A house with illegal parents and legal children will get benefits for the children, so like you said, instead of receiving food stamps for a 5 person household, they will receive them for a 3 person household. That amount is not enough to feed 5 people, for those of you that think it might be. "

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