Woman being deported?

[Darlene]

With all the problems with deportation here in The United States, This is one that is ridiculous! Darlene

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- All of her life, Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto.

But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.

"To be honest with you, I'm scared. How can they just pluck me out of my family, my kids?" the 40-year-old mother of four said in a telephone interview Friday.

"If they can do this to me, they can do it to anybody," she said.

After Meyer was elected to the council in Adelanto in 2004, someone told officials that she was born in Cuba, prompting an investigation.

Eventually, "the police came to me and said, 'Zoila, you're not a citizen. You're a legal resident but you're not a citizen,"' said Meyer, who now lives in the San Bernardino County desert town of Apple Valley, near Adelanto.

She resigned after 10 weeks in office in Adelanto, a town of about 23,000.

Meyer, whose story was first reported in the Victorville Daily Press, applied to become a naturalized citizen and continued with her life: raising her children and attending two local colleges to earn degrees toward her goal of working in the justice system as a forensic nurse.

However, because she was not a citizen, Meyer faced a felony charge of illegally voting in the 2004 election.

In April 2006, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of fraudulent voting and was placed on probation, fined and ordered to pay restitution.

What Meyer didn't realize is that fraudulently voting is a deportable offense.

On June 18, Meyer said, immigration officials showed up at her home and told her to appear at their San Bernardino office.

Her husband drove her to the office on Tuesday, "and they handcuffed me," Meyer said. "They put me in jail and they frisked me and processed me."

"I said 'You're doing this because I voted?"'

The case is unusual but immigration officials were just doing their job when they arrested Meyer, said Lori Haley, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"People are arrested on immigration charges from all walks of life," she said. "She can plead her case before an immigration judge, if she feels that she has reason to seek release for removal. ... Everybody has due process when they're arrested."

Meyer was released pending a July 18 appearance before an immigration judge who will determine whether she will be deported to Canada, the last point of entry into the U.S. recorded in her immigration record.

Meyer said she and her parents had visited Canada and she had gone many times to Mexico without anyone ever asking her to prove her citizenship.

Meyer said she does not support illegal immigration but she thinks immigration procedures should be changed to prevent misunderstandings.

"It makes me feel like we're all just numbers," she said of her case. "I see people writing 'this is my country.' It really isn't. It belongs to the government and they decide who stays and who goes ... you think you're free; you're really not."

Source
http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/06/24/councilwoman.deport.ap/index.html

[sky]

I don't want to see her deported!

But I wonder why she thought she was a US citizen without taking the citizenship test that all people must take that aren't born US citizens do to get their citizenship, -as well as fulfilling the other naturalization requirements to become a US citizen. Just living here a long time doesn't make you a citizen and subject to all the rights of US citizenship, as well as the responsibilities too. I really wonder if she really new, but since she has been caught claims she didn't? Either way like I said I don't want to see her deported over it--I hope they resolve it another way!

I heard a really SAD case about a man in California that was mentally handicapped---and I think he was actually a US citizen--born here to mexican imigrants--but when he was picked up for quetioning he didn't answer the questions, --or couldn't answer the questions (I don't know which) and he was deported to a city in Mexico. I forget which one. His mother has been frantically looking for him to bring him back home. He just disappeared after being deported. SAD! It's scary to think about someone with mentally disablilities just being dumped off somewhere alone!!!
Sky
Sky

[DaveM]

Yet another productive result from the "war on terrorism". Strangely, the system does not turn up any terrorists, but it finds voters regularly. Coincidence, or should we be getting creeped out here?

I showed up at the polls this past November only to find that my voting registration had been "challenged" on the grounds that I was a convicted felon (I'm not). Cannot help but wonder how many other people ran into similar "mistakes" and simply gave up on voting.

This woman should most definitely NOT be sent home--imagine the irony of the United States deporting someone who has lived the life of a responsible citizen (lacking only the piece of paper, for whatever reason--and she's trying to correct that) to "freedom-loving" Cuba.

Heck, I'd happily send the State Department a long list of people whose deportation would serve the interests of American society far better. Mind, I doubt that any self-respecting nation would take them.

[aabram]

There's nothing to be gained from deporting this lady, and more harm than good can come of this. Burocracy gone totally mad....

[david uk]

Sky, this woman has lived in the US since she was one year old- how was she supposed to know that she should take a citiznship test, and why should she, when the US is all she has ever known, and her home.

this is shocking.

[Darlene]

That was the first thing I thought about. If she was only a year how would she know that she was a citizen. If her parent had become citizens then she would be come a citizen too. But she didn't know that. Do you think she would have run for public office if she knew that she wasnt a citizen? We have so many illegals here in the US and here she is a productive citizen, as far as I'm concerned. Being kicked out if the country she has ever known how can we stand for that?
Peace, Darlene!

[DaveM]

Good point, David--no one would have told her about it when she was one, and she grew up as an American. It's not difficult to see where the idea would have never occurred to her. I can recall the naturalization process being discussed briefly in high school civics--it only referred to adults entering the country and going through the process.

Seems to me that a "homesteading" type approach might be the best road to citizenship. If you move here from another country, settle in, live a productive and law-abiding life, after a certain number of years I think you've demonstrated your right to call yourself an American. Perhaps require some sort of written test--though I'd be willing to bet that most native-born Americans educated by the present school system wouldn't be able to pass it.

This woman has rather obviously far exceeded any requirements we might have for citizenship. She should have it, without question.

[sky]

She new she was not born in the US, or to US citizens at the time of her birth. So she probably had to know that she wasn't a US citizen. Even if her parents became US citizens later on ( which we don't know if the did?) it still complety depends on their status at the time of her birth---(unless she was adopted legally by a US citizen of this country) and she new she was born abroad to non US citizens. Otherwise I think someone has to wait until they become a certain age to become a US citizen. You just don't become one if your parents become citizens later on. Usually people that I have met that are immigrants (like my first husband) know these laws EXTREMELY well about residency and greencards etc. Much better than most american citizens do!!! Because they have to work at it, and apply for ways of being here legally---they don't take it for granted. That is why I think she new----I believe at the very least her parents new the immigration laws being immigrants-----and she new she was born in Cuba --it doesn't sound like that was news to her or anything. In fact I really wonder if that is why she never voted before--being a 40 year old woman and all---was because she new she was only a resident and it is illegal to vote not being a citizen. I think it cost 600 or 700 dollars to become a US citizen---maybe she didn't want to pay for it having lived here so long and all----even though she new she wasn't born here or born abroad to parents that were US citizens? I mean don't even most Americans that are not immigrants know that you have to either be born in this country, or be born abroad to parents that are US citizens at the time of your birth to be a citizen? Or go through the naturalization process. I mean I new that before I met my first husband, I think they might even cover that kind of stuff in High School--can't rememeber for sure?
Sky

[Darlene]

She new she was not born in the US, or to US citizens at the time of her birth. So she probably had to know that she wasn't a US citizen. Even if her parents became US citizens later on ( which we don't know if the did?) it still complety depends on their status at the time of her birth---(unless she was adopted legally by a US citizen of this country) and she new she was born abroad to non US citizens. Otherwise I think someone has to wait until they become a certain age to become a US citizen. You just don't become one if your parents become citizens later on. Usually people that I have met that are immigrants (like my first husband) know these laws EXTREMELY well about residency and greencards etc. Much better than most american citizens do!!! Because they have to work at it, and apply for ways of being here legally---they don't take it for granted. That is why I think she new----I believe at the very least her parents new the immigration laws being immigrants-----and she new she was born in Cuba --it doesn't sound like that was news to her or anything. In fact I really wonder if that is why she never voted before--being a 40 year old woman and all---was because she new she was only a resident and it is illegal to vote not being a citizen. I think it cost 600 or 700 dollars to become a US citizen---maybe she didn't want to pay for it having lived here so long and all----even though she new she wasn't born here or born abroad to parents that were US citizens? I mean don't even most Americans that are not immigrants know that you have to either be born in this country, or be born abroad to parents that are US citizens at the time of your birth to be a citizen? Or go through the naturalization process. I mean I new that before I met my first husband, I think they might even cover that kind of stuff in High School--can't rememeber for sure?
Sky

What? She was a child a one yr old when she came here, I would have thought I was an American if I had lived here all my life. Do you really think she was to cheap to pay the $600-$700 it would take to become a citizen if she knew.
She ran for political office

She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto.


If she knew that she was illegal that it would not have been found out? (Politics are really nasty, like that) I just think it is a shame that with all the illegals here who don't even want to be American Just want to make America a Latino country. And they are going to deport her?
An upset United States citizen,
Darlene

[sky]

Or maybe she is just another politician that thinks the laws don't apply to them. That happens all the time! Nothing new or surprising about that.

Who says all of these illegal alliens don't want to be Americans? They can't because of immigartion laws even if they want to.

But like I said , I don't want to see her deported.
Sky

[GodSistah]

Or maybe she is just another politician that thinks the laws don't apply to them. That happens all the time! Nothing new or surprising about that.
Sky

Ok now, I think you finally hit on the real reason there, Sky!

And this is exactly what has been annoying me about this woman all along. How is she different than me or anybody else in my little barrio in California. This border here between Mexico and California crossed us as a people years ago, physically dividing families, not the other way around ...but that is an entirely different sore point in my heritage and ancestry...and she is Cuban not Mexican American...like me [no, I don't have a green card, I was born on this side of the line in the sand]. ;)

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see her deported, ripped from her family and children and life as she knows it. But her 'why me' attitude just annoys me to no end. [Why me? Why not Jose or Maria?]

But alas she is a politician and "every politician is a sewer of ambition".

Perhaps Bush will pardon her.

And this...

Meyer said she does not support illegal immigration but she thinks immigration procedures should be changed to prevent misunderstandings. She is not a citizen, but she is a legal resident...she just illegally voted and ran for city council...just a mere misunderstanding...

Sounds like a case of the pot and the kettle to me.

:rolleyes:

~Andrea~

[Darlene]

Oh well I guess I have lived a charmed life. Born in the backwoods of East Tennessee.
Hell whore is tat ther Rebal Flag hat ma great-great grandpappy gave me whinst I wus bornt? I thiks mabe I shold rase old Dixie agan.
I wasut in tat ther Walmart tuday and ther wast thist pin tat says "I live in my own little world but it's OK they know me there" an Iz agona gat me ones of thoses. Yep Iza a gonna gettme one of those.
Sherrybell

[sky]

Thats part of what makes america great--we can all express our different opinions. Right? Or do you have a problem that?

And sorry to burst your bubble about politicians and honesty. Just kidding.

But I do wonder if she believes that all the other immigrants that come to this country from all over the world with children that were born abroad (and not just illegal immigrants like her parents probably were being from Cuba and all, but people that come here legally with work or school visa's, or green cards) and are just regular people trying to live a good life and raise descent kids,-(and that is a lot of people!)--does she believe that all of these children are automatically US citizens instead of residents as well? That's a lot of children! And does she think they should all be excused if they all claim to not know if caught breaking the law by voting. Maybe it is just me but I don't think the situation she was raised in is all that unique when you think about how many immigrants come to this country every year---and how many of them have children already. How come these people are expected to know the laws on immigration if she didn't? Just curious. This could be a potentially large problem.


Sky

[david uk]

my problem is this:

if someone has lived in a country since they were one year old, they have known nothing else. OK they may need to register as a formality to get citizenship, BUT why should they have to take a citizenship test to test their knowledge of the US when they have lived there as long as you have and know no other country....

ok, maybe one year old kids should know what they are getting themselves into when they move into the US... sorry no, that is absurd.

[sky]

That is just the law. maybe it should be changed but it is how the system works at this time. I think part of the reason that people have to take a test when becoming a US citizen is to make it a special formality that they have to earn. It doesn't come automatically by design. And we all know that the immigration system has lots of problems and is iin need of some changes. I don't think of course that a one year old or other young child should know the laws about anything! but is it that unreasonable for an adult to know the law? Especially about immigration if you know you are an immigrant yourself? Did she ever think to herself I immigrated to this country also---maybe this applies to me as well as the other immigrants out there? I just wonder if she would defend other immigrants in the same situation, or does she see herself as a special exception?

I don't believe that she will actually be deported, --and of course I don't want her to be!!! Just like I don't want lots of other immigrants to be deported at this point--if their whole lives and their children are here. I don't want families torn apart. Immigration is such a huge problem----I don't know how it will work out?

But I believe there is a reason that they made a law saying you have to be a US citizen to vote. They had to decide where the line was and stick with it across the board.
Sky

[Darlene]

I wonder how she got registered to vote? I had to bring in a copy of my birth certificate to register to vote. Maybe it is different depending on what state you live in.
But I do think this woman has been singled out to make an example of. Maybe the forces that believe that illegal immigration should be made legal. I don't want anyone shipped to a place that they are not familiar with. But I don't think those who have been been coming over the boarder at record speed just because they might have the same rights as residents who came here legally. I don't what the answer is, but some rules are going to have to be put in place. Learning English should be number one so we call all communicate no matter where we came from. My house is right across the road from an apartment complex which is largely Hispanic. I try to communicate with my limited knowledge of Spanish. But it is easier to communicate with a Deaf person than a Hispanic person. I say "habalis English"? They say "no" and they turn away. My granddaughter goes to preschool with a lot of the kids from the complex. She loves them and they love her. We could learn a lot from 3 and 4 yr olds.
Peace, Darlene

[DaveM]

A number of states have "motor voter" laws, where one can register to vote when renewing a driver's license--indeed, the clerk will generally ask if you are registered and if not, do you want to. A driver's license is the only ID I have ever had to show when voting. To get the driver's license (in 1980) I had to have a Social Security number (they didn't issue them at birth then). As my birth certificate was "missing" at the time, I was given a Social Security number based on my school records and an 8th grade class ID card (no lie!).

Stating that Hispanics are difficult to deal with because you've run into a language barrier is no different than saying that blacks are hard to deal with because of their loud music or homosexuals are hard to deal with because of the "spectacle they make of themselves". I quite quite agree that some Hispanics are difficult. So are some Jews, some paraplegics, and some white people. People are difficult because they are difficult, not because of the color of their skin, their choice of prayers or partners, or any other irrelevant reason. Well, being employed by Civil Service might be a special qualification, but that's for another discussion.

We do have to be able to communicate with each other, which speaks strongly in favor of a common language. Some folks will resist that. If they wish to make their own lives difficult, that is their choice. If they make my life difficult, I will avoid them. My ancestors arrived here speaking Swedish, Czech, German, and several other languages, and even during my childhood the "old folks" spoke German at home. But rather obviously, they learned to talk to each other somehow--otherwise they would never have hooked up. And that happened without a single requirement or regulation from the government. Which is just as well--in most cases, it was government my ancestors came here to get away from.

[Darlene]

I try to communicate with my limited knowledge of Spanish. But it is easier to communicate with a Deaf person than a Hispanic person. I say "habalis English"? They say "no" and they turn away. by me
I didn't say deal with I said communicate with and trust me here in Tennessee Hispanics are afraid to let others know that can't speak English. It is the policy around here "that we don't ask and we don't tell". The Catholic Church
has a free English as a second language class and there is usually only 5 to 7 people in the classes at any one time. I tried to take some Spanish classes but they were way too expensive. So I only know a little and I try to use it but no. But don't learn only a little sign language because if the deaf think you might be able to talk to them they will drive you crazy. There is a very easy way to say dumb and stupid and I know both and it doesnt matter they are so excited and you hate to tell them that you only understand about about every third word they say and have no idea what they are talking about.
Peace, Darlene

[hoops]

i'm trying to remember registering to vote and what was required in NY state. being in and out of many mental hospitals i know that every time you fill out the paperwork required to be admitted you are given a voter registration form. i know it is a very simple form, i don't remember if it requires a SS #. for some reason i don't think it was. i think it was just name town or city you live in and party, if you wish to choose one. there may have been a question about military service and felony convictions. just as an interesting side note. before my first hospitalization about 15 years ago, i was chosen for jury duty every 2 years without fail ( now thye give people 4 years before becoming eligilble again) after that first hospitalization, i have never been chosen for jusry duty again. hmmm
peace
hoops