I just finished reading the article in the Jan. 17 Times-Union regarding the proposed immigration ruling for Indiana. Enough is enough already.
My mother immigrated to the United States from Costa Rica with my father, who was a citizen, in 1933. My two oldest sisters were born in Costa Rica. There were a total of seven children born to them between 1931 and 1946.
My mother returned to Costa Rica in 1964 with my youngest sister. My youngest brother had enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation from high school. The rest of us remained here in the U.S. We all had duel citizenship.
My father died in 1961. None of us realized if she returned to her homeland, in order for her to keep her legal status, she had to return to the U.S. for two weeks out of every year. When she and my sister decided to return to the U.S in 1967, she was told that she had lost her legal status and would have to go on an immigration list and it would probably be three to five years before she was able to return, unless all five of the siblings remaining in the U.S. would agree to send signed affidavits to the Immigration Department stating that she would not have to work or be on our welfare roles. Mother owned property in the United States, and five children were born here. She also learned English. There are laws in place, they just have to be enforced. The federal government cannot be expected to police every state in the union.
We sent the affidavits, she was able to return to the U.S. and she became a citizen and died here in 1977.
Anyone who thinks that the federal government can enforce the immigration laws of the United States is nuts. This should be left up to the states or even the local governments. There is no way that the federal government can know what is going on in every state.
Have you ever tried to reach Immigration? Well I have, and I can tell you that it is impossible unless you want to drive to Chicago and wait in line all day to talk with a human being. Every state should be able to handle their own immigrants. For crying out loud, does the federal government have to do everything? Why do you think things are in such a mess? You had better wake up, America.
