My son faces deportation

[Christa]

Ten years ago our family immigrated to the USA. My husband was offered a job on Wall Street.
We have two sons and saw it as a way to get our children out of crime ridden South Africa.

To get financial help after 9/11 (when my husband lost his job in NYC), at college to help pay for his tuition,
my son was forced to sign up for the Draft. He was given no choice.

Shortly afterwards groups registered students on the campus to vote in the upcoming elections.
They told my son he was eligible to vote as he is registered for the draft.
Being a responsible citizen he just did it on their word and voted afterwards.

We thought since he was willing to give his life for America, voting was a privilege
and not a criminal act as it now turned out to be.

When we went for our citizenship interviews last year, our son got rejected after he told them
that he voted and what lead to that. He could have lied and no one would have been any wiser.

My husband and I became citizens in August 2006.

Since then we have written numerous letters to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, with no reply.
We even went to see our local member of Congress in Charlotte. NC.

This week my son received a letter stating that he does not have the moral character to become a citizen.
Because he voted he will be deported back to South Africa.

We have until January 7, 2008 to appeal. To file the appeal will cost $605.00.

Our oldest son already had to leave the US and went to London, UK. He turned 21 before we had our Green Cards
and we could not sponsor him.

He subsequently got a job in the office of Tony Blair - which proves that he could have been a benefit to the US as well.

I am heartbroken and do not know where to turn to.

After being here for ten years we see the US as "our" country. If our son should gets deported it would mean we
will have to go back to South Africa and face the crime there. Ten years would have been wasted.

If I think about the criminals we have in the White House - well, my blood boils.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it.

Christa

[wellstone dem]

1. Contact your senator and representative

I believe there is a process where they can pass an individual statute if they deem that circumstances warrant.

I do know that voting without citizenship is an enormous bar, but contact an immigration lawyer.

[Christa]

6. We will

We could get an appointment for January 3.

I do understand that voting without being a citizen is a bar; but he was told the fact that he registered for the draft would
make it legal.

Does anyone know anything about it?

I feel it is so unfair that he was good enough to go and fight and maybe lose his life, but now he is seen as not having the moral character to become a citizen.

Is it only me?

:(

[MADem]

7. That's good advice. A personal interview with a staffer might be a good idea, too.

Absent that, perhaps Canadian citizenship....one does need special skills or money to get picked, and they prefer young people (unless you have four hundred thou, then you can be old!), but it's similar enough to the US and there's very little crime there, relatively speaking....
I agree with you that this is an uphill climb, though. Voting is "in the spotlight" lately; this is the GOP's DREAM COME TRUE case. I can hear them now "See??? SEE???? See how EASY it is for them FURRINERS to register to VOTE!!!!"

[Christa]

10. Foreigners

are good enough to go and fight though :(

But I get what you are saying.

God, how may times can a mother's heart break because her children has to go to other countries?

[MADem]

17. If that Senator or Rep is a Republican, they'll get NO HELP from them, is all I'm saying.

It's a challenge. And this is why those fence building, 'they're takin' our JERBS' Republicans like to scream about voting, and this is how they JUSTIFY the voter caging, voter suppression, and outright voter cheating that they get up to--they use examples like this...

[Christa]

120. It's a Dem, in the area where he lives

[Selatius]

9. Yeah, voting without being a citizen is a real big no no as far as election law goes.

I believe it's considered a form of voter fraud, at worst a felony. It really is a good idea to find a lawyer at this point.

[struggle4progress]

45. Some cities/states may still allow resident non-citizens to vote in local elections

I think it was generally legal until the era of the Palmer raids

[Dawggie]

2. Thank you for posting this.

At the moment, I am one of the unemployed here but I am sure there are those out there that would be willing to help you in your situation after a bit od due diligence.

I hope you have your wishes granted.

Peace.

[gateley]

3. Call your congresspeople and Senators.

Call your local news and MSNBC and tell THEM you've contacted your representatives, and maybe they will contact them for the "story". Contact all the Presidential Candidates - Did your son go to college? Enlist their help if you can. The more of an issue this becomes the better. Let us know what happens!

:grouphug:

[silverweb]

4. I'm so sorry.

What a travesty any concept of "justice" has become in this country!

I have no new ideas for you, but encourage you to file your appeal and keep fighting this nonsensical judgement.

If worst comes to worst and he has to leave, maybe your other son will be able to sponsor him in the UK?

Please keep us posted on developments.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Your story is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about immigration reform

Thank you so much for sharing. Your son is NOT a criminal. Our immigration system is broken. I am so sorry that good families like yours are caught up in this mess. :cry:

[Christa]

12. Thank you for understanding

:cry:

I am at breaking point here.

[troubleinwinter]

50. Christa, you've been given some good advice above.

Contact your congressional representative and your senators.

Gather your materials and facts and be organized and calm and ready to be helpful in answering any questions.

Enlist a friend to be your representative for you if you have a friend that is good with such matters, or is well spoken and you feel the need.

Contact your County, City and State legislators as well. Sometimes they have contacts or a "in" with fed folks, and often have contacts in the media. Don't overlook this!

[SergeyDovlatov]

8. similar story in Seattle

Recently one of the visiting musician who was staying in Seattle for about a year to play in our theaters, got a driver license.
They automatically signed him up for voting.

In a little while feds came and started deportation proceeding over voter fraud (they matched voter registration lists with US visitors lists).

Luckily he didn't actually vote and they stopped deportation proceedings.

[panader0]

11. Register for the draft? WTF?

There hasn't been a draft for a long time.

[Christa]

15. I have the paperwork

To be able to qualify for financial assistance, he had to register for the draft.

Maybe it was not in the news, but that was a prerequisite for financial assistance.

[Kadie]

18. Selective Service?

Probably what she means.

[Christa]

21. What is Selective Service? nt

[Kadie]

23. Here...

http://www.sss.gov/

[Christa]

25. Thanks Kadie

I find the following paragraph ironic:

Selective Service does not collect any information which would indicate whether or not you are undocumented. You want to protect yourself for future U.S. citizenship and other government benefits and programs by registering with Selective Service. Do it today.

[Yuugal]

57. "Do it today!"

"But if you get the impression we want you to vote when we keep sending stuff to your house enabling you to vote and cards every election saying 'come to this or that polling place and DO YOUR CIVIC DUTY'...........and you then vote...........oh boy are we going to be mad at you."

That sounds like the govt I know. Lots of luck with it. If you son had 10 yrs of school here I don't see why he didn't get his citizenship papers when he graduated high school. We have some silly immigration laws.

[MADem]

22. That's two words for draft! We still require registration, we're just not taking any these days... n

[MADem]

19. Draft registration is still mandated for all young MEN aged eighteen though

All US citizens AND green card holders in that category are required to register.

The draft may not be happening, but the registration requirement hasn't gone away. You can get in hot water for not registering.

[K Gardner]

27. Do you know that I did not know this? Wow.

[Christa]

28. Maybe there should be a program about it

we never see real news at it is.

[MADem]

31. Actually, the way the law is written, even ILLEGAL ALIENS are supposed to register for the draft!!

It's one more law they can bag you on if you get caught....

[aquart]

37. Now THAT's interesting.

They can fight for this country but not stay in it?

[truedelphi]

38. Part of the sorry story is - recruiters tell young people

who are not citizens that they will become citizens if they join and fight.

So you have a lot of young adults joining just to become a citizen.
They even send recruiter teams into impoverished villages of Mexico and Central America.

The money, although meagre to us born and raised in the US, seems like a fortune to young adults there.

And the idea that they could come out and be citizens gets them to join up.

They end up in Iraq a short time later.

[MADem]

43. But that IS true. If you are of a nationality with a long waiting list, you can jump the line, in

essence. They've expedited the process for those willing to serve; it's much easier than it was in the old days. You do have to have a green card, though, to qualify.

MILITARY NATURALIZATIONS
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces may apply for citizenship under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Generally, that includes service in one of the following branches of the U.S. Military:
• Army,
• Navy,
• Air Force,
• Marine Corps,
• Coast Guard,
• Certain Reserve components of the National Guard, and
• Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
Recent changes in sections 328 and 329 of the INA make it easier for qualified military personnel to become U.S. citizens. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has created a streamlined process specifically for military personnel serving on active-duty status or recently discharged. As of October 1, 2004, members of the U.S. Armed Forces do not pay a fee when filing for citizenship.
Qualifications
A military service member must meet certain requirements and qualifications to become a U.S. citizen. These include:
• Demonstrating good moral character;
• Demonstrating knowledge of the English language;
• Demonstrating knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics); and
• Demonstrating attachment to the U.S. by taking an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
Military service members are exempt from other naturalization requirements outlined in the INA as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/MilitaryNatzFS052407.pdf

[truedelphi]

81. Apparently the recruiters have the ability to get the green card issued

ASAP.

And as far as jumping the line, anyone who is willing to get quadrapaligalized by going off to Iraq can be given all the leeway they want when it comes to citizenship.

[MADem]

83. They're supposed to already HAVE it. At least "officially." I dunno about

any backdoor ability to get the old Greenie for someone illegally here.

What the military CAN and does do is expedite citizenship. This is a total reversal from the old days, where military green card holders would get SCREWED because they had to be in the US for 'x' amount of time, but then they'd get deployed overseas and have to start all over again. I had GC holders working for me who were waiting for ten years or more because of deployments and personnel assignments.

[MADem]

39. Well, they can be on a list to be, perhaps, in a time of national emergency, CALLED to fight for

this country.

There's many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip...or in this case, the registration and the induction...

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. I find it intriguing...

...that the fact that young men must register for the draft is met with such surprise.

If young women had to register too, there'd be lots less ignorance on that topic, and more pressure to end it.

[SmokingJacket]

79. All men have to register at age 18.

It's called "register for the draft" in case there is one; what it is is Selective Service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System

[K Gardner]

13. You must, immediately, retain the services of a good immigration lawyer.

I know their retainers seem astronomical, but some will do it pro bono; some will let you make payments; and they CAN put a halt to the deportation order so you don't have ICE knocking on your door. You must file the appeal, that it itself will buy you time. And I cannot see that, given your son was in the armed forces, an appeal would be denied. Immigration Officers make decisions based on rules that lie in a "handbook" and are open to personal interpretation and often prejudice. I attended an Immigration Interview last year and it was the most intimidating and disgusting thing I had ever witnessed. There IS hope. I have heard of cases being overturned for much less grounds than you have. In the interim, visit the immigration message board where there is a HUGE Community of very well informed people who can give you some very good advice.

http://boards.immigrationportal.com/

Best of luck to you.. don't let them intimidate you !

[Christa]

24. We have a phone conference with one on Monday

almost everyone is away for the holidays and we only have until Jan 7.

[K Gardner]

26. It'll be OK.. they can get the paperwork overnighted to the USCIS and

the appeal only has to be filed. The case doesn't have to be ready. Take heart. You can probably find a dozen or more stories just like yours with happy endings on the immigration boards, if you just need something to help you stay sane :-)

[Christa]

29. Stay sane?

Whats that?

:(

We already had one son leave and take residence in another country.

But thank you, I know you mean well - I really thank you.

I cannot stop crying.

[nonconformist]

42. Good advice - but unless I misunderstood the OP, the son was not in the armed services

But just registered for the Selective Service, which all men are required to do.

[K Gardner]

46. Yeah, I misunderstood, as I wasn't even remotely aware

our sons still have to register for Selective Service (god, isn't that a creepy term?), so I assumed she meant he was serving somehow.
I still think she has a good case, although it'll take a very good and experienced immigration attorney to make it.

[dysfunctional press]

14. there is no military draft in the united states, and hasn't been for 3 decades.

:shrug:

[Christa]

16. As I said

Students were forced to sign up - what did we know, being fairly new here.

I still have the paperwork.

[okasha]

20. There's no draft,

but young men still have to sign up with Selective Service--just in case Shrub wants to fight a world war on three or four fronts.

[MADem]

32. Jesus, there IS DRAFT REGISTRATION--it didn't end when Vietnam did.

Or have you been sleeping all this time? Don't you ever see the PSA's on TV about it? Registration is MANDATORY.

[lumberjack_jeff]

63. The draft, and the registration ended at the end of Vietnam.

Registration was reinstated in 1979 or 1980.

[MADem]

71. The point is, that for the last several DECADES, we have had REGISTRATION.

To be PRECISE, registration wasn't ENDED at the end of Vietnam, though the action of drafting people was--it was SUSPENDED in 1975. And the registration requirement was resumed in 1980 ...we hardly did without it at all.

A cite: In 1973, the draft ended and the U.S. converted to an All-Volunteer military.

The registration requirement was suspended in April 1975. It was resumed again in 1980 by President Carter in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Registration continues today as a hedge against underestimating the number of servicemen needed in a future crisis....

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/bldrafthistory.htm

[LeftyMom]

92. No, if you're male and of age, you still have to register with the selective service

which is draft registration.

Criminy! Even I know that, and I'm female and the draft ended before I was born.

[lumberjack_jeff]

101. Yes. That's what I meant by "reinstated in 1979 or 1980.

I turned 18 in 1980.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. No

but registration for all young men for the selective service has been the law since 1980.

[ruiner4u]

47. And young men cant get any college financial aid w/o registering. n/t

[Maine-ah]

30. how long have you been trying to become a citizen?

you stated you moved here ten years ago, is that how long this has taken?

[MADem]

33. Some people just like Ze Green Card.

I have friends who have lived here in the US since the early sixties as Green Card holders. One is from the UK, the other from central Europe. They're married. They have several US born kids, and a dozen or so grandkids.

They finally got their citizenship just last year, and they're both senior citizens now!

Some people just prefer to wait. Some people never bother....

[Christa]

34. It took us the full ten years

five hears to get Green Cards, and then five more years for citizenship.

In all other countries it takes 2-3 years: Canada, the UK, Australia, NZ.

I was not allowed to work for the first 5 years, neither was my son. The only illegal, immoral act he committed was voting.

If they did not register him for the draft (or Selective Service) this would NEVER have happened.

I am so PISSED now, almost more pissed than heartbroken.

[aquart]

36. WHAT DRAFT?

[troubleinwinter]

51. I think she means Selective Service registration.

[lumberjack_jeff]

64. Selective service registration = draft registration

What's confusing about this?

[silverojo]

40. I'm sorry I don't know how to help

But this tragic story just reinforces my belief that it's SO unfair of our govt., to offer amnesty only to Hispanic immigrants. People like you, who have worked so hard to come here legally, are routinely kicked in the teeth. Yet Latin@s march in the streets, demanding "rights" they don't have or deserve.

Your son has a lot more "moral character" than any of these slimeballs who come here illegally. It's not his fault that some idiots told him he was eligible to vote, when he wasn't. Yet he (and you) end up facing deportation.

Injustice like this just makes me physically ill.

[mmonk]

59. I can point you to horror stories concerning Hispanics as well.

Even legal Hispanic residents are being harassed.

[High Plains]

60. Why don't you take your hatred of Mexicans elsewhere?

It's frankly sickening.

[MonkeyFunk]

67. ah

this could explain why he referred to Rep. Loretta Sanchez last night as "a bitch".

[unapatriciated]

65. let me give you a bigger brush

so you could add the poor in New Orleans who are protesting to keep their housing to the injustice that make you ill. :sarcasm:

[treestar]

70. The "Amnesty" is never offered to only Hispanic immigrants

It always goes across the board. There is such a thing as a non-Hispanic person illegally here.

The "moral character" decision was made under the LAW, which you apparently are only interesting in enforcing against Hispanics. If you don't like people being here illegally, that should include anyone who is, regardless of their origin.

[lancer78]

85. I disagree!

Her son first committed financial fraud by receiving financial aid by making up a falsified Selective Service Registration. I am wondering how he signed up for selective service without a valid Social Security number. According to the pukes and a lot of people here on DU, this is a nation of laws.
I think it would be unfair if he was allowed to stay and some hispanic was forced to be deported.
Until we get immigration reform, all laws need to be enforced equally.

[Richard Steele]

87. The only FRAUD here is your post. It's a steaming pile of libelous asshattery.

You clearly don't know a damn thing about what you're talking about;
and this unwarranted attack against the OP's son seems particulary
disgusting given the circumstances.

FYI: Legal resident non-citizens are REQUIRED to register for Selective Service.


You owe the OP some profuse apologies.

[Christa]

116. What falsified Selective Service Registration ??

He is here legally and signed up because it is the law.

Why should he pay the terrible price of being deported?

He cared enough to try and make a difference, he was misled about the voting.

How many millions of American citizens don't even take the trouble to get up from their couches in front of the tv to register to vote?

[Marrah_G]

119. Ignore him Christa

He is just a troll trying to be hurtful.

(CALL THE MEDIA- seriously....get some journalists involved, make the INS feel silly, keep the pressure on them)

[Christa]

121. I will, I don't need negativity now

I have more than enough worries

[Marrah_G]

118. Immigrants have Social Security numbers

"Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service."

He is a legal immigrant.

Please check your facts before you speak.

[nonconformist]

41. Selective Service registration is mandatory for all men within 30 days of their 18th birthday

If your son went to high school in the U.S. (and it sounds as if he did, given you've been here for 10 years) I'm kind of surprised you never heard of this requirement. Sadly, no man in the U.S. is given a choice on this - citizen or not. Also, voter registration forms are very explicit when it comes to citizenship and require you to confirm you are indeed a citizen, so this is a pretty hairy situation.

I suggest retaining an immigration lawyer immediately, and also contacting your representatives and congressmen. It might also help to have letters from teachers, professors, clergy - anyone and everyone you can think of who know your son and can attest that he would be an asset to this country.

I really hate to say this, but this might be one of those black and white issues for which there is no recourse. But I'm not an attorney, so definitely consult with one immediately.

Best of luck to you.

[noamnety]

44. I don't understand how he got registered to vote.

I've done some voter registration stuff, and the forms (in my state) have a spot you have to sign, certifying that you are a US citizen.

(Not that I think that's grounds for deportation, Ann Coulter should have had her citizenship revoked if it was. I'm just wondering how a person could unknowingly sign a thing saying they are a US citizen if they aren't.)

[Yupster]

86. This is my question too?

How did he vote if he wasn't a citizen?

[EFerrari]

89. Some predator who gets paid to register voters likely lied to him

to get his signature.

[Yupster]

91. And no one checked to see he was a citizen

before issuing a voter registration card?

This seems like a situation too open to fraud. This is a system that needs serious tightening up.

[EFerrari]

98. I don't see why anyone would check.

For all of that, there have been an insignificant number of noncitizen voters found in any investigation despite the Republican hysteria over it.

[Yupster]

102. So some paid hack, who may be just playing around

for the fun of it making up names, gets to be the voter registar?

That's nuts.

There has to be someone checking that names getting voter ID cards are at least living human beings, and even better eligible to vote.

Is that controversial?

[EFerrari]

104. This is the thing. Most people who are here with no papers

avoid ANY contact with ANY authority if they can POSSIBLY help it.

One proof of that is that when the Republics claim "illegal voting" and try to track it down, it's not happening.

Think about it. If you were here without papers, would you take that risk? That would be craziness. You most likely paid hundreds of dollars you didn't have to get here, and all you're trying to do is lay low and work.

What happened to Christa's son is just par for the course when Republics try to game the system. They most likely lied to him. And because he believed he was doing all he could to follow what a decent person would do to get his papers, they got him. No consequences for them; he gets busted for doing something he didn't know was wrong.

:shrug:

[Christa]

115. You are right

My son wanted to do nothing more than contribute and be part of the country.

We grew to love America the past ten years. It has become our country now.

If he gets deported, we cannot even go with him as we as US citizens, and South Africa will not accept us as we are regarded "deserters" there.

It has not been easy. We had to fight so many battles and lost both the battle as well as the fight. Yet we stayed and became citizens.

[fujiyama]

48. This is an unfortunate situation

but all permanent residents and US citizens must register with the selective service upon their 18th birthday. I did. At the time I was a permanent resident aka green card holder. I also did not register to vote for the '00 elections, knowing full well that voting is a privilege only for US citizens. The laws are pretty clear on that. I think when registration efforts took place on campus, your son did not read the voting registration form carefully enough, because it should make the voting requirements very clear. Likewise, those that were registering people to vote were not aware of the laws.

I suggest the same as everyone else. Seek an immigration lawyer and get statements attesting to your son's good moral standing.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[troubleinwinter]

52. I don't think Christa's point is about the 'draft'. It is about facing DEPORTATION

because he mistakenly thought he was eligible to vote after having been told he was eligible because he'd registered for Selective Service.

He voted. Now he is subject to deportation because he voted and was not a citizen at the time.

Sadly, I think he's screwed due to an entirely innocent, innocuous and patriotic act of (illegal) voting.

But he had to have indicated on his registration form that he was a citizen and signed it.

This situation is unlikely to work out well, I think, given how "things" are these days.

[Laurier]

84. "mistakenly voting" when not eligible to vote sounds like "election fraud" to me

When the repugs do it, we call foul, and rightly so.

[troubleinwinter]

111. A single person inappropriately voting is "VOTER fraud", not "election fraud", which has a different

meaning.

[EFerrari]

53. CHRISTA: There are groups who trick people into registering to vote.

Find out which group signed your son up. I bet you that group has a history of this behavior. That may be a good defense if he was a victim of their cheating.

If you find out which group it was, pm me. I'll help you find out about them.

[troubleinwinter]

54. Important post.

[EFerrari]

55. Merry Christmas, trouble!

It dawned on me: someone wanted another sign up. I bet you anything.

[Christa]

58. Thank you

We are looking into it now.

The group came to the college and signed students up.

My son was not the only one tricked, we will have to find more.

I will let you know the moment I know.

[EFerrari]

76. Good luck. n/t

[lonestarnot]

90. And the only groups I've read about are repiglicon.

[mogster]

56. K&R n/t

[bean fidhleir]

61. There might be shared blame here

How did he manage to register to vote? Normally they require some evidence of citizenship (I'd to show my passport).

If he wasn't registered, how did his name get on the voter rolls? Normally when someone goes to vote, a poll official looks up their name and ticks it.

If the system failed to identify him as a non-citizen, and he didn't try to trick it, then I don't see how they could deport him as he was innocent of criminal intent. That's basic law. (Not that the concept of law, never mind fairness, has much to do with policing in the US today, but still)

[NYC]

73. No evidence of citizenship or even identification was required

when I registered to vote. Absolutely nothing was required other than filling out the form.

I assume they check it later???

[EFerrari]

77. I bet a paid team from somewhere, likely the GOP, misled him

in order to get his sig.

[rug]

66. What do you mean by crime ridden South Africa?

[Christa]

68. South Africa

Crime is rife in South Africa. Anyone, regardless of race, age or gender has a 1/4 chance of getting raped.

On a daily basis you will find articles in SA newspapers about torture; especially farmers are being attacked and tortured.
By torture I mean: tying the man up and let him watch his wife (and children, if any), get raped, breasts cut off, fingers cut off, hacked with an axe, burned with boiling water; before they kill him.
Cars are being hijacked left right and center. At many traffic lights and stop signs you will see signs saying: Don't stop, use as a yellow light.
People sleep with firearms under their pillows, drive with guns on their laps to defend themselves.
Everybody has high walls with barbed wire and more than one big attack dog who sleeps inside.

[pitohui]

80. traffic advice

i heard the advice that if driving at night, it isn't illegal to run a red light if you think someone might be getting too close to your car and you fear being carjacked

i can't drive british side of the road anyway, so no driving for me in any case, but it did sound rather daunting

i think they hope to get a handle on the crime by 2010 and world cup but that is cold comfort for a worried parent in 2008, so i'm crossing my fingers and wishing you luck

[treestar]

69. Another example of how inflexible and stupid these laws are

There is not way around this? How bad is it that he voted? The penalty is disproportionate to the offense.

[Christa]

72. It's a "deportable offense"

according to the letter from them.

[superduperfarleft]

74. The immigration laws in this country are disgusting.

I hope things work out for you.

[knitter4democracy]

75. Another reason to hate INS or whatever they're called now.

The rules are draconian and not implemented fairly across the board, and it entirely depends on the case worker you get.

There's good advice here, and a good immigration atty can probably help take care of this. :hug:

[aikoaiko]

78. Deportation Lawyer --- get one quick if you really want him to stay.

[dpbrown]

82. American Immigration Lawyers Association - Immigration Lawyer Search

http://www.ailalawyer.com/

[Christa]

88. Thank you everyone.

I am going to start a petition and will need your help.

Many Thanks

Christa

[supernova]

93. Christa, sounds like your son had an unscrupulous recruiter

I would get your new immigration lawyer to track this person down. If she or he was collecting "voter" info, that was possibly illegal. It's not a crime to be a non citizen and be in the military here. But quite possibly this person was fishing for trouble too.

It would help your son's case if you could find other immigrants to whom this has happened. Likely your son isn't the only one who got suckered with that tactic.

I sure am sorry your family is going through this. :hug:

[NorthernSpy]

96. Selective Service registration is required of all men in the US, 18-26...

... who are citizens, or who belong to certain categories of noncitizens.

Recruiters aren't involved. Usually, guys sign up at the post office.

[supernova]

97. However, if he was told

that signing up for the military or the SS for that matter was concomitant with voting rights, then that person definitely needs to be talked to.

Also, signing up for SS you don't serve automatically, this guy is already a soldier.

[NorthernSpy]

99. thing is, voting registration forms ASK -- yes or no --whether you're a citizen...

... of the United States.


It's not too easy to accidentally get the answer wrong.

[supernova]

100. It is if you are an ESL speaker

and you don't quite understand the form you are filling out.

Gov't and legal forms in a second language are some of the most challenging things and ESL person can write.

I don't know of his language proficiency, perhaps it's near native level. Perhaps not.

Are you really certain that you could go, right now and sign up for the Chinese army correctly?

[Garbo 2004]

106. He attended school here & was in college when he registered to vote.

If ESL was an issue, surely the OP would have mentioned it.

[EFerrari]

107. How many of us have filled out forms in English where our first language

WAS English and where we had to guess at what was wanted?

[Garbo 2004]

105. He just registered for Selective Service, didn't enlist. n/t

[nonconformist]

109. What guy is already a soldier?

[Christa]

117. Thank you

through my tears I thank you, and everyone else for the compassion.

[NorthernSpy]

94. voter registration forms ASK whether you are a US citizen...

You circle "yes" or "no" -- whichever is true.


And above the signature blank, there's some text further notifying you that if you sign the form, you are affirming that you are a citizen of the United States.


If you lie on the form, then you've committed fraud.


I understand that you want to help your son, but what he did really IS illegal. And it's a little hard to see how a non-citizen could falsely claim to be a citizen accidentally.

[EFerrari]

108. Give it a rest. If you were unfamiliar with the process

and someone official looking said to you, "No, you have to check the "citizen" box because you're already in the pipeline", what would you do?.

This kid obviously had no intention of doing wrong or he never would have offered up the information in the first place.

Geezus Christ on a trailer hitch. What HE did was illegal? What about the felonious intentions of these predators who are being paid for each signature.

Give me a fucking break.

[KamaAina]

113. i.e. it sounds like he might have signed the voter form under duress

from one of these sleazy repuke groups. That'd be something to take to the attorney.

[EFerrari]

123. He could so easily be misled. I'm sorry if I was rude.

How hard would it be to manipulate a young man who is excited about becoming a citizen, who has registered with Selective Service and who tries to be polite to anyone who looks like they are "official"?

Pretty easy, imho.

[Garbo 2004]

114. Based on the OP we don't know whether he was fraudulently lured into registering to vote or

whether it was just a matter of misunderstanding. Was the question of citizenship actually discussed? He may have been asked if he was registered with the SS just to ascertain if he was at least 18 and if so, he was told it was ok to register. Unless you have more specific information that the OP hasn't provided here.

Obviously the kid didn't think he had committed a crime or he wouldn't told the Feds. At least they haven't put him in the slammer. Remember what happened to Larisa's relative and the conditions in which they held her?

[EFerrari]

122. I sure do remember what happened to lala's cousin.

That was horrendous.

But, if you think it all the way through, there was a scam here. It's just that, Christa's son wasn't the scammer. How many times, Garbo, have we read about this exact situation in the Election Reform Forum? Where scammers with an agenda prey on people to get their signatures?

No, we have no way of knowing if this happened. But, what are the other likely scenarios? :shrug:

[EFerrari]

124. NorthernSpy, I apologize for being rude to you.

I hope the rest of your holiday goes better than that!

[truebrit71]

95. I am confused, did he sign up for the Draft, or did he actually go into the military?

I had to sign up for the draft/selective service to get my Green Card but didn't go into the military, but I knew from day one that the ONLY way I could vote is if I became a US citizen.

Seems to me that someone is being mighty petty...can you and your husband sponsor him now that you are citizens? Failing that, just have him get/keep his green card...There are worse things than not being able to vote...

I feel for you, but you REALLY need to talk to an immigration attorney about this, and the sooner the better...

[Christa]

103. Thank you

Please sign here?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2525004

[DemKR]

110. K&r

[Marrah_G]

112. Contact EVERY senator and congressmen- Contact the media- Talk shows

Publicity is what you need. Contact any news source. Type out a detailed letter and start faxing and emailing it everywhere.