Thread: UT: Youth facing deportation 'undocumented, unapologetic'

The Salt Lake Tribune

September 21, 2011 Wednesday

Youth facing deportation 'undocumented, unapologetic'

By David Montero The Salt Lake Tribune


David Morales stood on the alter, encircled by activists holding hands, and offered a prayer for undocumented immigrants looking for a way to gain legal status in the United States.

Among those for whom he was praying? Himself.

Morales, a 19-year-old Salt Lake Community College student, held a news conference Monday in a church to tell his story of being picked by federal agents while en route to Louisiana to attend a Bible college so he could eventually become a pastor.

"I put everyone... in your hands," he prayed. "I put these laws in your hands. With you, God, everything is possible."

But for now, things are also in the hands of a Utah immigration court judge, who will hear his deportation case Oct. 6.

Morales, dressed in a dark suit and tie, displayed some of his preaching techniques during a 15-minute speech that asked politicians to pass the DREAM Act - --- a piece of legislation originally authored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would grant children of undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship by requiring military service or attending college.

Hatch, however, has backed away from the legislation and has said it's being used by Democrats as a political tool.

The DREAM Act most recently failed late last year when it passed 55-41, but needed an additional five votes to defeat a filibuster. Hatch missed that vote because he was attending a family member's graduation.

"It's time to show our parents we are not criminals and that we will no longer be ashamed of their desire for a better life for us," Morales said. "We are undocumented, unafraid and unapologetic."

Standing behind him, several supporters held up signs that read "Who would Jesus Deport?" and "No wasted talent." Occasionally, they chanted, "We want an education, not deportation."

Ron Mortensen, co-founder of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration, said he's not entirely opposed to the DREAM Act, but said the current set-up is unfair. He said a pathway to citizenship being granted to an undocumented immigrant serving in the military should not be equal to the requirement of two years in college.

"One can join a radical group and protest the war and demand social benefits and he's on the pathway to citizenship while another is in Afghanistan getting his butt shot at?" Mortensen said. "Let's do things fairly."

After Morales gave his speech and prayer at Centro de Vida Cristiana, he walked out with the activists and was trailed by reporters who were told he would take questions about his plight.

That's when things got a little surreal.

Instead of taking questions, the teen simply walked to his car and sped off down the street -- leaving reporters flummoxed and Salt Lake Dream Team activist Diego Ibañez left in the parking lot to answer questions. He apologized and said Morales did not intend to take questions and that the information provided saying otherwise was a mistake.

www6.lexisnexis.com

AGAIN, Why would you support the Dream Act Amnesty for the ILLEGALS that calls for IN-State tuition for ILLEGALS who now replace innocent American students in the limited seats in college at a time when over 10% of United States Citizens are out of work and their families are struggling to train for new jobs and pay for college? Why would you support in-state tuition for the ILLEGALS that will attract more future additional ILLEGALS to the United States and train ILLEGALS for jobs it is illegal for them to have? These students should go back to their HOME countries and stop draining our resources that could be used to assist United States Citizens and not the ILLEGALS! Just follow the money! Some of Elitist Politicians and their Elitist Political Contributors want to continue to have United States Citizens pay the benefits for their ILLEGALS while they continue to have their BOTTOM LINES increased at the taxpayer's expense!

Hatch, however, has backed away from the legislation and has said it's being used by Democrats as a political tool.

Yeah! that's why, wouldn't have nothing to do with the Utah Compact and the flack he received from the citizens of Utah

Why in the world does anyone with a brain think that we need to reward illegal criminals with the Dream Act (nightmare) or anything else. "Not entirely opposed to Dream Act"? Are you kidding? Send them all home, that is my "Dream".

Related story. Notice the part about administrative amnesty and the medical care.

Undocumented immigrant tries to navigate an uncertain future


By David montero

The Salt Lake Tribune
Published: August 29, 2011 10:07AM
Updated: August 30, 2011 05:10PM

SCOTT SOMMERDORF | The Salt Lake Tribune Undocumented teen David Morales attends school at Salt Lake Community College as he awaits the outcome of a pending deportation hearing against the backdrop of a new policy by the Obama administration.

West Valley City • David Morales is a teenager. A bundle of contradictions wrapped within his wiry frame.

He cares deeply about people and dreams of helping the homeless. But then he’ll blow off a meeting with a guidance counselor at school. “They’ll reschedule,â€

He has an Oct. 6 court date. For months his family planned to go back to Mexico.

Then Aug. 18 happened and may have changed everything.

So close. So damn close. *sighs*

"It's time to show our parents we are not criminals and that we will no longer be ashamed of their desire for a better life for us," Morales said. "We are undocumented, unafraid and unapologetic."

More like illegal, militant and arrogant!

Time to deport him and many more like him. Transport them via the cheapest most uncomfortable method possable short of making them walk back to the border and make sure the press gets to talk plenty of pictures and post a warning to all illegals that they face the same if they continue to stay here.

Morales raised his hand — the hospital wristband from his ER visit sliding down his thin wrist.

This is so, so sad. I'm so happy that we have emoticons to do the crying for us because I laughed when I read this. One of the first things most normal people do when they leave the hospital is to tear or cut that durn thing off of our wrists!

Morales didn’t pay a dime for the care.

So if I understand this correctly Morales wanted some new bling and the hospital bracelet fit the bill perfectly(pun intended). :P

violating the instructions laid down by the ICE officer who threatened him.

Instead of taking questions, the teen(Morales) simply walked to his car and sped off down the street --

OMG! An ice officer threatened him! What could this possibly be about? It couldn't be the little undocumented driving problem that was mentioned in the first story posted now could it? Perhaps he was also speeding when he sped away. hmmmmm....

One of the many comments by "RAY" supporting the ILLEGAL in the source article states that Citizens are abusing the United States welfare system so it is OK to import ILLEGALS to help continue the abuse!

In response to "RAY":

Ray as you wrote "Stop draining our resources that could be used to assist U.S. citizens? How about those thousands of citizens who abuse the privilege of welfare?"

Ray, your answer to the abuse of the welfare system by Citizens is to import ILLEGALS to perform additional abuse; the ILLEGALS are ahead of you on this one.

The only ones who support the ILLEGALS are the Elitist and their Special Interest Groups that benefit financially from their ILLEGALS while the Citizen Taxpayers furnish all of the ILLEGALS' benefits adding to the ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS's bottom line. Soaking the Citizen Taxpayers for the benefit of the Elitist Political Contributors.

Some may be a fan of Gov. Perry.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/5 ... d.html.csp