I'm Sorry, But I'm Not Sorry

In today's fish wrap there is another sob story of an immigrant family being torn apart by the big, bad immigration agency. Page 1 of the California section tells the story of Michael Campo, 10, and his father Carlos Alvarado. You gotta love the picture in the paper (missing in the on-line edition): Michael is holding hands with his dad's shadow, foretelling what the future holds for him.

What propaganda, and what a lie.

Read deep into the article carefully. What the story is really about is how a parent's selfish behavior is to blame for harming their child, not ICE.

Buried deep on page B6, (where the photo of dad isn't a shadow), is this line:

Alvarado, who has a work permit and has been with the same plastering company
for 13 years, also pays for Michael's health insurance.

Alvarado landed in immigration court after violating probation on prior convictions of
driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license.

Mr. Alvarado had a work permit. He wasn't illegal. He just chose to keep breaking the law; he was on probation! Deportation proceedings didn’t begin until he repeatedly broke the law.

Using the LA Times logic:

• Divorced fathers, who break the law, are put on probation, who then violate probation and are sent back to jail, shouldn't have to go because it will harm their parent/child bond.
• Criminal parents shouldn't be sent to prisons that are inconveniently located from where the kids live as it will cost the family time and money to visit.
• Criminal parents shouldn't have to take responsibility for their actions, after all, they need to be there for their kids.

How's this: Parents, be responsible and don't commit crimes. Put your children’s' welfare before your own and stay out of jail.

And, Michael, when your dad is deported to Mexico with his new girlfriend and kids, know in your heart that America didn't do this to you. Your dad did this to you and to himself. For that, I am sorry.