Congressman Urges Obama To Help Immigrants

Activists are calling on Barack Obama to fulfill promises to keep immigrant mothers from being separated from their children.

That plea came outside immigration offices in Chicago as a mother of six filed for a stay of deportation.

Francisca Lino is being supported by Adalberto United Methodist Church.

That's the same church that offered sanctuary to another immigrant, Elvira Arellano. Arellano stayed at Adalberto for a year before being arrested and deported last August.

Lino's husband and six children are in the country legally.

Standing at Lino's side Monday, Congressman Luis Gutierrez urged Obama to fulfill his promises to bring about immigration reform if he becomes president.

Comments

[GLN 60611]

It is evident Gutierrez"s latest self-serving strategy reflects his regrets over not backing Obama.
It is also disappointing to read Luis has no public opinion relating to Mexico"s responsibility for the plight of its own people. The genesis of the illegal immigration problem is in Mexico, with its history of corrupt plutocracies and an economy controlled by monopolies and oligopolies. As long as Mexico"s elite ruling class exploit its own people --- with the help of Luis Gutierrez"s silence--- the feudal poor of Mexico will remain downtrodden.

This is NOT the United States fault or responsibility.

Last year there were 10 Mexicans among the world"s 1062 billionaires. Second on Forbes" List is Carlos Slim Helu of Mexicio City. Many of Mexico"s billionaires were created by the government during the privatization of state-owned companies in the 1990s.
But, Gutierrez says nothing about the Mexican government"s culpability to the vast extremes of wealth and poverty among its people.

The temerity and misconceived immigration reform demands by Gutierrez is why I will vote against more open borders and ammnesity. I am for LEGAL immigration, but I do not believe the US owes or should allow infinite numbers of Mexicans to cut in line simply because of shared borders.

What is preventing millions of Mexicans from marching in the cities of Mexico and demanding increased opportunity and higher wages?

And what, Luis, is preventing you from making a plee to the government of Mexico on behalf Ms. Lino (and others similarly situated)?

[MARTYB]

If you are illegal, go home. We have "'massive" problems to deal with concerning people who were
born here and i do believe whomever is elected will have to deal with OUR issues FIRST!! Illegals
problems start by coming here "illegally", just go home and fix YOUR country like we need to fix ours.

[exotic]

closing the borders should be a priority when President Obama takes office

[ChewyToy22]

As far as I'm concerned if you don't abide by the rules you should be treated accordingly.

[Independent voter]

Louise never grasped the idea of welcoming and helping LEGAL immigrants as opposed to aiding and abetting people who are here illegally.

[FaceYourFears]

Here we go again everybody bringing their wish-list to Sen O, as if he's Santa Claus. I'm all for immigration but there is a difference in legal and ILLEGAL....the law is the law, try abiding by it.

[yearlin]

i agree, how long has she been in the country to give birth 6 times? she couldn't begin the paperwork at least? these illegals have a nerve. if americans did half the stuff in other countries that these illegals do in our country, they'd be dead. illegals take advantage of america's kindness.

[LionelHutz]

This is not the time to bring up this issue. Obama has already promised immigration reform. Does Congressman Gutierrez simply want Obama to confirm that he intends to keep his campaign promises? Why raise the issue when Obama has been lucky enough to avoid any controversy over his position largely because concerns about the economy have drowned out immigration issues? Also, it's not like Obama can adjudicate this woman's stay of deportation. That decision is entirely in the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

[1manisland]

Luis Luis Luis - Worry about your legal voters who put you in office. Is this the only thing you do with your job ? Worried the yuppies are taking over and they will push you out ? Enough already ! There are a lot of worse things happening to Americans as we speak, That is your job ! If you don't like it retire. You sound like a broken record.

[krissmiss81]

I hope this situation works out for everyone. I personally am not a fan of the way immigration issues are handled, there's a strong history of racism and bigotry in the laws as they've come and gone.
People focus on Mexico, but there are lots of other problems. The story I like to use is a doctor who had a child with autism, and his family (which included his wife and breastfeeding infant) applied to come over for the treatment. Visas were granted to all except the infant. When the whole debacle was closed and the mother decided to remain with the baby in their home country, the officials admitted they didn't grant that last visa because they wanted to make sure they would leave the U.S.
As someone pointed out, with the dearth of physicians in rural areas, shouldn't we be a little more inviting? Babies as collateral...it's disgusting.

[georgebush4obama]

This guy did not even support Obama in the first place. He's just being an @sshole. What can Obama do? He's not a judge to overturn the deportation. Very stupid of him and just a jealous move. EFF HIM

[andrealynnj]

I am half of a bi-national lesbian couple, we have two children. Our union is not recognized by ICE and my undocumented partner is now in removal proceedings.

I truly hope Obama will do something for the undocumented and I hope he will do it in his first 100 days or it will be too late for our family.

[XME]

What I don't get is how her husband and six kids are here legally, but she's now...how does that happen?

[LionelHutz]

Families of mixed immigration status are actually quite common. The kids were probably born in the U.S., thus making them citizens. Her husband might have gained his status before he met his wife, or gained it in such a way as did not allow for derivative beneficiaries, or maybe the wife has some issue (such as multiple illegal entries after 04/1997) which prevents her from qualifying for legal permanent residence. Or it could just be that her husband has filed an immigrant petition for her and she's waiting for a visa to become available.

[marasgram18]

No no I think this is important not to ignore

[RedForman]

Unlike this website which buries stories like this?

Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for these people. I do not believe in deporting people, but the border MUST be closed.

[Bobrobert]

Sorry.

A Berlin Wall is not the answer.

Make them are productive citizens of the USA and be done with it.

[one4obama]

Congressman Gutierrez needs to back off.

Obama is making an all out effort to secure the Presidency. I think Gutierrez is being very opportunistic in coming forth at this time. He is only trying to put Obama on the spot, to force him to openly make a decision NOW.

Whether this is a way to put a spotlight on himself or a sincere plea for Obama's help, now is NOT the time, with only 2 weeks to go before the General Election.

[berkeleygirl1962]

Obama is actually a Senator from Illinois, and Ms. "Lino's husband and six children are in the country legally" so as Illinois residents they are arguably his constituents (as are non-voting US citizens residing in Illinois). What's unreasonable about asking him to take a stand on this important case when he's taken a position on the general issue of family unification? I've never heard of Congressman Gutierrez before, and haven't a clue where you inferred that he's some kind of self-aggrandizing poseur. "Opportunism" for a good cause...he sounds like a good advocate to me.

[terragazelle60]

It used to be that if you were married to an American citizen or anyone legally here with children born here...you automatically got a chance to become a citizen.

I have a friend who met and married an illegal...they have a beautiful little girl. She is trying to do all they can to enable him to stay here, but every time she fulfills all of one set of rules, they change the rules. Every time she turns around they up the price...oh it costs alot. Their baby just turned a year old...and her daddy can be taken at anytime. He works and pays taxes but lives in fear. There is something very wrong with the way we do things. We want people to come legally, but unless you are Cuban forget it. There can be a 20 to 30 year wait.

The only reason to have power is to use it with justice...too many use it for self gain...it is time power was on the side of the powerless, isn't that what this campaign is about?

[SharonAustinTX]

I have empathy for your situation but don't understand how someone who is here illegally get a social security number and pay income taxes. Can you enlighten me?

[RedForman]

Obama will help her AFTER he is elected. He will help Fransisca and every other illegal immigrant. Probably the illegal immigrant gang bangers that the city of Los Angeles loves to keep around.

[Martee]

I gotta agree. Pinning him to the wall on hot button issues is not the way to go right now -- unless you're in the pocket of the Rethugs.