Daniela Pelaez, South Florida High School Valedictorian, Faces Deportation

The valedictorian of a South Florida high school faces deportation at the end of the month, and her friends, and a U.S. Representative, are rallying around her in the hope of preventing her from being sent back to Colombia.

Read the whole story at Local10.com

Comments

[Htown Lawman]

09:18 AM on 03/03/2012

ICE puts hold on deportation
http://youtu.be/IjU0ghBgoz4

[Deborah Reed]

04:01 PM on 03/04/2012

Another person gets to stay illegally. We keep rewarding illegal immigration, we will never recover from the recession. If she doesn't get deported, I will not vote for Obama and Mitt Romney is looking pretty good right now. I don't know what he can do, but maybe he can do more than Obama.

[vampi80]

07:48 AM on 03/03/2012

Sen.Rubio is a fraud he lied about his family fleeing Fidel Castro ,the truth is his family was in bed with the dictatorship of Bautista which allow his family to go back &forth from Miami. Bautista ruthless régime let to Fidal Castro thanks to people like Rubio family.

[BillInOrlando]

11:37 AM on 03/02/2012

She's a bright and talented young woman. It's too bad that her criminal parents put her in this situation. She has already benefited by having you and I and other taxpayers contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars for her free 12 years of education. If other benefits were obtained she can add that to her pot of gold. My daughter and I struggled to pay for her college because the government took my tax money to give to Daniela and millions of illegals like her. I'm sure she will be a great surgeon after the delay to apply for and complete the requirements to become a legal U.S. citizen. Do it right and be proud!

[esalicrup]

10:59 AM on 03/03/2012

I would agree with you except for the fact that MANY, probably more than we want to admit, "illegals", I rather call them undocumented, pay there share of taxes like you and I do. So their kids are not necessarily obtaining any free education. Why do I know this? Because I'm their CPA.

[BillInOrlando]

03:07 PM on 03/03/2012

The "MANY" you refer to is like pointing out the total weight of a lawn chair on the deck of the Titanic. Referring to an illegal alien as undocumented is like calling a heroin dealer an undocumented pharmicist. Daniela is the exception to the millions who are destroying our country. How do I know? Because I serve on a school advisory council. Those who become legal citizens do well. How do I know? Because I'm their CFP(r). All 4 of my grandparents were legal immigrants who became citizens.

[Michael W Armstrong]

02:35 PM on 03/03/2012

Criminal parents? Entering the US without being inspected by US Immigration is NOT a crime but an infraction, just as driving without a license or on expired license plates. It would be beneficial to all if more people in this country were informed about the Law of the land.

Besides, what say in the matter of her parents place of residence would a 4 year old have? This is how old Daniela was when she was taken to the US.

If only closed minds came with closed mouths!

[KIVPossum]

09:03 AM on 03/02/2012

This is why everyone should support the Dream Act. Little girl has spent her life in the US and is on fast track to be a contributing member of society. Wrong to punish her because her parents brought her to the country as a child

There are a lot of illegal aliens to go after for deportation before we hit children who have lived here all their lives

[Deborah Reed]

04:08 PM on 03/04/2012

I don't support the Dream Act because they know they here illegally and at some point when they want to attend college, get a driver's license or take care of something that requires a SS#or ITIN, then they want to cry foul and blame their parents. This girl is 18 years old. She has been her since was 4. If she didn't know she was illegal then, she knew at some point when she wanted to attend college. I feel badly for the people who wait years to come her legally and this girl was brought here by her parents and nothing is going to happen. In the next election, I will not vote for Dianne Feinstein because she is spearheading this Dream Act. I am sure her daughter's nanny wasn't US born.

[Arashi]

08:50 AM on 03/02/2012

Serves her right for ruining the curve.

Seriously though, rules is rules and I don't see her achievements as the basis for an appeal - and I'm a radical.

Suppose the same thing happened to some kid graduating way back in the pack? Doesn't he deserve the same shot at the American Apple? Doesn't this nation need plain old hard working family men and women?

As for her military brother, I say if you're willing to let people shoot at you, I'm willing to let you vote. Welcome citizen!

[tjamman]

07:54 AM on 03/02/2012

Our emphasis should be on controlling the BORDER.

And we need to end this stupid drug war which motivates people to flee - the only real money to be made south of the border is illegal while legal citizens, to include damn LAW ENFORCEMENT the judiciary and the politicians, are at the mercy of drug financed banditos.

Who WOULDN'T flee?

You can't really expect a person who has lived longer HERE than there to go back...

[Olaugh]

06:02 AM on 03/02/2012

What a waste.  Let's throw away the best and the brightest because of something her mother did and because of the Byzantine red tape of our immigration system.  I have told the story before but it bears repeating.  My father-in-law was in almost the same situation this young woman is in but he was permitted to stay.  Now there is a staircase at a concert hall, a wing at a hospital, and a middle school which bear his name.  Think of what she could contribute to our communities.  What a waste.

[1differentdrummer]

05:57 AM on 03/02/2012

Complicated issue.