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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more
comments.
5/17/07
Shannen
Colorado Springs
I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL. AFTER WATCHING THE PROGRAM LAST NITE ON P.B.S. I FELT
LIKE I WALKED AWAY FROM THE T.V. WITH A BROKEN HEART. THOSE POOR PEOPLE BELONG TO SOMEONES
FAMILY HERE IN THE U.S. THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY WITH A BROKEN SYSTEM IN HOPES
FOR A NEW START. ANYONE ONE WHO THINKS THAT THEY DESERVE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM BECAUSE
THEY KNOW THE UNITED STATES LAWS AND THEY BROKE THEM HAS A VERY CLOSED MIND AND PERHAPS
THE ROLES SHOULD BE SWITCHED. I RECENTLY WAS RELEASED FROM FEDERAL PRISON IN LEVENWORTH
KS. SO IM REALLY NO BETTER THAN ANY OF THEM AND MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE WORSE BUT MY FAMILY IS
FROM THE U.S. SHOULD I BE SENT SOMEWHERE AWAY FROM MY FAMILY BECAUSE I BROKE KNOWINGLY
BROKE THE LAW? HELL NO!!! AND THOSE MEN AND THEIR FAMILY'S HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH, MEGAN
YOUR A VERY CLOSED MINDED PERSON WHO HASENT GO THROUGH ANY HARDSHIPS AND THATS APPEARENT,
PUT YOUR HEART WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND THINK HOW YOU WOULD FEEL HAD THIS BEEN YOUR
FAMILY.........
5/17/07
Wesley Patton
Tyler, Texas
I understand why we need laws that make us forever aware that there are things we have a
right to and there are things that are a gift that must be respected but after seeing the
program I do NOT understand how we can deport people away years after they have committed
thier crimes AND then paided for them in full those who have clearly, CLEARLY become
longterm productive citizens in this country. How do we do this?
5/17/07
Kezia Huyser
Clinton, MA
How sad that we so easily turn our backs on these Americans. I would like to know if there
is anything that can be done to try and help this situation. Who do we write to or call to
let them know that this is a crime against some of our own people and it needs to be
stopped.
5/17/07
Chey
Las Vegas ,NV
We can argue about immigration laws or any laws for that matter all day of whats fair or
not. Some of the laws might be changed in time for better or worst and only time will
tell, But it's there to be followed. I myself came to the United States at the age of two
as a refugee and see this as my homeland and Cambodia as my heritage. I still hold a
permanent resident status and have yet applied for citizenship. Not from non patriotism
but being a product of America's youth and believing this is my country and where I belong
but guess thats my ignorance that at any moment I can be sent to a strange land which I
left 26 years ago. My main reason of writting this is in hopes of a bigger change not of
the immagration laws but of Cambodian Americans which fall in the same category as myself
"born in Cambodia but raised in America". I didn't fall in the cracks and joined a gang
like most in my neighborhood were I grew up in Stockton,Ca. We can't fault our parents as
they were ignorant to a new society. I don't know exact numbers but it seems that more of
Cambodian American youths are going towards gangs or the lifestyle then anything else from
my own view. But As we grow older ourselves need to take a challenge to change what has
become of us as a whole and be role models to our younger brothers in a more positive way.
I hope we can change and not let what effected our families during the killing fields
carry to our new home here and that we play a more positive part in society as we are
still all new here. My thanks for anyone that reads this and hope our change is in the
near future where we will be commenting on more positive Cambodian American topics which I
do see now as in Soben Huon Miss Utah 2006 and other youth Cambodian organizations.
5/17/07
Debbie
I found this program disturbing on differant levels. Heartbreaking....! I believe we need
closed borders and immigratios is out of contorl in our country, but those men are just as
much american as I am and we all made stupid mistakes when we were young.. To let someone
live here almost all their life and jail him for his 1 crime, make restitution, go on with
his life, make a family...and then years later...make him pay for the crime again....jurk
him from his childern, wife, job....something is wrong with that picture...they should
have sent back as soon as he did the crime........NOT NOW....very sad...! there are way
too many others who should be gone...that are not productive to our society...very unjust.
5/17/07
Mike
Florida
I think the immigration law should be ashamed of themselves. They should deport people
with major felony crimes. Not misdemeanor ones.And if they do deport felony charges. At
least look at it case by case. I mean these kids did the time and served a few years. they
should be in the US. If they commit another crime just throw them back in jail. But to
bring them back when they have no clue. Its a disgrace. But yet there are millions of
illegals here.And they don't do nothing about it. Everyone makes mistakes.Everyone here is
an immigrant. That lady that did the interview. How bout if it was her son. I'm sure she
would have second thoughts. Strip him away from her and his kids. How would she feel. She
probably go to the other side.
5/17/07
Denise
Oakland, California
I do NOT think the immigration laws are too strict. The problem is that they are
selectively inforced. In the case of the young men, I think they should have been given a
second chance since they were raised in this country and their 'crimes' were minor. What
bothers me is the racism associated with illegals and or deportation. Mexicans are almost
always given a free pass to break any law in the US and go free. Recently an illegal from
Mexico killed a father of 5 while driving drunk. He had been arrest numerous times and let
go because in CA the police cannot ask or make an issue of one's citizenship. Yet if they
are any other race they get deported.Look at the way Cuban VS Haitian illegal immigration
is handled. It is all political
5/17/07
Sallie
I think deportation is reasonable for people who are here on grace.
5/17/07
TM
Los Angeles, CA
Permanent Residents are human beings, and as a result, they will make mistakes and make
wrong decisions, due to being young, ignorant of the laws, or acting on emotion, etc. Many
individuals who have been through the justice systems are individuals who were represented
by public defenders, no offense to public offenders, as a result of such representation,
they most likely took a plea bargain, as recommended by their public defender. Regardless
of the crime, they paid society for their crimes by doing time, hopefully they turned
their lives around. How can they get deported when they do not own society anything
anymore?
I am in the same position as many of these individuals portrayed in the film. I pleaded no
contest in two separate cases, I was 18 years old and 20 years old. Both offences occured
prior to 1996, if I would have known how it would affect my immigration status, I would
preferred to have taken both cases to a jury trial. But ever since then, I have completed
college, I have an AA, BA, and MS,
and currently attending school and completing an MBA. I wanted to become a citizen, but
was advised by an inmmigration attorney not to bother with the process, and to start
making plans to be deported, my permanent residence status expires in 2010. I have three
children, own a home, pay my taxes, contribute to changing lives around due to my work in
the social sciences, and yet..I have to start making plans to leave in a few years..due to
this unfair law. I came to this country at age 7. What am I suppose to do? Both of my
cases have been expunged, but apperently, this does not mean anything to federal judges.
5/17/07
In general, I think that immigration laws are still too weak in the United States? I hope
to see a day when anyone who breaks the law (especially gang bangers) and commits a felony
will get deported to another country. Preferably a 3rd world country. I do not feel sorry
for any of the individuals who were deported. I‚m (hoping) / waiting for congress to pass
a federal law that make a convicted felon eligible for a complete removal / surrender of
an individuals U.S. citizenship. Especially drug dealers , sex offenders , armed robbers
and murders. I would gladly support seeing my tax dollars spent on keeping dangerous
individuals out of the United States of America. Lastly, I think that anyone who is
deported should be executed immediately if found by law enforcement to have returned to
the United States of America after being deported for breaking U.S. law , after being
convicted of a felony and serving time in a U.S. prison.
5/17/07
Sandra Herwerth
I think the laws should be changed to allow these individuals to remain in this country.
They have no ties to the countries they have left behind and are more American than
anything else. If a permanent resident breaks the law and has paid their debt to society,
then end of story - they should be allowed to move on as anyone else born here would -
especially if they were children when they left their homeland. There should be some sort
of a "residency scale" to determine if a person should be deported or not. If a recent
immigrant broke the law, then yes, they should probably be deported. But if they have been
here longer than anywhere else, then there should be some sort of consideration for them.
At any rate, each case should be judged on its own merrit, and I refuse to believe that
our government isn't smart enough to make reasonable determinations.
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