Thread: Illegal Immigrant arrested

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  1. #1
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    TRINITY - The class schedule for 17-year-old Josue Oswaldo Ramirez-Mejia looked a lot like those of his classmates at Mitchell High School:

    American history, language arts, economics and government, personal fitness.

    Since Aug. 26, he had been just another student in this bustling, overcrowded Pasco County school.

    But on Tuesday, Ramirez-Mejia's lost wallet betrayed his secret.

    He was 27, not 17. The woman who registered him was his sister and not, as school officials were told, his mother. His school transcript was a forgery. So was his birth certificate. He was a Guatemala-born illegal immigrant who authorities say broke the law to get into Mitchell.

    His motive?

    Ramirez-Mejia wanted a good education.

    "He came here for his education," Josue's brother, Maximo Ramirez-Mejia, said outside the Pasco County jail, where his brother was being held Wednesday on $5,000 bail on a charge of uttering a forged instrument.

    His plan, Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said, was to finish high school, learn English, work a few years in the United States and then return to Guatemala, where he might get into real estate.

    "America, everything is beautiful," Maximo Ramirez-Mejia, 34, said in English before switching to Spanish: " "En Guatemala, la gente se muere . (People are dying)."

    The 27-year-old's strategy unraveled Tuesday after another student found Ramirez-Mejia's wallet in the physical education area of the school's campus, assistant superintendent Jim Davis said.

    The billfold was given to a teacher, who gave it to a school resource officer, who in turn began an investigation that was still under way late Wednesday.

    School officials said Ramirez-Mejia raised no red flags during his month on campus. He was taking reading and English as a second language, in addition to the other classes. The principal knew him only when she was shown a photo, Davis said.

    "Of all the things to do wrong out there, I think we have to sympathize. For most of us, education is so important" said Melissa Lazarin, education policy analyst for the National Council of La Raza, a nonprofit organization involved in Hispanic issues.

    What stumped school officials was that Ramirez-Mejia could have obtained his education legally through the same school district without altering any documents. He could have enrolled in Pasco's adult education courses, taken English classes and eventually enrolled in a high school equivalency program.

    "It's a shame he thought that was the only way he could get an education," said Anne Johnson, director of community, career and technical education. "There are just all kinds of things that could have been available."

    Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said he didn't think his brother knew he had such an option.

    Now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun deportment proceedings.

    If Ramirez-Mejia is released from Pasco County jail on bail, the federal agency will pick him up and detain him at Bradenton Detention Center in Manatee County until he posts a second bail, said immigration spokeswoman Pam McCullough.

    "I got the $5,000," Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said in both English and Spanish before leaving the jail Wednesday. "But I need to work a long time for $5,000. Maybe is better si el se va para Guatemala (if he goes to Guatemala)."

    Ramirez-Mejia was not allowed to see his brother in jail Wednesday. Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said proper visitation paperwork and procedures had not been processed.

    Josue Ramirez-Mejia came to the United States three years ago, but lived in West Palm Beach until a few months ago, his brother said.

    Corporate filing records show the brothers run a tiling business together, Torre Fuerte Flooring Inc. of Lake Worth. Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said his brother would attend classes in the day and then work in the afternoons and evenings.

    "The work we have, you have to know English," Maximo said, adding that if his brother goes back to Guatemala he might have to join him because he doesn't know if he can run the business on his own.

    Neighbors in their west Pasco neighborhood of Holiday described the brothers as kind, friendly people. They play accordion, sing a lot, read the Bible and work hard, said a neighbor who only gave her name as Gayle.

    Three times a week, Josue and his brother attended La Luz del Mundo, a Spanish-speaking church in Holiday, their pastor said when he stopped by the house Wednesday afternoon.

    Neighbor Omartin Martinez, 19, said Josue lent him a bike after Martinez was hit by a car and forced to begin collecting disability payments from Social Security.

    The Pasco Sheriff's Office said it found only traffic tickets in Josue Ramirez-Mejia's history. A St. Petersburg Times review of public records found two felony charges to a Josue Ramirez Majia with the same birth date and similar physical description.

    On Jan. 23, 2004, in Lake Clarke Shores, someone by that name was arrested for auto theft and possessing a false identification card. A photo on the Palm Beach County Web site appears to match that issued by the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

    The disposition of that arrest was not clear from public records late Wednesday, but he was found guilty of possessing a fictitious identification.

    Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said the matter had been dropped by the courts. He said his brother's arrest was the result of a mix-up in which he bought a Mitsubishi Eclipse for $500 and the man he bought it from reported it stolen. Then, his brother was picked up while driving it.

    Asked what he thinks will happen to his brother now, Maximo said he was remaining positive.

    "He's going to be okay," he said, "because he's got much faith and he's smart."
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    So now we deport people who simply want to have a chance in life and have a good education?
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    Yes. That's been the policy. Unless they're Cuban.
    "Getting a job, finding a mate, having a place to live, finding a creative outlet. Life is a war of attrition. You have to stay active on all fronts. It's one thing after another. I've tried to control a chaotic universe. And it's a losing battle. But I can't let go. I've tried, but I can't." - Harvey Pekar


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    America is actually hurting herself in this respect by throwing away potential taxpayers.
    The Human Progress Group

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    Most illegal inmigrants are not potential taxpayer, they are actually taxpayers who don´t get benefits back (many don´t even claim the tax refund)...besides this comment sounded too economical for a big drama as inmigration is, thanks to capitalism...
    "...Standing at a historic point, I will repay with my life the loyalty of the people. And I say to you that I am certain that the seed we have surrendered into the worthy conscience of thousands and thousands of Chileans, will not be able to be reaped at one stroke. They have the power, they can make us their vassals, but not stop the social processes, neither by crime nor by force. History is ours and is made by the people."
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    Originally posted by metalero@Sep 30 2005, 03:58 AM
    Most illegal inmigrants are not potential taxpayer, they are actually taxpayers who don´t get benefits back (many don´t even claim the tax refund)...besides this comment sounded too economical for a big drama as inmigration is, thanks to capitalism...
    I'm just pointing out why the US's immigration policy doesn't make sense even from a capitalist perspective - As far as I'm aware, illegal immigrants are not covered by minimum wage regulations, and their employers pocket whatever money would go to the government.
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    Well, I think htat the immigration policy isnt one of economics. It's one of neo-conservative ideology, racism and cahvunism. Wall mart would lvoe to keep its terribly payed and overworkers illegal immigrant workers, but the Bu$h administration doesnt want to be seen to be being soft on imigrants.
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    Talking of immigration, the British Home Office has now decided that iraq is a safe place for all our Kurdish and Iraqi refugees to return to, despite the fact that the Foreign Office advises that it is a highly dangerous place!
    They also seem to forget that most of those granted asylum were members of their local Communist Parties, and will be killed by local militias if they return.
    Which just shows that governments aren't interested in the real issues affecting asylum, but the views of populist media papers, such as the Mail.
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    Yeh,. iraq is soo safe. That's why there's huge amounts of british and american troops fighting against an insurgency. It's insane, the tabloid rpess seems to dictate governmnet policy.
    In what relations do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working class parties. They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole. They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement.
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    Aye, that's tru. And ashame!
    Why don't we rally'sum comrades and'strikes douwn upon-thee?
    I mean, those actions. Of course, at first, it will appear - as a general,
    peace-ful LOOKING demonstration in appearance....but, what those blue-eyed naive-fool's of a th...Burgerouise's, is that we carry concealed
    torche's, and throw'em at'eir buildin's like a joint attack of a burst of flames.

    Muahahaha. And then run like hell!
    ...Vigorously followed by the armed forces of bigotry, o'cours!
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    I wonder how he managed to appear 10 years younger.

    I hope they don't deport him.
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    What stumped school officials was that Ramirez-Mejia could have obtained his education legally through the same school district without altering any documents. He could have enrolled in Pasco's adult education courses, taken English classes and eventually enrolled in a high school equivalency program.

    "It's a shame he thought that was the only way he could get an education," said Anne Johnson, director of community, career and technical education. "There are just all kinds of things that could have been available."

    Maximo Ramirez-Mejia said he didn't think his brother knew he had such an option.
    Does that cost any money?
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    This has reminded me about when the topic of illegal immigration was brought up in my history class. The other students were making fun of how desperate some people will go to get into the US and laughing about it. The thing is though that there is a Dominican, a Colombian(me) and of all people a Mexican girl! I was real pissed how they could just laugh about such a thing when they think I'm cruel for justifying the death of the Tsar dynasty.
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    Originally posted by Colombia@Oct 1 2005, 01:20 AM
    This has reminded me about when the topic of illegal immigration was brought up in my history class. The other students were making fun of how desperate some people will go to get into the US and laughing about it. The thing is though that there is a Dominican, a Colombian(me) and of all people a Mexican girl! I was real pissed how they could just laugh about such a thing when they think I'm cruel for justifying the death of the Tsar dynasty.
    This is ironic unless all your class mate are natives. Were do you go to school?
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    Maybe if the United States didnt steal from Latin America they wouldent need to sneak into the US. Those classmate's of your's Colombia and all those Americans who hate illegal immigrant's are hypocrits, they should blame they're own fucking goverment for screwing those countries. If US never stole anything they wouldent need to be in the us. So it's all the Goverments fucking falt.
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    I go to a school which is mainly white so it is understandle why they would think like that.
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    Originally posted by Colombia@Oct 1 2005, 01:31 AM
    I go to a school which is mainly white so it is understandle why they would think like that.
    Yeah I feel ya brotha, I went to an almost all white school and Im brown (guatemalan)
    And I would have to defend myself constantly from racial attacks and slurs, not just from students but from teachers also

    Immigration = American interference in Latin America

    People claim that immigrants are a burden upon tax paying citizens...
    But in reality, if it weren't for these immigrants: there would be no vegies at grocery stores, no nannies, no janitors....

    Thats why I'd like to see how the US would function during a week, if there were no illegal immigrants in the US
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