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In 1997 then U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law what is now know as IIRA, this legislation stripped immigration judges of the ability to take into account any persons circumstances when it came to deportation matters. Since this date hundreds of thousands of legal permanent resident families have been stripped apart and families left without fathers and mothers, never to be allowed to reside in the U.S. for as long as they live.
This sweeping legislation was irresponsible and a reflection of the conservatives right wing House and Senate that held the majority at the time. This is an important petition because due to this legislation Military Veterans whom have served honorably are being deported for life for such minor crimes as marijuana possesion or even crimes in which the court orders the charges dismissed after one years completion of satisfactory probation.
The trajedey is that a legal permanent resident veteran whom served his country has no recourse under this law, but an illegal immigrant whom is here illegally can apply to adjust his status to legal and all is forgiven! This legislation must be revisited and veterans already deported need to be given and avenue back to their families and to the country in which they have served and sworn to die for if necessary.
Please contact your representatives and tell them that you demand the repeal of the IIRA and that responsible legislation be presented for a new vote.
Regards
SPC M Pereira US Army
Federal Facts:
The U.S. Census reports that there are 10 million single mothers living with children under 18 years old, up from 3 million in 1970. In comparison, there are about 2.5 million single fathers. These statistics really make me think deeply about the message from President Obama today, who published this piece in Parade Magazine titled 'We Need Fathers To Step Up':
Stop the Deportation of Military Veterans
Dear Representative
I urge you to revisit the Illegal Immigration Reform Act (IIRA) this draconian legislation that was inacted in haste and has failed to achieve any real goal in deporting illegal immigrants of any kind. This legislation enacted in 1997 by a Republican House and Senate and signed by then President Bill Clinton under some pork belly deal, has failed to achieve anything but split apart legal resident families and ensnarl military veterans right along with them.
It is well know that there have been many attempts by elected representatives to submit legislation that would change much of the wording in the legislation to allow for military veterans to at least be given a fair trial by a judge to determine wether his service to his country afforded him some relief from deportation. These efforts have always been stalled in the Judiciary due to a Republican controlled house and a conservative stronghold fueled by ignorance and bias due to threat levels and a national terror campaign.
What is more disturbing and calls for immediate change is that an illegal immigrant has relief from deportation because he is not a legal permanent resident! If this does not cry foul to your intellect then I am not sure what anyone can say that does. If we can not revisit the entire legislation, then we must at least provide for the relief of veteran service members and allow those already deported to apply for re-entry so that they may either continue to serve or return to the country in which they have already sworn to serve and stood to defend.
I urge members of Congress to revist this legislation, provide avenues of relief and enact legislation that reflects good moral judgement, that is fair and balanced and represents the level of justice that our country is known for.
Federal Facts:
The U.S. Census reports that there are 10 million single mothers living with children under 18 years old, up from 3 million in 1970. In comparison, there are about 2.5 million single fathers. These statistics really make me think deeply about the message from President Obama today, who published this piece in Parade Magazine titled 'We Need Fathers To Step Up':
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