Deporting+Elena's+Father

// Deporting Elena's Father // Throughout the United States, formal collaborations between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement have been formed, making local law enforcement agents required to enforce federal immigration law. In the state of Wisconsin, no formal agreement currently exist, however the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has been collaborating with ICE, resulting in a significant increase in the number of detained, and then deported, immigrants. Immigrants within the county are being picked up, by local law enforcement, for minor traffic violations, then tried and deported. A 46 percent increase has been recorded within the year 2007-2008 alone. The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors have decided, at a July 2010 meeting, to side with the sheriff's department and not pursue investigation.
 * Background Information:**

Should the collaboration between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agents continue? Melissa Bollow Tempel, editorial Associate of Rethinking Schools, gave her own testimonial at that July meeting. Tempel is a bilingual teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools and has seen the many students deal with, and suffer the affects of deportation. Tempel describes the case of one of her current 1st grade students, "Elena." Elena is a "model" student who comes from a very hardworking, "model" family. The problem is that Elena's mother is a U.S. citizen, however her father is not. Elena's father was picked up for a minor traffic violation, resulting in his deportation, due to the collaboration with the ICE. Elena's father was taken into custody and not allowed to return home during his trial, because he was not a U.S. citizen. He left for work that morning and never returned, being unable to see his family again. Tempel thinks about her own children and poses her own question, "How //doesn't// deportation affect children?"
 * Synopsis of Article:**

"How does deportation affect children?" I can only imagine how this nightmare would play out in reality. So you say goodbye to your dad when he drops you off at school and then your mother tells you afterschool that you may never see him again? I really can't imagine that. I can tell you that the Hispanic students in my school never have their picture taken at registration and do not come to school on picture re-take day. No one says anything, but we know that the reason is due to a lack of citizenship of one or both parents. All of the teachers know that if the breadwinner gets deported the family will be on welfare and the child/children will have a much lower chance of getting out of the poverty cycle, leading children to drugs and crime. I personally believe that in situations like Elena's the parent who is illegal should have a choice to become a citizen or leave the U.S. If they choose to become a citizen then they should remain detained or on a special type of work release program until they complete a free citizenship program. I sponsor a child in Mexico and she has received a quality education. She is currently taking the necessary tests to go on to secondary school. In Mexico you must pass these tests in order to attend, what you would call high school here in the states. I believe if we supported education in Mexico and allowed highly educated people to stay in Mexico they would have the opportunity to make positive changes to their country leading to lower amounts of illegal immigrants. Jen  Irene: I agree that leaving a family without the breadwinner leads to welfare costs for the government, and the longterm psychological costs for a population who must drop out early to take whatever job they can, as soon as possible, to help the family to survive. I wish they would go after felons and drug dealers for deportation, not minor traffic offenders. Carrie: I cannot imagine how horrific it must be for a child to lose a parent in such a away that Elena did. I agree w/ Irene that there must be some way that they can do something more about those illegal immigrants who are criminals opposed to those who are as the article reported "hard working" as Elena's father was. I know first hand how the sudden loss of a parent can so greatly affect a child. How could it not? As a child (and to a certain extent even still as an adult), your parents are your world, so a child who would lose a parent in this manner would turn their world upside down.

Cheri-I agree with Jen. Let's look at a long term solution rather than a quick fix. I like the idea of immigrants being able to complete a citizenship program if they choose to stay with their families in the US. Let's try to look at solutions that would have a bigger impact on society as a whole. Families are very important too! A good family environment has a HUGH impact on the children's behavior and future.

Christa: Thaks for your comments ladies! I am in complete agreeance. While they may feel that they are doing a good thing by deporting illegal immigrants and "following the law," instead they are damaging/ traumatizing our future generation. I can't imagine the impact on a child to hear that you may never see a family member again, without even having a chance to say goodbye. And at that age level, there's no way that they were able to understand the reason why! I believe that there has to be a way for us to support hard working immigrants, wanting to becoming a citizen of the U.S. and a contributing member of society. Obviously, if the intent is to participate in illegal activities or be criminally involved within the United States, then thyey may not be deserving of this luxary, but I feel as though those trying to make a better living for themselves and their family, in a positive way, deserve a little leeway and support. Instead of looking to solve these problems, we are creating new ones by traumatizing our youth, taking away the love and stability that they know, which can only end negatively- acting out in school, turning to illegal activities, living on welfare, phychologial problems, etc. I believe if the traffic violation is the only offense, then the offender should not be taken into custody on the the basis of citezenship, as there is no formal agreement between ICE and local law enforcement on thius practice, in Wisconsin, anyway.