This article in yesterday's Potomac News tells the story of 29-year old Marilu Lopez. Lopez, a mother of five and undocumented McDonald's employee, faces deportation as a result of child abuse charges that a General District Judge dismissed and Lopez calls an accident involving a shower that was turned too hot.
Due to Prince William County's policy of cooperation with Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Lopez remains in jail awaiting trial, and her 5 children are scattered between foster homes. The article focuses on the effects of PWC's policy toward undocumented workers, but the magic truly happens in the comments, where Prince William's finest gather for earnest debate and to convey their sympathies to a family that has been torn apart. Want some insight into the mind of the "Send 'Em Back" crowd? Check out some samples after the "jump."
SEND HER BACK AND MAKE HER COME OVER THE RIGHT WAY. SHE IS ILLEGAL FOR GOD SAKES. WHY ARE WE CONSTANLY CATERING TO THESE ILLEGALS ALIENS. MY HARD EARNED TAX MONEY GOES TO THESE ILLEGAL ALIENS. --debbieskins
I'm glad to see this story. I find it funny really, it makes me laugh. I'm glad there is some chance that at least once in a while an illegal alien gets caught and punished for cheating our system. Maybe her kids will have less of a chance to get scalded if she takes them back to Mexico. Maybe they can grow into something other than crooked tax-cheating McDonald's attendants too, and the McDonald's job can be filled by American teenagers who have one less illegal alien to compete with.
--Anonymous
Deport her. She came here illegally. If you coddle people like that, they will keep coming by the tens of millions. Better to keep them in jail for an inconvenient interval, then deport them. Only sad part here is that if someone here takes in her 5 kids who shouldn't even be here, the American taxpayer ends up footing much of the bill for them, as was likely the case when she was here. Would love to see your paper cover THAT story.
--Anonymous
Ok. So she comes here and has 4 more kids with 2 boyfriends and they live in a basement apartment? How big are basement apartments? And how about speaking spanish from the jail? She's been here how many years and still can't speak English. Those poor kids.. what a role model.
--justme
My only question is how long did it take Corey Stewart, John Stirrup and BVBL to type all of these up?
The xenophobia in the immigration debate really brings out the worst in people. Immigrants are still people, above all else. If my tax money saves someone's life -- especially a parent -- ya know, I may just foot the bill for that one.
We are all the children of immigrants, if not for American rights that said that our ancestor's children were citizens, we would not be citizens today.
Furthermore, immigrants are less likely to commit crimes, more likely to contribute to the economy and pay taxes, and are a key source of economic growth.
We must stand strong against ignorance and hate!
I wonder if people who fear immigrants are actually afraid of their own legitimacy...be it legitimacy as a man, or as a provider or as a good person.