Crossposted from Loaded Mouth.

I just read (without screaming, surprisingly enough) this editorial on an illegal immigrant in my hometown rag. It's short, which allows me to pull a Gilliard and quote the whole thing.

Illegal immigrant goes home

The Boston Globe recently reported the moving story of Juliano Foleiss. In 2000, as a pre-teen, Juliano and his younger brother were brought to the United States from Brazil by his mother on a tourist visa -- carrying only two suitcases, to avoid arousing suspicion of her intention not to return when the visa expired. When it expired, they became illegal immigrants.

Juliano became a student at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School, in Marlborough, Mass. At times the Foleisses lived with Juliano's aunt, and in various other places -- none of them, unfortunately, legal residences.

But Juliano was always an excellent student. And on June 3, when he graduated, he served as one of his class's two valedictorians.

On July 5, the Foleisses will catch a flight back to Brazil, where Juliano will attend a public university. The family would prefer to stay in the United States, but Massachusetts does not grant its discounted in-state public-college tuition to undocumented immigrants. The full tuition at the University of Massachusetts would be prohibitively expensive for Juliano's family.

Massachusetts law limits in-state public-college tuition to American citizens and legal immigrants. Having such status typically saves a public-college student about $10,000 a year.

Many things could be said about this case, and what it symbolizes. But we would note one thing that can't be said. While there has been hardship and hard work, as well as a violation of immigration law, this case can't be called a tragedy. Juliano Foleiss received a good public-school education (as did his brother), and he takes that education, along with his obvious intellectual gifts, home to Brazil. One imagines that someday he could be a strong candidate to legally immigrate to the United States -- which would become the beneficiary of his achievements.

So instead of embracing the intelligent portions of America's youth, we should instead celebrate the fact that we're shipping valedictorians out of the country just because, and through no fault of their own, they happened to be here illegally? And let's make no mistake here, this teenager was an American despite the status of his legality. How far will the hatred of illegals go? How far will it be allowed to go before even the most ardent Republican realizes that it's harming the country?

Very often in our supposedly "liberal" media, the only facets we're allowed to view, concerning stories about illegal immigrants, are the negative ones. We see them as criminals when they've been in the country for a while, or as pathetic border-hoppers who have the audacity to dare coming onto our land to make a better life for themselves, like we should now assume that those are evil intentions. What's never included in the discussion is an admittance to the fact that many illegals are mavericks who embody the very best in what are supposed to be American values: they are willing to do anything to provide a better life for themselves and their family, grasping for the American dream. In many respects, these illegals are more American than many of those who were born to privilege within our borders who haven't done a day of hard work in their lives. They never worked for anything, they just sit back and get it: cars from their parents, loans for school, jobs because they have the right connections. In fact, judging from how Americans loathe to lift a finger to protest the government or fight for a better life (or even do so much as vote), I find it rather ironic that our media and the supposedly most patriotic segments of our political society demonize those who don't harbor a lazy and apathetic view of life. Perhaps they feel threatened by the presence of people who will actually work hard to better themselves.

Youth are supposed to be the future of America, so what does it say about a country when they ship its valedictorians out of its borders? We're shipping our leaders out of the country, and then we're arrogant enough to believe that they should feel grateful for this punishment! This teenager should have been given a full schalorship to the University of Masssachusetts, not a one way ticket "home."

I've mentioned before at my blog that my family's roots in this country are a product of illegal immigration. My Grammie had no legal right to be in this country when she arrived here, but she stayed, prospered, started a family, and here I am today. If you met me, you wouldn't peg me as a product of illegal immiigration: I'm white, speak English and I'm familiar with the local vernacular and culture, educated in the public school system, etc. Hell, I never even pegged myself as a product of illegal immigration until my Grammie told me so. I wonder how many other people out there are just like me and don't even know it. I wonder how many positive and truly American stories about illegal immigration slip through the cracks.

Fact is that if you kick us out, then America doesn't have a future. It would be good for some Republicans to keep such in mind the next time they boot a valedictorian from the country.

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I just read (without screaming, surprisingly enough) this editorial on an illegal immigrant in my hometown rag. It's short, which allows me to pull a Gil

Tracked on June 18, 2005 12:13 PM

Posted by: Rogue at June 18, 2005 06:08 PM

Posted by: tas at June 20, 2005 03:06 AM