There is a larger question that always lies beneath the surface of these kinds of issues: Do we punish someone for mistakes that happened years ago or do we recognize that the person has grown into a good citizen and contributor and forgive the error?
This issue is especially interesting when someone is finally caught and arrested for a crime committed many, many years ago who has built a solid place in the community and contributes a lot. I guess it depends on whether we are more interested in punishment or rehabilitation. If punishment is our primary focus, then it doesn't matter how "good" the person is now or what they contribute to society. If rehabilitation is our aim, then it would seem that we should allow for the fact that a "criminal" has somehow rehabilitated him- or herself without the aid of our corrections system. Some would argue that if we forego the punishment, then other criminals may believe that they can avoid prison if they do the same thing. And that would be a terrible thing, wouldn't it? Criminals who pulled their lives together and became model citizens without society's investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars for prison expenses.
In Mr. Jamal's case, do we as a community do better deporting him or keeping him here?
Dottie Titus, Jordan neighborhood
On Jan 9, 2005, at 12:33 AM, mike skoglund wrote:
I am really confused about this.
On 1/8/05 8:10 PM, "Barbara Lickness" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Omar Jamal and his wife and children will be paying a VERY high price for the crimes he committed. It will deny them U.S. immigration and eventual citizenship. This situation will throw their immediate future into chaos for awhile.
According to the Pioneer Press, his wife and children are U.S. Citizens, so
they won't face deportation.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/10594906.htm
I think it is pretty obvious that gaining immigrant or citizen status in the United States is now and has always been very important to many people around the world. I think when you add to that scenario the fact that they come from a country that has been destroyed by tribal infighting, war and rebels the stakes are that much higher. If you don't gain immigration to the United States and are forced to go back to or remain in the war torn country you are trying to leave, it is unspeakably frightful. In some cases, it means you will be killed just for trying. Omar is not the first immigrant to meet this fate.
See, this is what I don't get -- he had already been granted asylum by
CANADA in 1991, so apparently he'd already been out of danger for seven
years when he made these misstatements on his U.S. Immigration papers. If
he'd already been granted asylum in a safe place, why would he lie? So he
could attend college in Memphis? Or was something threatening his Canadian
status? I'm having a hard time connecting the dots.
[...]
I think it's very sad that he will pay such a high price for choices he made when the United States was in a much different place than it is now. I feel sorry that he and his family will be deported or worse that he will be incarcerated here. It's easy for us who sit in nice warm toasty houses in one of the wealthiest countries in the world to condemn Omar for what he did, but none of us are standing in his shoes.
[...]
The Pioneer Press story indicates he isn't looking at jail time -- if he's
deported, he would be sent to Canada. They have nice warm toasty houses
there, too.
Mike Skoglund // Financial District, New York // Bancroft, Minneapolis
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.
2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
