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Livin' the dream.... ?

Silver

Well-known member
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back.
Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Officials initially accused Zapeta of being a courier for the drug trade, but they dropped the allegation once he produced pay stubs from restaurants where he had worked. Zapeta earned $5.50 an hour at most of the places where he washed dishes. When he learned to do more, he got a 25-cent raise.

After customs officials seized the money, they turned Zapeta over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS released him but began deportation proceedings. For two years, Zapeta has had two attorneys working pro bono: one on his immigration case, the other trying to get his money back.

"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.

Zapeta's story became public last year on CNN and in The Palm Beach Post newspaper, prompting well-wishers to give him nearly $10,000 -- money that now sits in a trust.

Robert Gershman, one of Zapeta's attorneys, said federal prosecutors later offered his client a deal: He could take $10,000 of the original cash seized, plus $9,000 in donations as long as he didn't talk publicly and left the country immediately.

Zapeta said, "No." He wanted all his money. He'd earned it, he said.

Now, according to Gershman, the Internal Revenue Service wants access to the donated cash to cover taxes on the donations and on the money Zapeta made as a dishwasher. Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

CNN contacted the U.S. Attorneys office in Miami, U.S. Customs and the IRS about Zapeta's case. They all declined to comment.

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

On Wednesday, Zapeta went to immigration court and got more bad news. The judge gave the dishwasher until the end of January to leave the country on his own. He's unlikely to see a penny of his money.

"I am desperate," Zapeta said. "I no longer feel good about this country."

Zapeta said his goal in coming to the United States was to make enough money to buy land in his mountain village and build a home for his mother and sisters. He sent no money back to Guatemala over the years, he said, and planned to bring it all home at once.

At Wednesday's hearing, Zapeta was given official status in the United States -- voluntary departure -- and a signed order from a judge. For the first time, he can work legally in the U.S.

By the end of January, Zapeta may be able to earn enough money to pay for a one-way ticket home so the U.S. government, which seized his $59,000, doesn't have to do so
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.

Who violated US law when he ILLEGALLY gained entry to this country- becoming a foreign invader... :mad:

A hearttouching story-- and most folks have no problems with immigrants who want to come to this country, work hard, and are able to better themselves...But they need to be LEGAL immigrants that go thru the proper channels....
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Illegally entering a country, Illegally working, Illegally trying to transport cash out of the country........if you were to substitute "my house" for "country" (Illegally entering my house, Illegally working, Illegally trying to transport cash out of my house), in Oklahoma I could shoot him. I guess we should all learn Spanish so we can carry on about stealing from the American people.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
So what about the businesses that are hiring these illegals,where and how does thier responsibity come into it??I get it that he was in the country illegally,I also get it he freakin WASHED DISHES to make this money,why are these businesses not being fined and fined loads amount of money for hiring these guys????????????????????????????? :?
 

Texan

Well-known member
The most dangerous criminal in this incident seems to be the federal government. And this isn't an isolated incident. They have almost made it illegal to possess cash - just so they can have an excuse to take it.

It happens over and over again - mostly in the name of the "War on Drugs." And it doesn't just happen to illegals and it doesn't just happen to criminals. Anybody with a substantial amount of cash is vulnerable.

Forfeitures have gotten to be big business for law enforcement. To the point that someone doesn't actually have to be guilty of a crime to lose what they've worked for.

When we give law enforcement the right to keep whatever they can take, we give them a huge incentive to rationalize taking whatever they want. It's done on a daily basis throughout this country - and not just to criminals. That's pretty disgusting to me.

Throw the guy out for being illegal. Assess taxes and penalties for not complying with our income tax laws. But STEALING all of his money is bullsht.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
So what about the businesses that are hiring these illegals,where and how does thier responsibity come into it??I get it that he was in the country illegally,I also get it he freaked WASHED DISHES to make this money,why are these businesses not being fined and fined loads amount of money for hiring these guys????????????????????????????? :?
I agree 100%. Spending millions on a fence is a stupid waste of money. Simply make it a fine of $10,000 per day per illegal hired. If we can do an instant background check for a hand gun, then we can do an instant ID check for employment. If an illegal cannot get a job, they will not come here. It would also be relatively simple to establish immigration offices to do checks on people wanting to come to work. If they test positive for drugs, if the test positive for TB, if they have a criminal record, deny entry. Have all applicants DNA tested, finger printed, and background checked. I don't see the problem. Except big business like Tyson's and Wal-mart need minimum wage workers so their executives can get 7 figure bonuses.
 

Texan

Well-known member
Goodpasture said:
If an illegal cannot get a job, they will not come here.
That's the bottom line. Interdiction alone doesn't work - the billions we spend trying to stop drugs is proof of that. Stopping demand is the answer - removing the incentive to come here will stop it TODAY.

But, at the same time, I don't think it's right to use employers as the sole enforcement tool. Making employers do the job that the government has failed at?

Yes, they should document citizenship. But to make small business - and even large business - responsible for determining the validity of those documents is an expense that they shouldn't have to bear.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Texan said:
Yes, they should document citizenship. But to make small business - and even large business - responsible for determining the validity of those documents is an expense that they shouldn't have to bear.
When you order telephone service, they ask you for your SSN. Within 5 seconds they tell you if it is valid or not. When you file your personal income tax return, the first four letters of your last name, the date of birth, and the SSN is compared against the Social Security master list and a discrepancy kicks it back within seconds. Determining the validity of a SSN is a quick and simple process and should take less time than it takes for the applicant to fill out the application. We are not dealing with significant costs because the infrastructure is already in place. Being able to do it on line makes it even easier.

Once the immigrant ID with a DNA code and a fingerprint embedded in the "bar code" on the back is established, it would be a piece of cake to verify an ID. Again, little or no cost to business. Even policemen could have a fingerprint reader in their car, connected to their car computer via blutooth, insert the ID card, read the fingerprint, and have an instantaneous positive ID.

I would also seriously consider outsourcing prisons to China. I bet we could get a prison in China to house a prisoner for less than $1,000 a year. Of course, there would probably be a high mortality rate among prisoners, but being off shore, it would not come under our laws.........
 

Larrry

Well-known member
Another thing, is if you notice. Near where there are large amounts of illegals you will find a Western Union. Just notice many times they are wiring money to Mexico. Make it tougher to send money to Mexico and that would help dramatically also.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Larrry said:
Another thing, is if you notice. Near where there are large amounts of illegals you will find a Western Union. Just notice many times they are wiring money to Mexico. Make it tougher to send money to Mexico and that would help dramatically also.

As of June 9, 2006, the company has 270,000 Western Union agent locations in over 200 countries and territories.
http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp?origination=global

Hey, illegals ride buses......lets make it tougher to buy a bus ticket.........
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Larrry

Well-known member
What a dolt you are. I thought your first grade antics would get old for you

Anyone with any amount of brains could understand that if WU was to send money to Mexico they had to have a green card. But then I understand you not being able to comprehend. After all a Liar only understands a LIE

You aren't even making any sense anymore.

Of you you can always rtell more LIES since you are so good at it.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Larrry said:
...... if WU was to send money to Mexico they had to have a green card.
You do understand that not every visitor to this country has a green card and not every visitor to this country is illegal and that sometimes people other than illegal immigrants send money via WU? Or do you think the Homeland Security boys should set up a WU watch to verify that money sent to Guatemala or Honduras or Columbia is actually being sent by an illegal and not simple a person with a visa and a passport?

I heard that illegals also wear sandals.......maybe we should have "Payless Shoes" start verifying green cards........................


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Larrry

Well-known member
I didn't expect you to understand. It is fun to see things slip right over a lefties head

You must leave a purely pathetic life that you feel empowered to call people names.


It stil is hard to read your posts, just what is a LIE and what isn't.
 

Goodpasture

Well-known member
Larrry said:
You must leave a purely pathetic life that you feel empowered to call people names.
You ever thought about learning what words mean before you use them?

em·pow·er (ěm-pou'ər) Pronunciation Key
tr.v. em·pow·ered, em·pow·er·ing, em·pow·ers

1. To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority. See Synonyms at authorize.
2. To equip or supply with an ability; enable: "Computers ... empower students to become intellectual explorers" (Edward B. Fiske).

The only thing empowering me is your stupidity...........


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Larrry

Well-known member
Keeep it up you are still showing your stupidity.

I just love it because I caught you in a LIE and called you on it, so you resort to childish antics.
 
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