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Posted on 08/30/2007 5:29:10 AM PDT by TejanoJim
A native Texan spent the night in the Arlington Jail, missed her children's first day of school and feared being deported after authorities mistook her for an illegal immigrant.
Alicia Rodriguez, an accountant and mother of three, has the same name and date of birth as a woman deported to Mexico three times.
"I was told I was waiting for an [immigration] officer or Border Patrol officer to interview me and then move me to another location. It was very scary," the Mansfield woman said.
Arlington and federal immigration officials say they made a mistake and apologized.
"This is very unusual," Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said "We're not aware of this having happened before. We do realize that this is unfortunate, and we do regret that we made an error."
Gilfour said police overlooked fingerprints that would have shown Rodriguez was not the illegal immigrant.
Rodriguez said she does not plan to sue, but apologies do not make up for what she was put through.
"I think it's ridiculous. I think it was obvious that I wasn't an illegal immigrant," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Apparently, it was not obvious. And that name has to be very common.
it should have been obvious....she speaks ENGLISH!
“Arlington and federal immigration officials say they made a mistake and apologized.”
Mistake? They probably did it on purpose in order to stir up further anger in the Hispanic community against the immigration laws. This is the modus operandi of our immigration authorities. They arrest innocent people, or illegal immigrants that are good examples of hard luck cases, such as the woman whose children were born here, but who was subject to deportation after her native born husband died. But they don’t deport in the easy cases such as drug dealers, rapists, and welfare deadbeats who are illegal aliens. They would rather call attention to the tough cases than enforce the law fairly.
Think this is another example of why legal Hispanics should be in favor of deport illegals. the sooner we get it done the better for all of us.
Sounds like a case of people having multiple identities using several SS numbers so they can collect multiple US, state, and local govt freebies.
They can file several tax returns to collect $3500 EITC checks. Collect multiple welfare, UI and Workmens Comp under different names and SS#.
The NY Times reported Mexicans who once worked here with valid SS numbers, then returned to Mexico, actually rent their SS numbers so other illegals here can file with the IRS and pocket $3500 Earned Income Tax refunds.
A widely-used SS# scheme: the illegals name their anchor baby the same name as the parent. They obtain a valid SS# for the anchor baby; the parent uses it, no one checks beyond name-matching, if that.
CNN's Lou Dobbs reported illegals are stealing small childrens' SS# because a child doesn't use a number very often so it is near impossible to detect a stolen number.
Dobbs also mentioned that business owners give illegals SS# of a previous employee (it is not a felony to give away SS#s but it is a felony to use them).
The US provides Mexico with the nuclear umberalla that is paid for by US taxpayers.
Mexico has no welfare safety nets, health insurance, and no Social Security system.
Illegals here get paid under the table and don't even pay taxes and send some $50 billion US dollars back to their decrepit, moth-eaten country.
They are a huge drain on US resources.
Looks like they cross the Rio Grande with nothing in their backpacks but instructions on how to get on the US gravy train.
Since the woman is a native Texan, she probably speaks fluent english - that should have been their first clue that they probably had the wrong woman.
She looks a tad PO’d in here photo.
Unfortunately, quantity is more important than quality in hiring. It may have been the officer’s fault. It may have been the woman’s fault. Who knows.
Does anyone know how to check and see if your SS # has been stolen?
Time for a name change?
“Mistake? They probably did it on purpose in order to stir up further anger in the Hispanic community against the immigration laws. “
This was my first thought as well. It seems like they are intentionally trying to target whoever they think will get the most sympathy and this is just another tactic.....or not....my tinfoil hat could be malfunctioning!
“Mistake? They probably did it on purpose in order to stir up further anger in the Hispanic community against the immigration laws.”
Ditto.
Alicia could have avoided this situation by not acting like a criminal in the first place.
Personally, I'd carry my US passport if I were in her shoes.
At any rate, a case of mistaken identity is not justification for halting the invasion of illegal border hoppers.
So, the authorities could send the poor woman a nice cash gift with sincerest of apologies (I see they’ve made verbal apologies, and send her kids some tickets to a pro ball game with some spending cash, and send some coupons for something nice to her husband.
And then say openly that that won’t stop a the anti-insurgency.
Got mine right here.
You can do a credit check to see if there are any credit accounts someone opened wit your SSN.
But privacy advocates have handicapped the government over concerns of government misuse of personal data. As a result, the government is not allowed to release any information about use of your SSN used for employment. It’s to protect you privacy. However, you should be able to order a SS report that reveals your income-based benefit level.
Typically, most people discover someone is using their SSN when the IRS hits you with hefty fines for back taxes not paid on the $300K you earned last year from 21 simultaneous jobs around the country.
Arlington police pulled Rodriguez over and arrested her Sunday night after running her license-plate number. She had warrants from Dalworthington Gardens for having no insurance during a stop in that city and failure to appear in court for the insurance charge. Rodriguez said the charges are valid, and she was willing to pay a fine and bail to get out of jail. But when she got to the jail, the Arlington police computer told officers that they had a woman who was in the country illegally.
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