This is a horrible situation for her, made worse by her parent’s disregard for the law. They were here legally... until they failed to renew their visas. They didn’t sneak across the border or engage in criminal behavior... but they broke the law by not being attentive to their ethical requirements.
I would hope that someone in the Church can apply to be this girl’s sponsor and that the State Department will allow her to stay in the country while the process takes place. But this is precisely why Churches must, must, MUST require that their people follow the law when it comes to immigration and visa issues.
>>>This is a horrible situation for her, made worse by her parent’s disregard for the law. They were here legally... until they failed to renew their visas. They didn’t sneak across the border or engage in criminal behavior... but they broke the law by not being attentive to their ethical requirements.<<<
I am pretty sure the parents’ illegal status was not simply a failure to file paperwork. They probably came on some sort of vistor’s visa and intentionally overstayed it.
It is a common misconception that illegals who orignally came here on visas, could have obtained residency/citizenship if they wanted to. It is far easier to get a travel visa than to obtain a green card.
I find it disgraceful that people claiming not only to be Christians, but also “Pastors” would run a church while willfully violating the laws of the land by remaining here illegally. The parents’ behavior was disgraceful, IMO.
That said, I am conflicted on what to do about the daughter. It clearly wasn’t her fault that her parents chose to break the law. Mercy says, let her stay, but on the other hand, it only encourages more law breaking.
Whatever decision is made, it should be clear that she is not ENTITLED to stay. If she is allowed to stay, it should be made clear that mercy is being shown, not justice.
“This is a horrible situation for her, made worse by her parent’s disregard for the law. They were here legally... until they failed to renew their visas. They didn’t sneak across the border or engage in criminal behavior... but they broke the law by not being attentive to their ethical requirements.”
Failed to renew their visas? Listen, I know for a fact that a very large percentage of the illegals here didn’t pay coyotes to sneak them into the country. They flew here on legally issued temporary visas and just stayed. If you have the price of a plane or bus ticket, it’s very simple to come here and not risk dying in the Arizona desert. Most temporary visas are not renewable. these people knew exactly what they were doing. I am sorry for the child. She is in innocent byproduct of her parents unlawful behavior. Maybe she will be adopted by a citizen family or some such thing. She would not likely survive back in Brazil. You can’t turn a “domesticated” animal back into the wild because it doesn’t know what to do to survive. Same is true for children in situations like this.
They didn’t sneak across the border or engage in criminal behavior... but they broke the law ....
...ahhhh, YES they did, and she did break the law and snuck across the border by knowingly overstaying a visa, that’s sneaking in! Probably stealing IDs to stay as well, also illegal. Send her back to heal and be comforted by her relatives and extended family... in Brazil...
ymmv
People who “overstay their visas” do it deliberately. They never had any intention of going back at least not till they were good and ready.