Louis Alvarado, U.S. Citizen

March 14, 2005 5:44 AM

Louis Alvarado, U.S. Citizen.
posted by swift (28 comments total)

Damn, and I thought high school was tough.
posted by password at 6:04 AM on March 14, 2005

Great article, swift.

Interviewer: You remember it was a Monday?

Alvarado: That shit is in my head like it was just yesterday.

posted by Shane at 6:20 AM on March 14, 2005

Holy crap. What an intense story.
posted by LairBob at 6:31 AM on March 14, 2005

wow. thanks, swift.
posted by notsnot at 6:37 AM on March 14, 2005

Wow.
posted by delmoi at 6:43 AM on March 14, 2005

Excellent read. Thanks.
posted by sour cream at 6:43 AM on March 14, 2005

Hey, Lou Dobbs, get off your anti-immigration soap box for 10 minutes and read this story. It may help you inject a little more compassion into your nightly rants.
posted by kmtharakan at 7:22 AM on March 14, 2005

Speaking of Lou Dobbs, since when he did start being so (overtly) partisan? I never regularly watched his show, but a year back, he didn't seem so openly slanted.
posted by daksya at 7:30 AM on March 14, 2005

Swift, thanks for posting. I needed to read that today.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 7:44 AM on March 14, 2005

Thanks. Good story.
posted by Melinika at 7:49 AM on March 14, 2005

This was really excellent. Great post.
posted by sninky-chan at 7:52 AM on March 14, 2005

If you could ask God one question, what would you ask?

With all I've been through, believe me I don't believe in God, I believe in myself.

I like this guy.
posted by borkingchikapa at 8:29 AM on March 14, 2005

Intense is the word. This story makes you think about how rough things are, out there in the world. Good post.
posted by bratcat at 8:29 AM on March 14, 2005

Good post. It reminded me of the Mara Salvatrucha. Most immigrants do well in the States (like the guy in the article), but there are some that just want trouble.
posted by dov3 at 8:30 AM on March 14, 2005

Especially great contrast w/ 60 minutes article last night on Islamic fundies in Amsterdam. Did anyone else's jaw hit the floor when they showed the apartment complexes decked out top to bottom with the satellite dishes?
posted by docpops at 8:36 AM on March 14, 2005

Harrowing and rather lovely. Thanks, I don't expect stuff like this from Gothamist.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:37 AM on March 14, 2005

Great link.
posted by AlexReynolds at 10:10 AM on March 14, 2005

Nice - the sort of person who restores your faith in 'mmerica.
posted by fingerbang at 11:35 AM on March 14, 2005

"The only thing that the guerillas were doing wrong was they wanted us all to think the same way. You’re either with us or you’re against us."

Wait, this sounds familiar. Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah.
posted by fandango_matt at 11:52 AM on March 14, 2005

Speaking of Lou Dobbs, since when he did start being so (overtly) partisan? I never regularly watched his show, but a year back, he didn't seem so openly slanted.

He dosn't seem all that partsian, just immigrant hating... He used to have a show called "Moneyline" and then they changed it to "Lou Dobbs tonight", I guess to compete with Bill O'Riley type shows. Other then his stance on immigration, he actualy seems more dem-leaning(or is that what you meant?).
posted by delmoi at 12:14 PM on March 14, 2005

Good piece.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:32 PM on March 14, 2005

my parents are salvadoran. i grew up listening to stories similar to louis'. however, his story is markedly different to my parents' in one respect: he is a citizen. twenty years after arriving, my parents still are not. this is why i get severely pissed off when i hear people discussing immigration say "why can't they come over legally?" why? because some people can't wait for two fucking decades!

Nice - the sort of person who restores your faith in 'mmerica.

in some respects yes, but in others not so much...
posted by joedan at 12:45 PM on March 14, 2005

Jesus, twenty years and still they don't get to be citizens? What does it take? I mean, why is that? (I don't know much about US immigration laws, sorry if its something I should know.)
posted by dabitch at 12:57 PM on March 14, 2005

"why can't they come over legally?" why? because some people can't wait for two fucking decades!
The waiting process to become a US citizen is 20 years!?!

You can apply for naturalization once you meet the following requirements:Live in the U.S. for at least 5 years as a permanent resident (or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen).
Be present in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the past 5 years (or 18 months out of the past 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen).

Are you basing it on this?
EXEMPTIONS TO THE ENGLISH AND CIVICS REQUIREMENTS
posted by thomcatspike at 1:08 PM on March 14, 2005

last link, scroll down the text to the last shaded gray area above US Map.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:11 PM on March 14, 2005

the wait process for citizenship isn't 20 years for everyone, but that's the way it has worked out for my parents. their case is really complicated due to the type of asylum they requested. to be honest i'm not clear on it myself. all i know is that my parents aren't even premanent residents, which is why your links don't apply thomcatspike; i think they've been perpetually renewing they're temporary protected status the entire time they've been here. at this point we've pretty much given up trying to figure it out and are waiting for the day i turn 21 so i can sponsor them for citizenship.
posted by joedan at 1:21 PM on March 14, 2005

"The only thing that the guerillas were doing wrong was they wanted us all to think the same way. You’re either with us or you’re against us."
Wait, this sounds familiar. Where have I heard this before? Oh yeah.

Seen more recently; The UAW no longer will allow Marine reservists who work out of a base in Detroit to park at the Solidarity House lot if they have foreign cars or display pro-Bush bumper stickers.

joedan, after posting the comment, felt some intrusion about it, apologize. Thank you for the follow up.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:38 PM on March 14, 2005

no problem thom. i felt that i needed to clarify a little anyhow.
posted by joedan at 1:49 PM on March 14, 2005