Comments on: Louis Alvarado, U.S. Citizen

Louis Alvarado, U.S. Citizen

swift — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 05:44:46 -0800

Louis Alvarado, U.S. Citizen.

By: password

password — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:04:23 -0800

Damn, and I thought high school was tough.

By: Shane

Shane — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:20:08 -0800

Great article, swift.

Interviewer: You remember it was a Monday? Alvarado: That shit is in my head like it was just yesterday.

By: LairBob

LairBob — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:31:26 -0800

Holy crap. What an intense story.

By: notsnot

notsnot — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:37:56 -0800

wow. thanks, swift.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:43:01 -0800

Wow.

By: sour cream

sour cream — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 06:43:24 -0800

Excellent read. Thanks.

By: kmtharakan

kmtharakan — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:22:03 -0800

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.

By: daksya

daksya — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:30:21 -0800

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.

By: OhPuhLeez

OhPuhLeez — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:44:38 -0800

Swift, thanks for posting. I needed to read that today.

By: Melinika

Melinika — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:49:45 -0800

Thanks. Good story.

By: sninky-chan

sninky-chan — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 07:52:49 -0800

This was really excellent. Great post.

By: borkingchikapa

borkingchikapa — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:29:00 -0800

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.

By: bratcat

bratcat — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:29:25 -0800

Intense is the word. This story makes you think about how rough things are, out there in the world. Good post.

By: dov3

dov3 — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:30:44 -0800

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.

By: docpops

docpops — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:36:19 -0800

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?

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:37:34 -0800

Harrowing and rather lovely. Thanks, I don't expect stuff like this from Gothamist.

By: AlexReynolds

AlexReynolds — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 10:10:54 -0800

Great link.

By: fingerbang

fingerbang — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:35:11 -0800

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

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:52:55 -0800

"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.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 12:14:21 -0800

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?).

By: DrJohnEvans

DrJohnEvans — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 12:32:22 -0800

Good piece.

By: joedan

joedan — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 12:45:35 -0800

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...

By: dabitch

dabitch — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 12:57:13 -0800

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.)

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:08:46 -0800

"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

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:11:16 -0800

last link, scroll down the text to the last shaded gray area above US Map.

By: joedan

joedan — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:21:27 -0800

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.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:38:30 -0800

"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.

By: joedan

joedan — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:49:10 -0800

no problem thom. i felt that i needed to clarify a little anyhow.