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Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deported

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 09:47:19 PM EST
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Could the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement be gaining a heart?

Ming Kuang Chen, the Chinese delivery man who got trapped for three days in a Bronx elevator will not face deportation proceedings according to an ICE official:

``Getting locked in an elevator for three days doesn't make you immune to removal proceedings,'' said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Marc A. Raimondi. But top priority, he said, goes to aliens ``who pose the greatest threat to public safety and homeland security.''

No one should have asked Mr. Chen about his immigration status to begin with, let alone leaked it to the world:

The disclosure of Chen's immigration status raised questions about how the information became public. Under city rules, police are allowed to seek a victim's residency information for investigative purposes, but they may not disclose it to anyone else.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters he was unaware of any city official releasing Chen's immigration status and blamed the reports on unauthorized leaks.

``Unfortunately, as you well know, sometimes people just for a variety of selfish reasons ... try to leak information and it's unconscionable,'' he said Wednesday. ``His immigration status had nothing to do with it whatsoever and should not have been divulged, clearly.''

Anyway, this is good news for Mr. Chen. Let's just hope Congressman James Sensenbrenner or Tom Tancredo doesn't hear about it. They'll have him on the next transport out.

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    Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deported | 18 comments (18 topical)
    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 11:54:01 PM EST
    So its ok for the drug dealers go free? if that drug dealer is hispanic? by the way since we have no rules can i deal drugs? and make 2 million a year running mexicans across the borders? or is that also race based in our new one world of love for the mexican oligarchies of total evil. why not help the mexican people remove that evil rat government? reason why..mexicans mean money!

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:53:47 AM EST
    I believe your blog was mentioned on CNN tonight- Crooks and Liars has the video. They were mentioned also. ED thanks, it was on msnbc's Connected Coast to Coast with Ron Reagan and Monica Crowly, who I think are both doing a great job.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 02:38:06 AM EST
    Uh Fred, the dude is Chinese.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 04:46:22 AM EST
    I see TL again has a comprehension problem with the "illegal" part of "illegal immigration". Here's the thing - if you favor mostly open borders, then advocate for that. Showing an active disdain for current immigration law leads to things you won't like. Like, say, the Minuteman project.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 05:39:00 AM EST
    Posted by: Fred Dawes on April 8, 2005 12:54 AM So its ok for the drug dealers go free? if that drug dealer is hispanic? Apparently it's OK for drug dealers who are related to Republic Attorneys General (actually he was a Republic governor at the time) to go free. Even if they are dealing large. by the way since we have no rules can i deal drugs? If you are a card-carrying Republic who is in with the powers that be, most probably. You could even deal them to your fellow card-carrying Republics. As long as you remain faithful to your loyalty oath to the Chimperor...

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#6)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 06:00:57 AM EST
    James...If this man were Cuban instead of Chinese, he'd be allowed to stay. Do you really want to see him shipped back to Red China? That's harsh, I thought we allowed people escaping brutal govt.'s refuge here. That is part of our greatness.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 08:21:29 AM EST
    I can see it now - immigrants due to be imminently deported hijacking elevators all over the country crying "sanctuary!!" "sanctuary"! Not to make fun at this guys expense...
    I see TL again has a comprehension problem with the "illegal" part of "illegal immigration".
    TL - are you running the coutry now? Congrats!! BTW - I see the Federal Government has a comprehension problem with the illegal part of "illegal hiring practices". Get rid of the jobs and only bad guys and political refugees will cross. Besides, the new American underclass is going to need them. The Senate (methinkgs) is considering a bill to bring back manufacturing quotas in the garment industry, etc. so "we can be competitive with the Chinese". Pretty soon we'll be told that minimum wage is destryong the economy by "forcing" Walmart to buy non-US goods" and that if we were true patriots, we'd bite the bullet and work for $2 and hour.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 08:22:48 AM EST
    LOL the underclass is going to need low level jobs - not bad guys and politcal refugees!

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 08:28:10 AM EST
    mfox...I've always said if we demanded that our trade partners abide by our labor laws and standards, or else no trade, the plight of workers the world over would be improved. And if the price of plastic dohickeys increased 500% as a result, we'd all realize we really don't need all these plastic dohickeys!

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 09:01:19 AM EST
    kdog, How far do you go with that? Do we force Japanese auto plants to provide the same sort of perks won by the UAW to all of their employees? Do we require all foreign airlines flying into the US to offer the same sort of pension plan that is ruining United? Just wondering.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 09:17:58 AM EST
    JustPaul - the pension plan is ruining United? That's like saying old people living too long are ruining social security. JustPaul - first in line for a $2/hour job. Damn Unions - whose idea were they anyway!!!

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 09:19:19 AM EST
    What's the diffence between a benefit and a perk, JustPaul? Just to clarify. And are benefits negotiated by Unions in lieu of salary increases one of those "perks"?

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#13)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 09:53:17 AM EST
    I wouldn't go that far jpaul...I'm thinking the bare minimum stuff. Minimum wage, minimum safety standards, overtime pay, child labor...stuff like that. But by all means, if foreign workers unionized and collectively bargained for an even better deal, more power to them. For example, I remember reading an article about foundry workers in India. Absolutely horrendous conditions, nearly no safety standards, many injuries and deaths. As a result, American foundries can't compete, since we rightly have safety standards, and they of course cost money. My idea would make it illegal for American companies to do business with the Indian foundries until they adopted our safety standards. Is that really such a terrible thing? BTW...Thanks for wondering, I respect, though often disagree, with your opinions.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 10:17:30 AM EST
    kdog, Thank you for the intelligent and articulate response. I didn't mean to suggest that I disagreed with your position; I simply wondered how far you would go in pushing our system/beliefs on another country. It's an interesting notion that has merit in certain circumstances, but I think you might agree it can get seriously out of control if we try to mandate our standards on all developing countries. We wouldn't have accepted such if someone had tried doing it to us 200 years ago. mfox, Still can't be bothered to do any thing but fling mud based on the most simplistic reading of any given statement can you? Yes, the pension plan is ruining United. If you knew anything about it, you would know that it now accounts for so much of United's operating expenditures that the company basically cannot make money. It has nothing to do with the age of the retirees, it has to do with the level of funding required. Now, had you taken more than one millisecond to consider what I said, you might have noticed that I didn't suggest that there was anything wrong with the current and former workers at United being paid on the deal they made through their union. I simply asked if we should force such a deal, which is considered one of the sweetest in the industry, on every foreign airline flying into the U.S. I'm sorry if you failed to understand the difference. First in line for a $2/hour job? What is that even supposed to mean? Next time, remove your head from your ass before you start typing to make sure that you are hitting the keys you think you are. I didn't say anything about low paying jobs or whether anyone should be interested in working them. Those are your hobby horses, not mine. As for the unions: As I've noted before, the unions did some good work back in the first half of the 20th century, but since then they've become less valuable to the average worker as they politicized well beyond any need to do so; a fact that is shown quite clearly by the ever dwindling numbers of union members. And I believe you have yet to offer an answer to the fundamental question: If unions are such a great deal, why does union membership have to be forced on people? Is this just part of the standard liberal procedure pf change from the barrel of a gun? Benefits and perks? I believe that, in this instance, the difference is one of word choice. For someone who purports to be a researcher working in the field of psychology, your grasp of the langauge is appalling. Or did you mean to ype something else? If so, please see above. As a final note (I unfortunately have a pressing engagement elsewhere today and must forgo the pleasure of any more of your witty banter for the next several hours), I can only say that if you did not so clearly come here every day just looking for someone to pick a fight with, you wouldn't end up making such a complete ass of yourself so often. You seem intelligent enough and on occasion you say some really interesting things. But this need to always attack only detracts from those moments. You can relax; your position as a TalkLeft house troll is secure. And yes, I'm aware you "couldn't care less what I think." But if that's true, why do you always respond to my posts?

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 10:19:25 AM EST
    kdog, My apologies. I forgot about the foundries. No, in that instance I don not think it would be a "terible thing" to tell the Indians we are not buying anymore of their steel until they clean their act up.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:09:23 PM EST
    but I think you might agree it can get seriously out of control if we try to mandate our standards on all developing countries
    I'm not saying we start influencing their local politics...simply this. US companies be forbidden from doing business w/ foreign companies that refuse to adopt minimal safety and wage standards. Also, American companies that own foreign manufacturing plants would still be bound by American labor laws and standards on foreign soil if they want those goods to be sold here. I think it would help American manufacturers who do the right thing by their workers compete, as well as help workers the world over, without killing business owners. And foreign govt's wouldn't be "forced" to accept it, they could choose to retain their status quo, they just couldn't sell here in the US. I think the cost/benefit analysis would lead to them adopting the standards though, our buying power packs quite a wallop.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 12:16:56 PM EST
    That article is misleading. I'll bet my law license that ICE issues an NTA and places the dude in removal proceedings within a few weeks. As the ICE spokesman explained in terms that seemed obvious to me, if not the AP writer, the dude's not "immune" just because he's a sympathetic character in the current news cycle.

    Re: Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deporte (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Apr 08, 2005 at 01:32:19 PM EST
    JustPaul, It wasn't really fair of me to abbreviate my point in a way that implies a misunderstanding of yours. Sometimes I don't have time to reply at length and throw out what I think (no need to agree!) is witty and relevant banter. In reviewing my post I see that I made you the target of this, for which I do apologize. In my defense, I knee-jerked at the proposal that the U.S. would have to force foreign airlines to have the most costly of pensions (which by your implication would be financially disastrous for them). While you say the choice of the words benefit and perk was arbitrary (as they are interchangable?) the word perk implies something "extra", "not needed" (like an executive washroom or a company car). I knee-jerked on this because of a documentary I saw this week about companies sueing retirees to eliminate their lifetime health insurance benefit. An affected retiree who negotiated the contract (very credible - from a red state!)was pissed because the companies were calling health benefits "an added benefit(i.e.perk)" to the employees salaries, while the retiree who negotiated the contract for the union said they had accepted the "perks" in lieu of raises and it is therefore "owed compensation". If United can't pay it's bills, then it should go bankrupt. Just like me. The history of the airline industry shows that this industry needs regulation - IMHO de-regulating the industry has caused much of these problems. What your comment really got me frothing at the mouth over is my fear that it is inevitable that, to remain comeptitive in the world, we must sacrifice our standard of living big, big time. That means no cars, no college for your kids, no middle class. The middle class will become the working class. Anyone w/o a college degree will become the underclass, replacing the illegal immigrants at their current wages. The only answer is, yes, an artificial one (which may not work in the long run). Any company who wants to sell products in the U.S. must conform to some basic labor standards or not do business with us. How is that forcing? Re: Your troll cookie du jour for me:
    I can only say that if you did not so clearly come here every day just looking for someone to pick a fight with, you wouldn't end up making such a complete ass of yourself so often.
    Honestly, Just Paul, if I wanted to pick a fight I'd go to a wingnut site. I consider this venting to a sympathetic audience. I would be much happier starting from a basic progressive place of agreement (e.g. labor standards are good - unions are good) without having to re-invent the wheel every gosh-darned day. I admittedly am resentful of those who enter to destroy, ridicule, hijack or just plain butt into real discussions. Offended? Me too. However I have no other sympathetic outlet for my views (i.e.my views - as in formed in my own dumb-ass little brain). I didn't know so many agreed with me (and so many defy common sense) until I started blogging (this being my first and only). I do always appreciate logical discussion, but will answer in kind to the tone of the thread.
    You seem intelligent enough and on occasion you say some really interesting things. But this need to always attack only detracts from those moments.
    And I can't say the same about you? I'm seeing you on offense, me on defense. However, as in a way I feel I'm posting and reading in my own little world here, I am a bit stunned that you "care". I'll stop just short of calling it a victory for the left.

    Immigrant Trapped in Elevator Won't Be Deported | 18 comments (18 topical)