Hey folks.
I’m Luci’s son who was mentioned in the post To Be Deported For Voting. Firstly I really wanted to thank everyone for all the help and support you’ve given to me and my folks, you will never know how much it means to us.
Secondly I just wanted to explain things in my own words. I went into this whole thing with the best intentions. There were a lot of things going wrong in our country at the time and my friends and I wanted to do all that we could to try and make things better. If I thought for a second that I was breaking the law by my actions I would never have voted, I was told that it was perfectly within my rights to do so and after participating in protests and letter writing campaigns it seemed to be my duty to hit the polls.
I never claimed to be a citizen and even made it clear that I was a permanent resident. I was told that all I needed was a SSN and a signature, which I believed, being a wide eyed college student. When I went to get my citizenship I was perfectly honest about my voting history and never tried to hide a thing.
I really wish that none of this ever happened, but since it has I hope that this situation can be resolved in a positive way so I can stay in this country that has become my home over the last decade.
With your continued help and support I’m sure that we’ll be able to keep our family together. It’s people like the ones on this board that makes me proud to be an American, maybe not on paper but always in my heart.
Editor’s Note: Erhard’s friend also offers his thoughts on Erhard’s character:
Michael Frenkian~ “Now I know many of you who are reading this have already judged my friend Erhard, but I can tell you from personal experience that he is a good man with a loving family. I know in my heart that he would never try and defraud the country by voting. I have known and loved him and his family since they came to the states. They are like a second family to me and I just want to do whatever I can to insure that he stays in this country that he has called home for so long. I hope that in the following months I can still have my buddy here to hang out with and to help me when I am down. If he is deported I don’t know what I will do. He is a brother to me and my best friend. My only wish is that he stays here so he can continue a life that has been met with happiness and love.”
Just wanted to voice some support, I hope this works for the best - dealing with the INS often feels like an exercise in futility.
I think it is important to note that very often immigrants to the US are incredibly valuable in political discourse for an number of reasons - new perspectives, less complacence, real interest in making the US a great place for everyone, and many more. This is a nation built on immigrants, why are we so uppity? I know many people of many different visa statuses that have some great things to say, but worry about saying them due to the status.
It should also be noted that a number of years ago there was a revolution in North America, at least partly due to ‘taxation without representation’ - yet everyone I know who is not a citizen is paying taxes yet can vote, and often serve in the military!
I truly hope this gets cleared up for you, and that your clarity and honesty is appreciated by the appropriate people.
Erhard,
Welcome! As you’re no doubt aware, we are appalled at how you have been treated. I sincerely hope this is just a misunderstanding, and everything works out without a major legal battle.
I wish you good luck. The United States will be a better place with you as a citizen.
Rival
Allow me to reply to the question:
“Is there a reason you didn’t become a citizen before this mess?”
We applied for citizenship the moment we were legally allowed to.
By law, we had to wait for 3 and a half years after we got your Green Cards before we were allowed to start with the application process.
If we could have done it sooner, we would have. We could have stayed with our legal residency status for as long as we wanted to; but we wanted more - we wanted to be citizens.
Some interesting info:
“More than 60,000 immigrants are currently on active duty, with a little more than half of them not yet citizens. Over 20% of all Medal of Honor recipients (716 of 3,406 total) were immigrants, and immigrants were (and continue to be) among the casualties and prisoners in the most recent war in Iraq. By making the ultimate sacrifice in the name of the United States, immigrants prove beyond a doubt that they believe in and support the ideals of this great country.”
http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=161
I just want to add, in our defense that we contacted the NC State Board of Elections who looks into voter fraud and irregularities.
If we were lying in any way, we would have been very quiet and not go out of our way to get to the root of the problem.
My husband used the analogy: Erhard was raped by someone and now he has to pay the price for it.
~ lu
Erhard, its been my feeling from the start that rather than being penalized, young people who seek to participate in the electoral process should be encouraged. It seems that it was once that way in this country. But that was before we began our trek down the road to fascism under the Bush Administration.
Keep your chin up. Many people (those of us w/o our asses up our butts) are pulling for you.
DeSwiss
Thank you Luci ,for clarification.
I thought I had read your family has been here for ten years.
I guess it was my assumption green cards were obtained immediately.
Do children get green cards?or do they have to become an adult first?
I had no idea so many immigrants were enlisted…
That’s a double edged sword for me.
I simply couldn’t see doing that for a country that wasn’t yet my own.
I wonder if the thought is..it’ll help that along?
Perhaps it’s more for the opportunity’s….( still sits wrong with me)
The other side of course is the gov. with their lack of respect.
Biting my lip…it’s the new year, I don’t want to start it with a rant.
Again..I hope this turns out in your favor.
Hi Christi
Yes, we have been here for ten years - it took five years to get Green Cards. After that, by law, one has to wait three and a half years before applying for citizenship which takes up to two years before completion.
All in all it takes ten years to become citizens. Children under the age of 18 get the Green Cards automatically, Erhard missed that unfortunately.
One is not allowed to work without a work permit. I was not allowed to work here for the first ten years. My husband had a work permit though.
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Christi said,
December 31, 2007 @ 10:11 pmDear Erhard,
May I call you that?
Having 3 sons myself around your age,the pain your family is going through just nixes “mr.”
Your story is streaking through stumbleupon and I did sign the petition.
I honestly hope the best for your situation and I believe your and your mothers sincerity.
I have just one question.
Is there a reason you didn’t become a citizen before this mess?
I do claim ignorance in this area…I’m sorry.
I know a good many stumblers are wondering the same thing.
I am sorry and ashamed of this country for this atrocity.
Please..no matter the outcome please let the net know how you are and what happens.