INA 212(a)(9)©, states that a person who was deported or removed and who, after April 1, 1997,
illegally re-entered the U.S. is permanently barred from immigrating through a family member. The person cannot even apply for a discretionary waiver of the bar until ten years after leaving the U.S.

For my family, this law is a nightmare. My husband was denied entry with a tourist visa at the border back in Dec 1997. He was given deportation papers in English, though he couldn't read or speak English at the time. He crossed the border illegally a few weeks later and we are now married. We have a child or our own and I have 2 children from a previous marriage. I can't take my 2 oldest children out of the state of Illinois because their father has visitation with them. If my husband is deported, I won't be able to join him. I can't support my self and 3 children without his income. We are hoping that new legislation will be written and passed that will change the law that threatens to destroy our family.
Thanks for taking my poll!!

May I add a fifth possible answer? I would vote "Yes, as long as the person is not a threat to society (which includes having no criminal record or severe debt problems) AND if there is an extreme hardship to a US citizen."

A person would need to fit those qualifications by my standards before s/he could be considered for entry to the US (if they had been in violation of INA 212(a)(9)©)

Fear not, we don't have bad credit. We have jobs, a house, 2 cars, 3 kids and 2 dogs. We're just normal, so feel free to vote yes!

Mind if I ask why he crossed the border illegally a second time? If it's because he didn't speak English and didn't understand then that's just another debate in my opinion...Why didn't he have the deporting papers translated? I'm thinking there may have been a little more effort on his part rather than playing the ignorant role...But I could be wrong.

I'm not saying it wasn't wrong to cross the border illegally. But, at this point, the effect deporting him would have on our family far out weighs what he did when he crossed the border. We have 3 kids to support and I can't do that alone. We'll loose our home if he goes. I can't go with him because my 2 oldest children (ages 4 and 8) are from my previous marriage and their father and I have joint custody of them, I can't take them out of the state of Illinois. If he goes, our family is destroyed, if he stays, we're doing great. What would be the harm if he stays? What would be the harm if he goes? Get it? It hurts our county much more to have women and children needlessly living in poverty especially when there's a man perfectly willing to support them!

Law is law. It doesn't always have to be fair, but is has to be applied equally to everyone.

I wish each individual person could be interviewed for an hour, to determine their threat to this country. But we don't have the time or resources for that.

Your husband entered this country illegally, and yes, should be deported. If he is, I see no reason why you cannot go back with him to where ever he goes.

My heart goes out to you and yours, but the law is the law, and your husband broke it.

--cheers

Digital....In one of her posts she mentioned the reason. She has children from a previous marriage that cannot be taken out of Illinois.

Psalazar...I'm praying for you and your situation. I hope to God things work out for you.

MT

He should not have entered illegally. As others have stated I dont know why he was deported but there must have been a reason. He should have gone through the proper channels in reaching his family again. As far as I am concerned if you are illegal you dont need to be here. No offense.

Thanks to those of you who wish us well! To answer the last persons question as to why he was deported, he came to the border with a tourist visa and requested permission to enter with it and was denied because the INS figured that he would get a job and stay if he was allowed in. That's it. He wasn't caught doing something terrible. I don't understand why people are so upset about him simply being present in the US. Let the punishment fit the crime, please! Yes, it is illegal, but should the punishment be that my children and I loose everything? Isn't that a bit much? Which is worse for America, my husband being allowed to stay and support his wife and children, or my husband being deported and my children and I being on welfare? HELLO??? Things changed when I married him, he's not just another illegal Mexican and we're not just a statistic.