← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Blond Knight
Thread ID: 19111 | Posts: 11 | Started: 2005-07-12
2005-07-12 02:45 | User Profile
This is one for the "don't know whether to laugh or cry department".
[url]http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=1839423[/url]
May 4, 2004
Valdosta-- The woman came to the United States from Mexico 14 years ago, and later joined the military under a false identity. Now she's fighting to stay in the Air Force, and in this country.
Liliana Plata is living her dream in the U. S. Air Force. "I think its the best thing that's happened in my life," said Plata.
The dream started six years ago when Liliana was in high school. "The recruiters said the only way you can join is if you're a citizen," said Plata. But she wasn't.
When she was 10 years old, she and her mother illegally crossed into California from Mexico. "She wanted a better life for us," said Plata. When she was 18, she heard about a man in Los Angeles who could help solve her problems. "He said he could give me these papers, and there's no way they can trace this, because they never reported this girl as dead," said Plata.
Liliana started a new life under a new identity. "I had to go back to high school because I didn't have a diploma under this new name," said Plata. She joined the military and was assigned to Moody Air Force Base. "I'm a security forces member," said Plata, who has already served in Iraq.
Everything was fine for four years, but recently, Liliana's secret came out. The woman whose identity she assumed was actually alive. "I thought this was it, they found out, and I have nothing left."
Now she could be discharged from the military, and deported to Mexico. "To a country that I don't even know, I haven't been there since I was 10, I have no family there, no job, no money."
But what hurts worse is the possibility of losing her life in the Air Force. "It kind of hurts, knowing all the stuff I've done and accomplished is going to be taken away from me," said Plata.
Liliana's commanders have written several letters of support requesting a waiver to let her stay in the military. They expect to get a decision from the Secretary of the Air Force later this month.
Liliana Plata has deployed overseas four times and lead her squadron into several security missions.
2005-07-21 16:11 | User Profile
The woman can't be blamed for living here as she was brought here by her parents at ten years old. However, she can be blamed for attempting to take the easy, and thus illegal, way out of her plight. Rather than attempt legal entry she chose illegal entry by assuming someone else's identity. She undoubtedly has caused an American citizen some hardship, and she should pay compensation. I say deport her, she should have thought of the consequences before she embarked on a scheme to stay here.
2005-07-21 16:44 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ron]The woman can't be blamed for living here as she was brought here by her parents at ten years old. However, she can be blamed for attempting to take the easy, and thus illegal, way out of her plight. Rather than attempt legal entry she chose illegal entry by assuming someone else's identity. She undoubtedly has caused an American citizen some hardship, and she should pay compensation. I say deport her, she should have thought of the consequences before she embarked on a scheme to stay here.[/QUOTE]She should have gotten her green card. When I was in the U.S. Army back in the mid-eighties a couple of the enlisted members of the unit I served in had green cards, they were a little upset when the government gave the illegals amnesty in 1987.
2005-07-21 16:48 | User Profile
In the old USA she would have been given her citenship and allowed to stay in the Air Force but now days who knows.
Remember that we have MANY non US citizens serving in the armed forces and I know that last year Bush gave citizenship to about 1,100 of the troops therefore the same should apply to her.
With six years being served and deployed overseas FOUR times she has done more for the US than 99.5% of Americans.
In WWII something like 65% of all americans were seving in the armed forces but now days is something like 0.06%.
2005-07-21 17:41 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ponce]In the old USA she would have been given her citenship and allowed to stay in the Air Force but now days who knows.
Remember that we have MANY non US citizens serving in the armed forces and I know that last year Bush gave citizenship to about 1,100 of the troops therefore the same should apply to her.
With six years being served and deployed overseas FOUR times she has done more for the US than 99.5% of Americans.
In WWII something like 65% of all americans were seving in the armed forces but now days is something like 0.06%.[/QUOTE] Ponce. She is guilty of fraud. Fraudulent enlistment. It's the old problem of lies catching up to you. I imagine that thirty years ago, she might have gotten away with it. Maybe not.
I served with plenty of Green Card folks who were not citizens, but were working on it. Trinidad, Mexico, Philippines, Greece. They came from many places, but didn't lie, didn't not break the law. They followed the rules and did just fine.
Too bad for her her parents were so screwed up and did not look after her future interests by being law abiding, getting the green card, etc.
2005-07-21 18:48 | User Profile
She came to the US when she was ten and went into the Air Force when at least when she was twenty, I say twenty because she did high school twice.
It looks for me that her job calls for at least a SECRET security clearence so that means that the government screwed up.
So, with sixteen years in the US with six of those in the Air Force and FOUR times overseas if she is not an AMERICAN then I don't know what it is.
I am sure that she will be allowed to stay because her parents tarnish past is not her fault.
To me that would be like what is happening now day with the world still giving money to the Zionists for something that happened to their parents sixty five years ago.........NO MORE.
2005-07-22 14:32 | User Profile
My sister was born outside the country of American parents. She had to naturalize when she was 14. My parents bothered to go to the trouble to do that. This girl's parents did not.
What "should be" and what is the law are two different things. And by assuming another's identity, she committed fraud. Hell, when she was being recruited, she could have gotten her green card through her recruiter. He has to make his goal.
Your defense of fraudulent enlistment does not wash. Her parents, by being ignorant, set her up.
[QUOTE=Ponce]She came to the US when she was ten and went into the Air Force when at least when she was twenty, I say twenty because she did high school twice.
It looks for me that her job calls for at least a SECRET security clearence so that means that the government screwed up.
So, with sixteen years in the US with six of those in the Air Force and FOUR times overseas if she is not an AMERICAN then I don't know what it is.
I am sure that she will be allowed to stay because her parents tarnish past is not her fault.
To me that would be like what is happening now day with the world still giving money to the Zionists for something that happened to their parents sixty five years ago.........NO MORE.[/QUOTE]
2005-07-22 15:18 | User Profile
[QUOTE=6KILLER]She should have gotten her green card. When I was in the U.S. Army back in the mid-eighties a couple of the enlisted members of the unit I served in had green cards, they were a little upset when the government gave the illegals amnesty in 1987.[/QUOTE]
That's too easy. This leads me to believe she's basically a dishonest person who chose a dishonest path. Some people just like to be slick as it makes them believe they are a little smarter then the rest of us.
2005-07-22 17:20 | User Profile
AngelEyes, the way the game is played is that anyone born to at least one American parent must live in the US, without going out of the country, for at least five years between the ages of 12 and 18 and that's what I did.
That girl was here for 10 years between the ages of 10 and 20 before going into the Airforce, does that makes her less of an American than your sister or me? her parents were not American, so what, she was here for half of her life and serving her new country.
Do you know how many illegals are now in the US armed forces? you would be surprised. :whstl:
2005-07-23 00:39 | User Profile
I am not arguing that there are not other illegals, I am sure you are right on that score. She got caught, she pays the piper. My original point: lies catch up with you sometimes, and it hurts. A good example of the benefits of personal integrity.
Her being caught is probably a pain to her unit, since she may well be a decent troop who gives an honest effort.
Your sentiments aren't falling on deaf ears, it's just like getting caught cheating on your taxes: life gets to suck a lot when that happens.
[QUOTE=Ponce]AngelEyes, the way the game is played is that anyone born to at least one American parent must live in the US, without going out of the country, for at least five years between the ages of 12 and 18 and that's what I did.
That girl was here for 10 years between the ages of 10 and 20 before going into the Airforce, does that makes her less of an American than your sister or me? her parents were not American, so what, she was here for half of her life and serving her new country.
Do you know how many illegals are now in the US armed forces? you would be surprised. :whstl:[/QUOTE]
2005-07-23 01:56 | User Profile
Good for that's all that I care about, that what I say dosen't fall of deaf ears.