Can We Denounce Citizenship & Become Illegal Aliens? - Constituents Write to Senators

Today started out just like any other. I made coffee and settled down at my computer to answer my correspondence. As I quickly scanned the subject matter of the long list of emails, one immediately caught my attention. The byline, "How to Become an Illegal Alien"...jumped out at me, peaking my curiosity. Having worked with many illegal aliens in past assignments, I wondered if this was a new project being outlined to me or was someone playing a joke.

As I scanned the email, I noticed it was a copy of a letter addressed to Democrat Sen. Tom Harkin from Iowa. Although the opening statement prefaced this was an "actual letter" sent to the Senator, it was crystal clean this was someone's over-the-top ploy to garner attention.

The Iowa constituent opens his letter by announcing his desire to denounce his Citizenship in favor of becoming an illegal alien. The writer states he is fed up with the benefits of American Citizenship and thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the proverbial fence. Smacking of sarcasm, he rationalizes the socio-economical rewards illegal aliens are purported to receive out-weight his citizenship benefits. He ends his tirade with a plea for the Senator to pass this letter on so others can take advantage of "this great offer".

The Illegal Alien Letter

The Honorable Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Phone (202) 224 3254
Washington DC,
20510

Dear Senator Harkin,

As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stems from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year.

Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment relative to her law school applications, as well as "in-state" tuition rates for many colleges throughout the United States for my son. Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver's license and making those burdensome car insurance premiums. This is very important to me given that I still have college age children driving my car.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance.

Your Loyal Constituent,
Donald R.......
Burlington, IA

PS: Get your Forms (NOW)!! Call your Internal Revenue Service 1-800-289-1040.

(Please pass this onto your friends so they can save on this great offer!!!!)

Who is this unhappy person trying to blame for his meaningless life?

After reading this, I tried to imagine the motives behind this letter. I am sure this person wrote this envisioning the impact it would have as it circulated via the Internet. Just watching the evening news can be a daily reminder that not only public, but private citizens, can have a huge influence on major issues. This thought struck a cord deep within me. I wondered... was this unhappy person trying to lay blame for his meaningless life (and manipulate society) or was this his pathetic "shock maneuver" just to lay claim to 15 minutes of fame? Whatever his motive, I decided not to walk away from this issue without answers or without stating another point of view.

United Sates Senators who received the letters.

My first move was to call the author of the letter at his Iowa home. I reached his voice mail, but of course, he did not respond. Shortly thereafter, my research showed me why Mr. Iowa did not reply. It seems this letter has been circulating for several months, therefore, he may have indulged in plagiarism. Identical letters have been sent to other Senators, including Democrat Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland. Sen. Sarbnes' personal assistant, Sharon Faraone, was unable to comment on the matter as Sen. Sarbanes was currently out of town. Recently retired after 5 terms of service, many may remember he was heavily criticized for his immigration reform work during the last years of his office.

Senator Sarbanes has since closed his office, but a call to Senator Harkin's (D-IA) Washington headquarters did confirm they were aware of the "Illegal Alien" letter in question. Director of Communications, Jennifer Mullins, said Senator Harkin had not released any communication on the matter, despite the attention it was garnering on hundreds of websites and blogs.

After speaking with Senator Harkin's staff, I decided to put a different perspective on the reality of this controversial issue. Having worked with hundreds of aliens over the past several years, I can comment, first hand, about the working and living conditions of these people. Just to be fair, my comments are not meant to be supportive or a denouncement of this controversial issue, just a real and accurate rendering of the Illegal Alien's plight.

The unhappy Iowa and Maryland Constituents say they are fed up with status quo and write of their woes with one intent and purpose....monetary gain. They seem to think that the illegal alien benefits our Congress have enacted are discriminatory against the average American, however, I can tell you that things aren't always what they seem to be.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence!

Have you ever considered the lifestyle of an alien? First, you must remember that as a result of their illegal status, they live a life of fear and low profile to reduce their exposure. Many of them live together in cramped, unsafe quarters to reduce their overhead so they can survive on low salaries and no employee benefits. Most of them work long hours for low wages, in jobs that our welfare reciprocates turn down! Many of them have no utilities because they have no driver's license or social security cards to open accounts with.

During a deployment, last year, I was assigned to a small town outside of Atlanta. Because I was unable to find an RV campground with a vacancy, I stayed in a Hispanic trailer park for 2 months. At first, I was ignored, because I was the outcast in their society. I could not speak their language and they were suspicious of me even though I was a single female that posed no immediate danger. After a few days, the children overcame their fears because they were fascinated by my red hair, shiny RV and huge truck. The big break into their society came when I had telephone, Internet and cable TV installed in my RV. This opened the door for me to interact with their parents, as most of them don't have the everyday things we take for granted. Simple luxuries such as air conditioning, access to the Internet and the ability to pick up the phone to conduct business and talk to our loved ones is foreign to them. Forget calling 911 in case of an emergency (even if they had a phone) as this would bring them to the attention of authorities. Forget trips to the emergency room or doctor's offices and most social services are off limits, too.

The most devastating thing I witnessed during those 2 months was the miserable lives of the alien women. Their eyes are dull and lifeless and there is nothing to express their plight except...hopeless. Most of them get up at 4 AM to travel together, in old vans without heat or air, to a chicken slaughter-house factory an hour from their homes. They stand on their feet 10 hours a day, covered in blood, as they wring the necks of chickens, pluck feathers and cut up the pieces we buy in the grocery to feed our families. Then they huddle together for the long trip home, making it a 12 hour day spent traveling and working away from their children.

When they get home they must feed and bath their children, making do with what little they have. Because of exhaustion, they don't miss watching TV, reading, surfing the Net, talking on the phone, gardening, shopping, church, school activities, little league...all the things we take for granted. They live miserable lives, dominated by their men and shunned by society. Most suffer from domestic abuse and endure sexual harassment and rape, without any rights or recourse.

Bottom line...all those congressional benefits Constituents Iowa and Maryland covet are never used because the alien resident:
a) can't speak the language therefore, doesn't know about them. b) will never use them because they live their lives in constant fear of discovery, or c) they never climb out of the extreme poverty they are forced into and, d) they can't afford to participate in usage of the benefits or they will be found out and deported.

Seeds of Discontent

Is it possible that the first seed of discontent that ended in mass carnage this week could have started with a sarcastic letter? If you contemplate this...the answers can be startling! While the writers of these letters and the mass murderer are on the opposite ends of the proverbial spectrum, they do share a common thread. All are angry individuals trying to pressure, influence and manipulate society's standards through their actions and propaganda.

Other recent events and headlines remind us that we have evolved into a society whose character has been molded by the influence of our politics, economy, the media and relaxation of our values and social standards. For instance, almost 50 million lives have been lost to abortion since 1973, yet Congress continues to pass laws designating our tax dollars for the destruction of stem cell embryos. This week's Supreme Court ruling to uphold the ban on partial birth abortion has not come easy nor without a fight. It seems the more progress our country makes, the more divided it becomes on social, moral, political and religious issues.

For years, our finest countrymen have heroically given their lives to insure the battle front is not fought on our nation's soil. Thousands have died, protecting our rights to freedom of speech, yet that very freedom continues to divide our people and cause hurt when public figures abuse that freedom. How many more times will we have to suffer pain and loss before our nation is brought to its knees in realization that we need to make changes to the socio-economical fabric of our society!

Are Americans so complacent that we have de-sensitized ourselves?

Yes...it is sad, but true! We, as a nation, have become so complacent that we have de-sensitized ourselves. Can we reverse the "over-the-top shock" trend and "me mentality"? Last week, after pressures from many individuals and groups, a seasoned radio announcer was fired from his job for his shocking and offensive statements against innocent youth. Today, youth survivors of the VA Tech slaughter demanded the media stop showing pictures of the murderer of their friends and peers. The news station I was watching announced it would comply with their wishes out of respect for those victims.

These are but two examples of recent events that show our nation still has hope and strength for renewal of empathy, common courtesy and moral values. We can make a conscious effort to pull together instead of dividing ourselves! Not only public, but private citizens, can and will make a difference if we persevere and stand up for what is right.