Illegal Immigrants Can Join Indian Tribes to Get Legal Status?
News about illegal immigrants has just been non stop lately. Between the continuing raids that lead to hundreds of illegal immigrants being deported back to their main lands to farmers having a certain number of days to get information from their workers who are mostly all illegal and do not have any documents to the United States could take, and now this? Apparently two known Indian tribes and probably several more are telling these illegal immigrants that they can get legal status by joining their tribes, and some prices are starting at just $50.
So is this scheme true? Can illegal immigrants become citizens by simply joining an Indian tribe? Of course not, it can not be that easy. Immigration authorities have repeatedly reported that tribe members have no protection because they are still illegal and if they get caught they will be deported. Immigration authorities are also angry about this new and ongoing process, saying that it both frauds illegal immigrants and sends them in the direction of false hope.
"You can't just decide to become a member of a tribe and all of a sudden legalize your status," said Marilu Cabrera, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
One very popular tribe known for this practice is the Kaweah Indian Nation, which has recently been under investigation after they have received complaints from over five different states. Some people joining this tribe even paid up to $1,200 just because they were so hopeful this would gain them citizenship. Manuel Urbinia, this tribe's high chief, has reported that they have already sold 10,000 memberships to the tribe after promoting it will lead to legal status. Some have been sold for only $50, some for much more. And despite what Immigration Authorities say, Urbina is still convinced tribe members are exempt from being deported, since tribe member's have membership papers they can show when they are detained by authorities and asked for documents.
"We are not going against the law, we're with the law," Urbinia stated.
So is this new practice a scam or working in between the cracks of the law? I guess one will just have to wait and see since there is still much debate and skeptical opinions about whether or not joining and Indian tribe can actually prevent one from being deported. If one can actually have status by joining a tribe, it is definitely the way to go even though it is a slap in the face to all those who get their citizenship the long and hard way. But then again, this is America were talking about.
SOURCE
Published by Steven Tyler
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6 Comments
Post a CommentI come from two federally recognized Minnesota/North Dakota tribes and this is absolutely disgraceful of these fake Indian tribes to do this. Illegals get kicked out of my rez when they are found and the natives harboring them should be banished from the tribe. Disgusted.
Yeah...And now I hear that the STUPID ignorant Bill O-Reilly is trying to make Indian tribes the brunt of the evil of this scandal. I'm from a Northwest coast tribe and our Native American heritage goes beyond just citizenship and membership. It is impossible for someone to formulate a tribe by simply signing up any Mexican Joe or American Joe or any ol' person.
One thing key to this discussion is that these "so-called" tribes are completely FAKE!!! No REAL Indian tribe has ever tried to solicit membership with the claim that illegals will become legal. These FAKE tribes are abusing the system and making a bad name for legitimate REAL American Indian tribes.
It is a sad thing when a Chief (a supposed leader of people)particpates in unethical behavior. Regarless of word of law, the intent is clear. An illegal immigrant is a criminal. Harboring illegal immigrants is illegal and those who do so are at that the very least, unethical and morally criminal. A tribes culture is based on its integrity. Those who would offer membership in a tribe for coin will have diminished that tribe's culture and its legacy. This is not a question of white man's law verses the red man's rights, it is instead a question of lessening a tribe's integrity and therefore disrespecting its ancestors. Native Americans need to rise above words that can be twisted or letters that can be intentionally misinterpreted. Tribal leaders and all nations need to base their action on integrity and on respecting the legacy of our forefathers. To sell membership to illegal immigrants is to sell our souls for coin. I would suggest that the reason why those tribes that are pr
It is a sad thing when a Chief (a supposed leader of people)particpates in unethical behavior. Regarless of word of law, the intent is clear. An illegal immigrant is a criminal. Harboring illegal immigrants is illegal and those who do so are at that the very least, unethical and morally criminal. A tribes culture is based on its integrity. Those who would offer membership in a tribe for coin will have diminished that tribe's culture and its legacy. This is not a question of white man's law verses the red man's rights, it is instead a question of lessening a tribe's integrity and therefore disrespecting its ancestors. Native Americans need to rise above words that can be twisted or letters that can be intentionally misinterpreted. Tribal leaders and all nations need to base their action on integrity and on respecting the legacy of our forefathers. To sell membership to illegal immigrants is to sell our souls for coin. I woul suggest that the reason why those tribes that are pra
I had not heard of this practice before. Thanks for sharing this.
Sophie