Two different takes on deportation
Jun 24th 2007, 9:24 pm
#1
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 4,316
Two different takes on deportation
I came across this British news article yesterday:
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
Jun 25th 2007, 1:22 am
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Two different takes on deportation
I came across this British news article yesterday:
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
I do not know what the rules were back then, but she probably has always been a British Citizen, she just was not registered.
The other one seems to have a host of issues:
No mention of her parents being USC's.
She knew she was Cuban.
She had travelled many times it seems and had presented herself as being a USC.
She voted in circumstances that only USC's could.
I would have thought that the voting aspect was not the main issue, passing oneself off as a USC for Immigration benefit is much more serious, no waiver.
Jun 25th 2007, 11:11 am
#3
Retired
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,649
Re: Two different takes on deportation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...al/6756341.stm
I do not know what the rules were back then, but she probably has always been a British Citizen, she just was not registered.
I do not know what the rules were back then, but she probably has always been a British Citizen, she just was not registered.
Jun 25th 2007, 12:27 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,999
Re: Two different takes on deportation
I came across this British news article yesterday:
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
EDINBURGH, Scotland — A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be allowed to stay in Britain.
And then I came across this US news article today:
Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported
LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being refunded the £750 she paid for her naturalization application.
~ Jenney
Jun 25th 2007, 2:39 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Two different takes on deportation
Jenney & Mark <[email protected]> wrote in news:34$461013
[email protected]:
>
> I came across this British news article yesterday:
>
> Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
> (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4910798.html)
>
> EDINBURGH, Scotland �?¢â�?¬â�? A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation
> from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be
> allowed to stay in Britain.
>
>
> And then I came across this US news article today:
>
> Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2-
> 0070624/ap_on_re_us/councilwoman_deportation;_ylt=AlnuSfC127P8wtDgZSq-
> 69EwDW7oF)
>
> LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she
> was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto.
> But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting,
> because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country
> from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
>
>
> Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is
> interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments
> involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge
> on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed
> to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being
> refunded the �?�?�?£750 she paid for her naturalization application.
>
> ~ Jenney
>
What can I say. Rigid adherence to rules is not a good thing, because it
doesn't deal well with extreme cases. The US is to hung up on the 'rule of
law'.
[email protected]:
>
> I came across this British news article yesterday:
>
> Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
> (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4910798.html)
>
> EDINBURGH, Scotland �?¢â�?¬â�? A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation
> from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be
> allowed to stay in Britain.
>
>
> And then I came across this US news article today:
>
> Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2-
> 0070624/ap_on_re_us/councilwoman_deportation;_ylt=AlnuSfC127P8wtDgZSq-
> 69EwDW7oF)
>
> LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she
> was an American. She even won election to the City Council of Adelanto.
> But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting,
> because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country
> from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
>
>
> Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is
> interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the governments
> involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have a 40-year edge
> on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why she's being allowed
> to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is actually being
> refunded the �?�?�?£750 she paid for her naturalization application.
>
> ~ Jenney
>
What can I say. Rigid adherence to rules is not a good thing, because it
doesn't deal well with extreme cases. The US is to hung up on the 'rule of
law'.
Jun 25th 2007, 2:48 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Two different takes on deportation
Tableland <[email protected]> wrote in news:34$461013
[email protected]:
>
>> I came across this British news article yesterday:
>>
>> Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
>> (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4910798.html)
>>
>> EDINBURGH, Scotland �?¢â�?¬â�? A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation
>> from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be
>> allowed to stay in Britain.
>>
>>
>> And then I came across this US news article today:
>>
>> Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2-
>> 0070624/ap_on_re_us/councilwoman_deportation;_ylt=AlnuSfC127P8wtDgZSq-
>> 69EwDW7oF)
>>
>> LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she
>> was an American. She even won election to the City Council of
>> Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally
>> voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this
>> country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
>>
>>
>> Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is
>> interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the
>> governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have
>> a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why
>> she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is
>> actually being refunded the �?�?�?£750 she paid for her naturalization
>> application.
>>
>> ~ Jenney
>
> The most amusing thing is that she thought she could use a US passport
> to re-enter Britain and stay indefinitely. Presumably it occurred to no
> one in the family that this might present a problem.
>
That's true enough, but most people don't think these things through.
Presumably she thought that since she had been in the UK so long she would
be let back in to stay. I imagine she never had a job all her life, or she
would have discovered problems sooner.
The other lady apparently beleived she was a US citizen. Maybe her parents
naturalised and somehow didn't get her naturalised at the same time. That
could happen, but we don't have all the facts.
[email protected]:
>
>> I came across this British news article yesterday:
>>
>> Britain won't deport 80-year-old U.S. woman in Scotland
>> (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4910798.html)
>>
>> EDINBURGH, Scotland �?¢â�?¬â�? A U.S.-born woman who faced deportation
>> from Scotland despite living there for 78 years said today she will be
>> allowed to stay in Britain.
>>
>>
>> And then I came across this US news article today:
>>
>> Ex-SoCal councilwoman could be deported (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/2-
>> 0070624/ap_on_re_us/councilwoman_deportation;_ylt=AlnuSfC127P8wtDgZSq-
>> 69EwDW7oF)
>>
>> LOS ANGELES - All of her life, [40-year-old] Zoila Meyer believed she
>> was an American. She even won election to the City Council of
>> Adelanto. But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally
>> voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this
>> country from Cuba when she was 1 year old.
>>
>>
>> Their situations aren't identical, but similar enough that it is
>> interesting how differently they're being dealt with by the
>> governments involved. Although, the American/Scottish woman does have
>> a 40-year edge on the Cuban/American woman -- which is probably why
>> she's being allowed to stay, was not handcuffed or put in jail, and is
>> actually being refunded the �?�?�?£750 she paid for her naturalization
>> application.
>>
>> ~ Jenney
>
> The most amusing thing is that she thought she could use a US passport
> to re-enter Britain and stay indefinitely. Presumably it occurred to no
> one in the family that this might present a problem.
>
That's true enough, but most people don't think these things through.
Presumably she thought that since she had been in the UK so long she would
be let back in to stay. I imagine she never had a job all her life, or she
would have discovered problems sooner.
The other lady apparently beleived she was a US citizen. Maybe her parents
naturalised and somehow didn't get her naturalised at the same time. That
could happen, but we don't have all the facts.
Jun 26th 2007, 2:39 am
#7
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Two different takes on deportation
The other one seems to have a host of issues:
No mention of her parents being USC's.
She knew she was Cuban.
She had travelled many times it seems and had presented herself as being a USC.
She voted in circumstances that only USC's could.
I would have thought that the voting aspect was not the main issue, passing oneself off as a USC for Immigration benefit is much more serious, no waiver.
"All of her life, Zoila Meyer believed she was an American. .........But now she is facing a threat of deportation for illegally voting, because she never became a citizen after being brought to this country from Cuba when she was 1 year old."
Jun 26th 2007, 3:23 am
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Two different takes on deportation
She knew she came here when she was 1.
She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and S as one continent.
With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political aspirations,
and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that she had acquired US Citizenship?
Odd to say the least.
The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to Florida to support that.
She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and S as one continent.
With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political aspirations,
and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that she had acquired US Citizenship?
Odd to say the least.
The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to Florida to support that.
Jun 26th 2007, 3:26 am
#9
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Two different takes on deportation
She knew she came here when she was 1.
She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and S as one continent.
With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political aspirations,
and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that she had acquired US Citizenship?
Odd to say the least.
The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to Florida to support that.
She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and S as one continent.
With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political aspirations,
and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that she had acquired US Citizenship?
Odd to say the least.
The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to Florida to support that.
It never in my whole life occurred to me to query my citizenship - why would one even think of doing so?
Jun 26th 2007, 5:29 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Two different takes on deportation
On Jun 25, 8:26 pm, Elvira <[email protected]> wrote:
> > She knew she came here when she was 1.
>
> > She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and
> > S as one continent.
>
> > With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political
> > aspirations,
> > and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that
> > she had acquired US Citizenship?
>
> > Odd to say the least.
>
> > The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her
> > misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much
> > more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to
> > Florida to support that.
>
> How would she even have known that she was not American?
>
> It never in my whole life occurred to me to query my citizenship - why
> would one even think of doing so?
Indeed - so since she knew she was born in Cuba of Cuban parents, why
would she think she was anything other than a Cuban citizen?
> > She knew she came here when she was 1.
>
> > She is an American, well N American. Not sure if Cuba considers N and
> > S as one continent.
>
> > With immigration being such a hot issue, she had political
> > aspirations,
> > and she did not notice that she had nothing to support her belief that
> > she had acquired US Citizenship?
>
> > Odd to say the least.
>
> > The other lady knew she had to acquire a US Passport, and did so, her
> > misunderstanding was her ability to reside in the UK. Which is much
> > more understandable. Plenty of posts about people wishing to move to
> > Florida to support that.
>
> How would she even have known that she was not American?
>
> It never in my whole life occurred to me to query my citizenship - why
> would one even think of doing so?
Indeed - so since she knew she was born in Cuba of Cuban parents, why
would she think she was anything other than a Cuban citizen?
Jun 26th 2007, 6:19 am
#11
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Two different takes on deportation
Perhaps I am the odd one out, but I knew where I was born and the nationalities of my parents from a very early age.
Only she knows the real truth.
Only she knows the real truth.
Jun 26th 2007, 8:33 am
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Two different takes on deportation
"Boiler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Perhaps I am the odd one out, but I knew where I was born and the
> nationalities of my parents from a very early age.
You're not the only odd one
I also find it hard to believe that knowing she was born in Cuba of Cuban
parents, she never checked how she became a US citizen - presuming she
trusted she was one.
Jackie
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Perhaps I am the odd one out, but I knew where I was born and the
> nationalities of my parents from a very early age.
You're not the only odd one
I also find it hard to believe that knowing she was born in Cuba of Cuban
parents, she never checked how she became a US citizen - presuming she
trusted she was one.
Jackie
Jun 26th 2007, 2:11 pm
#13
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,406
Re: Two different takes on deportation
"Boiler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Perhaps I am the odd one out, but I knew where I was born and the
> nationalities of my parents from a very early age.
You're not the only odd one
I also find it hard to believe that knowing she was born in Cuba of Cuban
parents, she never checked how she became a US citizen - presuming she
trusted she was one.
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Perhaps I am the odd one out, but I knew where I was born and the
> nationalities of my parents from a very early age.
You're not the only odd one
I also find it hard to believe that knowing she was born in Cuba of Cuban
parents, she never checked how she became a US citizen - presuming she
trusted she was one.
This woman knew she was not born on US soil but was born in Cuba and is a Cuban national. Why would she think she was a US Citizen?
Wait, what am I talking about. She ran for political office. We all know how stupid politicans are ... of course she assumed she was a US Citizen and didn't bother to check how, where, when or why.
There is wondering is over
Jun 26th 2007, 2:12 pm
#14
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,406
Re: Two different takes on deportation
Why would you if you were born of English parents and in the UK. What is there to question.
She was born of Cuban parents in Cuba. She should have questioned ... read my previous post on that.
Jun 26th 2007, 4:00 pm
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 622
Re: Two different takes on deportation
In fact, I can well understand why both of these women fell into the trap that they did. What we mustn't forget is that the people who post on (and read) these boards are - for one reason or another - interested in matters of nationality and immigration. Most people don't give these matters a thought from one year to the next, and neither do anyone that the know or mix with. The Scottish woman, as I recall, had never travelled outside the UK before (since she arrived there as a child, that is), and quite possibly her family are not big travellers either. (There was a very similar case of a woman in Suffolk (I think) a few years ago, who had been born in the US and come to the UK as a very young child with her British-born mother. She too had never travelled outside the UK since that time.)
The American woman who was born in Cuba came to the US when she was one. Foolish though it may be, she probably has never thought about these issues before. (This is perhaps a little more surprising, since she has stood for public office, but even so, I don't find it very odd at all that she hasn't.)
The American woman who was born in Cuba came to the US when she was one. Foolish though it may be, she probably has never thought about these issues before. (This is perhaps a little more surprising, since she has stood for public office, but even so, I don't find it very odd at all that she hasn't.)