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While I am absolutely unfamiliar with non-US immigration rules (and only
minimally aware of US ones as I am a US native) I thought I would share a
different spin on immigration of people with a child that has a
disability...
My experience w US immigration laws is entirely second-hand... through
experiences of children in my class (most all of whom are children of
immigrants, or immigrants themselves). I teach preschool kids w/
disabilities, and have one myself. Schools are considered 'sanctuaries' and
we do NOT engage in asking people of their status. LA County, where I
teach, has a greater percentage of immigrants than anywhere else in the US
(and on earth) - 1 of every 6 current US immigrants is right here.
Several months ago, a family from another country contacted our small
support group - his son was in the hospital in the US. He was asking for $
to pay the $9,000 bill. We gladly got involved. The father found a
reporter who wrote an article about the family's plight, and about $1,000
poured in. Since our little foundation would not set up an account for the
collection of funds, a webmaster (grandfather of a one year old with the
syndrome) set up a bank account.
Everything was a first... none of us had ever helped in such a way (finding
supplies for trach and g-tube, etc.). It was our understanding the family
wanted to stay in the US - the baby was given 3 months to live in his home
country. People from all over contributed - special g-tube formula, shoes,
money for diapers, etc. I sent two boxes ($150 total) of things I knew
would be appropriate (since I teach this age).
Because it took 2 weeks for the out-of-town bank to cash any check sent by
the webmaster, it was felt we could trust the father to use the money
appropriately. None of us had met him, but people felt any dad who went
this far (to another country for help) HAD to have his heart in the right
place.
Shortly after the family got a check for $521, the father got a flight to
his home country. He was allegedly supposed to get birth certificates,
etc - absolutely vital for staying in the US, according to a woman I worked
with who helps other families of immigrants having kids with disabilities.
The father was to return to the US with the documents and then start the INS
process as was clearly, explicitly laid out for him (he wanted to come to
the LA area - I already had parents of kids who were threatened with
deportation ... if he was to have my help, he had to abide by the INS
rules).
HMMM... the $521 - he spent it on other things in his homeland. He stayed a
month, got money from someone else down there and then his wife INSISTED we
pay his return trip to the US. Still naively thinking it was all for the
baby, we reluctantly paid it - we wondered whether we'd see it paid back.
They had stayed at the Ronald McDonald house already 4 1/2 MONTHS (leaving
for a week here and there and staying in ahotel gratis per the reporter).
He hadn't written ONE thank you letter (but DID write a lengthy 'gimme $$'
letter so we knew he was literate). People had busted their buns for this
family ... we were really wondering how much was for the baby, and how much
was to get a free ride in to the country? (That is what the nurse told me
at the hospital when I first called them - my first reaction was that she
was utterly insensitive, culturally biased, etc... now I know she was right)
Since I was his link between there and here (LA) it befell on me to ensure
he (1) had the right documents and (2) promised to repay the airfare loan
($400) from his homeland. So I wrote an IOU.
He was (pardon my french) PISSED that we expected him to repay the loan and
write thank you letters. The family stayed at their host house for a week -
it then became obvious that they were here for money - they had NO
interactions other than feeding and suctioning their baby. They were mad
that they were expected to pay shipping on the free formula someone had
found for them - I reminded them that THAT was what the $$$ was for.
Their host family wanted them out FAST. (bunches of reasons no one expected
to see!) They weren't about to leave, weren't gonna pay anything... It was
either leave or have the police escort them out. They left - the next
morning they had someone impersonate someone from their consulate and
pretend to be a social worker and yell at the host family. Others
impersonated consulate employees and removed their belongings. (I I called
the consulate - the consulate kept saying "call the police - they are
exploiting the baby!"). They were deliberately giving the baby watered down
non prescription baby formula .. They HAD no relationship with their baby.
NONE. The baby was USED.
What have we all learned? Look at EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY. DON'T assume
every family with a disabled child has noble goals ... last I heard, this
very same family has now scammed a few more people. They were bragging to
the host family that many people come from other countries (having money,
property, etc. in their homeland and pretend to be destitute here in the US
to get free care.)
While I have NO interest in learning about my own students' immigration
status or that of their families, I do NOT want to be "used" by someone who
deliberately tries to scam my country - our health care system is fragile
enough, without people who have the money to spend getting things for free.
Absolutely, people with disabilities have a right to come to the US ... but
do it honorably.
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