A Documentary I watched in Indonesia...

This was about the war in Iraq...I know it was a long time ago but something interested me about this one...something that may have been televised worldwide and I missed...perhaps it was something that wasn't shown, I really don't know but, perhaps it can be answered here?

It was about Latinos and their part in this war...they were promised American citizinship when they reached 21 years of age and this would cover the family/parents etc. Many of these boys/girls enlisted in the USA army and went to fight for their "country"sadly a lot died on their journey before reaching the age of 21 and now their families are facing deportation...do you think that's right?

Also in this documentation it was said that...the military will cover the cost of a funeral...I'm not sure what they said....wasn't a state funeral I don't think....maybe communal military one but...if the family wished to have a private one...they had to pay themselves???

Can't understand why people fight in war for a citizenship. Can't understand why people fight for something which has nothing to do with them.

Well Karla...I guess, if you live in a country then it does have something to do with you....it's now your country...yes?

This documentary, as I said, was viewed overseas so I just wanted to see what others thought....in the documentary the US army was recuiting latinos with a promise..if they seved their country (the new one) and survived to 21 years old they would be glorified with citizinship for themselves and their whole family....just wanted to clarify if that was true...

Yes: they are not one of us, so let use them as human shields!!

I the turn of century Canadian made their railway using Chinese as a cheapest labor; then when the projects were finished, they deported the survivals back to China.
So many of them died there. They say under each foot of the national railway there are three China men buried.

I don't know about the deportation, but the US trans-american railway was made with Chinese and Irish laborers essentially working as serfs.

Yes this is documented facts :" Destiny" R. Jones
it is Canadian history text book

I don't know anything about the chinese labour that you both speak about....although I'm sure it's interesting so....if you wish to go down that path fine. The documentary I watched focused on a father who lost his son at 19 years of age....he was lucky because...already an american citizen but....it followed another two boys whom the american army 'recruited' (latinos) with the promise that they and their families would be citizens of America when they turned 21....both boys died in Iraq....both families faced deportation....I'm really not sure wahat happened to them but...I sure as hell hope America took them in in the end?

Yes I was trying to say, this is normal for them to treat human being (( other races)) in this manner.

It seems to me that if they lost their lives in pursuit of the promise, the government should follow through as though they survived.

BTW: the point I made is that the Irish & Chinese were not deported from the US and moved on to form substantial Chinatown populations. Many of the Irish took part in the Oklahoma land rush (which displaced thousands of already displaced Native Americans). Circles of injustice.

"Circles of injustice."
it goes on

It seems to me that if they lost their lives in pursuit of the promise, the government should follow through as though they survived.

^^
Can you find out for me if your government did?

Why was it recruiting foreigners, when its population is massive to recruit its own citizens?

Fighting for a country should come from the heart, from certain beliefs, for a cause. If it's done just to earn any other thing, it would be useless if the soldier died, also it would be funny because he will have lost two things: His Soul + The Citizenship... without earning anything.

LP I am almost certain they were recruiting people who were already here illegally. We have a LOT of illegal people in this country, nor just from Mexico.

To recruit someone who is here illegally for war is illegal!
To keep them illegal, to blackmail them to go to a colonial war, and do their dirty jobs is just straightforward cruelty.....!

I case of the railway workers, they used Chinese because they were the cheapest labors and they would do the lowest and hardest jobs that no other people would do. But after years sacrificing, the racist government sent them back home as illegal emigrants, to do not mix with and pollute the white Anglo population

I still think it is impossible to understand the reason why people go to war to be reckognized as a citizen.How can you fight for a country that promises you what you will never have? Besides I consider this strange deal (go to war and be American) such a deplorable thing.

What I have seen is that a lot of Brazilian people are coming back home. It seems to me that the dream is over.It doesn't matter how hard you want to be American because deep inside you will always be what you are:a Latino.Our apperance can't deny our origin. Our tastes/ customs/ attitudes are so different in so many ways.

^^^"Can you find out for me if your government did?"

Hellon, you would be able to do exactly the same research as me & you have better insight, having seen the documentary.

---------------------------------

The United States is no less appropriate for Latinos than Latin America. 16.4% of the US population is Hispanic, compared to 12.6% Black & 4.8% Asian.

On the other hand, Brazilians have a great incentive to return home, since the country has boomed in the 21st Century and now has the 7th largest economy in the world.

I did try to find out the information myself....unfortunately, because it happened over 10 years ago my search was unsuccessful so, I was asking if any of our members living in America could answer my question. I don't mean the general policies of your country regarding illegal immigrants I was asked about the three families directly involved here.

The Documentary was called Senseless Death BTW.

People are not returning home because we are the 7th economy in the world Larry. We still have many social problems to solve and a lot of dissatisfied people here.
And I think that the most appropiate country for anybody is where s/he was born.

DREAM Act

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"The DREAM Act (acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) is an American legislative proposal first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001,[1] by Dick Durbin and Orrin Hatch.[2]
This bill would provide conditional permanent residency to certain undocumented residents of good moral character who graduate from U.S. high schools, arrived in the United States as minors, and lived in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment. If they were to complete two years in the military or two years at a four-year institution of higher learning, they would obtain temporary residency for a six-year period. Within the six-year period, they may qualify for permanent residency if they have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United States or [have] completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United States" or have "served in the armed services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, [have] received an honorable discharge".[3] Military enlistment contracts require an eight-year commitment, with active duty commitments typically between four and six years, but as low as two years.[4][5] However, the military does not allow illegal immigrants to enlist"
From what I gather the DREAM Act was a bipartisan Bill

If you have not googled DREAM act you may find what you wan to know
Our balance of power isin grid lock and we are headed for a lame duck

"Members of Congress have introduced several forms of this bill in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members in the House passed one such bill on December 8, 2010 by a vote of 216-198;[12] Senators debated a version of the DREAM Act on September 21, 2010. A previous version of the bill, S.2205, which required 60 votes to gain cloture, failed on a 52-44 vote in 2007, 8 votes short of overcoming a filibuster by senators opposed to the bill.[13]
The United States military faced challenges in enlistment, which in 2005 were described as a "crisis",[14] though the economic downturn of 2007-2010 did away with many of the enlistment challenges. Immigrants without a United States Permanent Resident Card (also known as a green card) are not allowed to enlist. In 2007, several senior officials at the Department of Defense have spoken in favor of promising resident status to members of the military as a means of boosting recruitment"

Michael....I just knew you would find something to answer my question....what a sweetie you are and I hope it didn't take too much of your time up?

This part I will question...

However, the military does not allow illegal immigrants to enlist"
^^^^

What does this mean exactly because three of the five boys who died were being offered citizenship when they reach 21 years so....does that mean they were illegal when they were recruited....the documentary didn't actually say that....just that these families now faced deportation.

I am not sure There are people who legally live in the US that are not citizens. I was a civilian DOD employee and worked with many foreigners (however that is spelled lol) and it seems that for security reasons it would not be wise to allow someone to enlist without a full background check , but military intelligence can be an oxymoron

They were going to schools and recruiting them there....it showed you that much....targeting latinos...

Though my neice has several children by a latino and speaks spanish better than most spanish teachers (latinos have several slang dialects) I do not keep in touch.Many Latinos do not shy away from back breaking work and are exploted for cheap labor . One politician went so far as to say if it were not for migrant workers fruit would not be affordable for the average American

^ I've heard about that. It's sad.

3rd world people suffer a lot, and many have dreams to become 1st worlders, that's why they do whatever it takes to flee out their countries.

You may have a Green Card for your whole life and never become a citizen. Green Card is slang for permanent residency. If you have held that status for 5 years, you may apply for naturalization or citizenship. It requires passing a test on US history & culture (could be easy or arduous depending on the individual).

A visitor with an I-94 is not illegal and many are here visiting, going to school or working.

One who is here "wet" has no documentation or has overstayed their legal stay. There are many of these, but not as many as the general perception. This is because agricultural workers are not really illegal. They are here on an agricultural visa & are regularly deported at the end of their term. The number of temporary agricultural workers exceeds the total illegals in the US.

We also have a lot of illegal immigrants now from Angola, China, Korea and etc but they are treated in a decent way. We recognize how important immigrants are for their immense contribution to the development of Brazil. We received many people from Japan, Lebanon, Syria, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Portugal and I myself is the result of a lovely encounter between an Italian man and a Brazilian woman. We have Immigrant's Day here too:June 25th as well as we have Black Awareness Day on November 20th. We can't simply forget Mother Africa and our Indians.All races formed this country and fought for us.