Aboard the flight, 53 passengers stared out windows as their rising plane banked toward Mexico and their handcuffs glinted in the morning sun.

This is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Flight Repatriate, a booming airline ferrying illegal immigrants out of the country.

Flying worldwide from O’Hare and 22 other airports, the so-called ICE Air planes transported more than 367,000 illegal immigrants, including 11,500 from the Chicago area, out of the U.S. from October 2007 to October 2008—a 26 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and 77 percent more than in 2006. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently called for ways to “expedite removal” of thousands more illegal immigrants. The directive surprised advocates who have been lobbying for fewer deportations while they build momentum to reintroduce Immigration reform legislation in Congress by July.

“That was a signal to me that we need to work quicker and speak more effectively to the Obama camp,” said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who is organizing Immigration rallies in 14 cities.

“The vast majority of undocumented immigrants don’t violate any law, other than their Immigration status,” Gutierrez argued.

On board Flight Repatriate during a recent trip to the border near El Paso, Texas, the passengers embodied the dashed dreams of deported immigrants everywhere.

Some fretted over U.S.-born children. Others stewed over U.S. residency applications filed years ago. On a flight where many passengers were convicted of other U.S. crimes, still more grappled with alcoholism and other demons that make them poster targets for arrest.

“I shouted to the police: ‘Then, kill me! Kill me!’ ” Moises Rivera, 35, boasted about the January night he guzzled eight shots of whiskey and fell asleep in his car at a Little Village traffic light. In jail, he sobered up to realize he was heading back to Mexico.

Near him sat Felipe Rodriguez, who was pulled over for speeding. The sunken-eyed restaurant busboy was arrested after showing an Illinois state trooper a fake driver’s license.

“I don’t smoke; I don’t drink,” said Rodriguez, 55, describing himself as a bookworm. “My whole family is in Chicago and Indiana, where we were happy.”

More @ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-deportees-09-feb09,0,5333975.story

He seems to think that the court is going to charge him with a first offense. I think they are going to charge him like it’s his 4th DUI.

What will likely happen? Also, he wants to get a court-appointed lawyer. He thinks, instead of paying a lawyer, he will use that money to pay for VASAP and court fees. I think he should get a lawyer, it might reduce what he owes.

What is the best course of action?

Also, how much jail time is he looking at?
Anyone other than the first poster have a real reply?

For one, I agree that my dad is needs to be punished. He is a perpetual disappointment.

Second, how am I enabling him? Can you read?

My question is, in the state of VA, will he be charged as a first offense, or 4th?

Simple, no telling me how stupid my dad is, the world knows that already.

All of our family have tried to help him out by giving him food and shelter, SUPPORT, etc. for MANY years. I was pretty much THE ONLY ONE LEFT (with my husband and son)that would continue to take him in. The pros call me his ENABLER!!

Recently our 75 yr. old dad (ashamed to even call him his son) was diagnosed with cancer. He agreed to see him, then offered him a place to stay after the 60 day rehab–gave him $$, job offers. Soon as we got dad checked into the hosp., bro went on a 1 week binge, but finally call AA for help. They keep telling us we need to separate the emotions from his DISEASE. HOW???

My step daughter gave birth to a baby boy 5 years ago. The moment I held him he became mine. I have never been able to separate myself from him. Thankfully my daughter lives just 2 streets over so I get to see him all I want. Yet, when I am apart from him I get really depressed. I think now I know what it is like to be a parent because I have now been around a child since it was born. His Father is not in his life so I am the next closest thing. I can not begin to tell you how much this child has changed my life. People tell me I am not the same person anymore. I have done a radical change for the better.

Is it possible to become so attached to a child that you can become terribly depressed to be apart from them? Is it possible to be so attached to a child that they change your life forever?

Aboard the flight, 53 passengers stared out windows as their rising plane banked toward Mexico and their handcuffs glinted in the morning sun.

This is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Flight Repatriate, a booming airline ferrying illegal immigrants out of the country.

Flying worldwide from O’Hare and 22 other airports, the so-called ICE Air planes transported more than 367,000 illegal immigrants, including 11,500 from the Chicago area, out of the U.S. from October 2007 to October 2008—a 26 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and 77 percent more than in 2006. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently called for ways to “expedite removal” of thousands more illegal immigrants. The directive surprised advocates who have been lobbying for fewer deportations while they build momentum to reintroduce Immigration reform legislation in Congress by July.

“That was a signal to me that we need to work quicker and speak more effectively to the Obama camp,” said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who is organizing Immigration rallies in 14 cities.

“The vast majority of undocumented immigrants don’t violate any law, other than their Immigration status,” Gutierrez argued.

On board Flight Repatriate during a recent trip to the border near El Paso, Texas, the passengers embodied the dashed dreams of deported immigrants everywhere.

Some fretted over U.S.-born children. Others stewed over U.S. residency applications filed years ago. On a flight where many passengers were convicted of other U.S. crimes, still more grappled with alcoholism and other demons that make them poster targets for arrest.

“I shouted to the police: ‘Then, kill me! Kill me!’ ” Moises Rivera, 35, boasted about the January night he guzzled eight shots of whiskey and fell asleep in his car at a Little Village traffic light. In jail, he sobered up to realize he was heading back to Mexico.

Near him sat Felipe Rodriguez, who was pulled over for speeding. The sunken-eyed restaurant busboy was arrested after showing an Illinois state trooper a fake driver’s license.

“I don’t smoke; I don’t drink,” said Rodriguez, 55, describing himself as a bookworm. “My whole family is in Chicago and Indiana, where we were happy.”

More @ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-deportees-09-feb09,0,5333975.story