Why is This Guy Here?

Source: Ringside Report

Every boxer unfortunate enough to have fatally injured an opponent in the ring is forever tied to the incident, and to the deceased. IBF Lightweight Champ, Jesus Chavez is forever linked with Leavander Johnson, who died following their September 2005 championship contest.

A tough thing to face, to be sure. But the author goes on to assure us that this is "hardly the first challenging situation Chavez has faced."

Chavez, born in Mexico, came to Chicago with his family as a boy, and spent most of his life in the US. He discovered boxing at age 10 and fell in love with the sport, but gang and street life drew the boy in the wrong direction. At 17, he made a mistake for which he paid heavily; he and two mates robbed a store, resulting in a felony conviction and three and a half years in prison. This was his only brush with the law, other than the immigration authorities.

A mistake? Robbing a store is not a "mistake" -- it's a crime. Let's call it what it is, shall we?

But what, exactly might those brushes with the law involving immigration authorities be?

Although his family had established legal immigration status (after their illegal migration years before), officially Chavez was undocumented. On the day his prison term ended in 1993, federal immigration officers greeted him with a deportation order (standard for illegal alien felons) and he was exiled to Mexico. The fact that he had lived most of his life north of the border did not matter.

No, it doesn't matter. And what kind of hack is writing this piece?

exile
1 a : the state or a period of forced absence from one's country or home b : the state or a period of voluntary absence from one's country or home

Chavez was here illegally. He didn't leave his country -- he was returned to his country.

Chavez returned illegally, took a new name (previously he was known as Gabriel Sandoval), and resolved to make a new start. He settled in Austin, Texas, he literally moved into Lord’s boxing gym, and at age 21 began his boxing career in earnest.

Turning pro soon thereafter, Chavez combined his talent and a relentless dedication to turning his life around to build a stellar, 21-1, 12 KO’s, record over the next four years. Then, the INS found Chavez again, after he had applied for a driver’s license under his new name. Despite intense legal efforts to legalize his immigration status, Chavez was again exiled to Mexico, leaving voluntarily in 1997 rather than again be forcibly deported.

Might I suggest that if Chavez had mustered the same dedication to being an honorable, law-abiding human he might not have found himself in the position of being deported for a second time?

So let's recap. In the country illegally. Convicted of a felony at age 17. Serves 3 1/2 years, then is deported back to Mexico. Enters the country illegally again. Assumes new false identity and is caught while trying to illegally obtain a driver's license. Deported to Mexico a second time.

And what's his final reward for all this illegal behavior?

...his legal status was finally rectified, he was awarded a green card and he returned to Austin in 2000.

WTF? Reading shit like this makes me agree with my opposition that we need massive immigration reform. We need to make it HARDER, not easier, and we need to logically and fairly consider who gets to come and who should stay the hell out. Forever.

HINT: It shouldn't include former felons who have already been deported twice.

Technorati Tags
Illegal Immigration * Illegal Alien * Jesus Chavez * Immigration Reform * Deportation * Boxing