Ann Arbor man part of sit-in protest at Sen. John McCain's Tucson office
Ann Arbor's Mohammad Abdollahi has been in America so long he calls it home.Â
It's the only home the 24-year old Iranian has known since he arrived in the United States at the age of 3 with his parents.
Problem is, the Abdollahis didn't have their immigration paperwork in order - and Mohammad still doesn't.
As much as Abdollahi feels like an American, being an undocumented resident has severely limited his employment and educational options.
Mohammad and three other undocumented students took their protest to the Tucson office of Sen. John McCain today to stage a sit-in in favor of the Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would provide longtime resident aliens like Abdollahi with a path to American citizenship.
A story on The Michigan Messenger's website explains: "Abdollahi is staging a sit-in with three other undocumented youth in an attempt to focus attention on federal legislation called the DREAM Act...The protest is taking place at the Tucson, Ariz. offices of Republican Sen. John McCain, a former GOP presidential candidate."
The senator angered many former supporters by coming out in support of Arizona's recently-passed immigration law, the goal of which is to "identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants," according to the New York Times. Arizona's immigration law was signed in late April.
McCain, who was the GOP's presidential candidate in 2008, is in a fight for his political life in a primary race against J.D. Hayworth, a former Republican congressman.
Judging by Mohammad's Twitter feed (@midreamact), he and the fellow protestors were inside McCain's Tucson office as of 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.
A spokesman at McCain's Washington office said "(the protestors) have the right to peacefully protest," but would not say how long the senator's office would abide the civil disobedience.
James Dickson can be reached at JamesDickson@AnnArbor.com.
Comments
John Q
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:04 p.m.
"When all of our ancestors came to this country, they learned the language, they adopted the customs and culture of the U.S." Kim, you need to get out and travel our country. Go visit an Amish community in rural Ohio or Indiana and see how much U.S. custom, culture or language (English I presume) is spoken. It's a nice myth that you peddle but it only reveals your own prejudices about what represents "real Americans" and those you portray as outsiders.
jcj
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 1:07 p.m.
@Adam I certainly do not question whether the man is a productive member of society or not. He may have been a "good kid". But where do we draw the line? Do we just come out and say if you have been here 3 years and are a "good kid" we will overlook the laws you broke? We need to enforce some sense of border security. @Matt Cooper Get off your high horse and join the real world. That is a stale argument!
waterwave
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:23 a.m.
There should be a way to let people like Mr. Abdollahi to be US citizen. He is an american in every way. By law we should send him back to iran. That sounds ominus.
Adam
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.
The comments that people post are pretty ridiculous. Nobody has even mentioned the DREAM act, which I think is one of the more fair things I have seen for dealing with illegal immigrants. I actually went to Elementary and High School with Mohammed. He was a friend of mine from Kindergarten through graduating high school. He worked every year of high school and every year beyond. He contributed to society just like every one of us...His parents raised a good kid, so tell me exactly why he should not be given a chance to continue on to college and better himself? He has spent his entire life here, why must we "kick out" somebody who actually WANTS to go to school and become a better person...When did people in this country become so dang hateful and unaccepting.
Top Cat
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 7:47 a.m.
In response to Mr. Briegel's comment, ""Legals" would not satisfy the insatiable needs of the ruling class for cheap labor." One of the many compelling reasons to end illegal immigration is to remove the loss of jobs and reduction of wages to American citizens. The jobs and wages of American citizens should come first.
Kelly
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.
agree with JMA2Y - I am "living" and working in Mexico, basically illegally, and honestly, no one cares. Macabre Sunset wondered how many other countries would allow illegal immigrants to arrive and then break the law. I'm guessing most of them. In Mexico - and this is typical of Latin America - citizens work illegally and drive without a license. And foreigners who are willing to spend money in the economy are welcome to come and do the same. @ Stephen - common misunderstanding. According to the U.S. law, once someone has a "record" of breaking immigration law - even if s/he did it unknowingly at 3 yrs old - that person normally no longer qualifies for most forms of legal migration. So basically, if the person in this story goes "home" the likelihood of him receiving a student visa, work visa, resident visa, spouse visa, tourist visa, etc. is very low.
AbuSumayyah
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.
@ Kim Scott, you said "When all of our ancestors came to this country, they learned the language, they adopted the customs and culture of the U.S. The illegals don't bother with this, and many legal ones don't either. Come to Phoenix; it's like living in a foreign country. All government offices post signs and all forms are in both English and Spanish. So you speak some of the Native languages such as, A'ananin (Aane), Abenaki (Abnaki, Abanaki, Abenaqui), Absaalooke (Absaroke)Babine, Bannock, Barbareo, Bari, Bear River, Beaver, Bella Bella, Bella Coola,Caddo (Caddoe), Cahita, Cahto, Cahuilla, Calapooya (Calapuya, Calapooia), Calusa (Caloosa), Carib, Carquin, Carrier, Caska, Catawba, Cathlamet, Cayuga, Cayuse, Celilo, Central Pomo, Chahta, Chalaque, Chappaquiddick (Chappaquiddic, Chappiquidic), Chawchila (Chawchilla), Chehalis, Chelan, Chemehuevi, Cheraw, Just to name a few.And you also practice some of the Native customs right?
David Briegel
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.
Macabre, "Legals" would not satisfy the insatiable needs of the ruling class for cheap labor.
racerx
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 3:42 a.m.
@Macabre Sunset-"...we are nothing without legal immigration..." LOL! Tell that to Native Americans? Did they ask for your ancestors papers?
Mike Maloy
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 2:47 a.m.
I'm not going to sit here on the east coast and condemn the Arizona law. I believe it's divisive and distasteful, but that the people of Arizona felt the need to pass it is equally divisive and distasteful. It's the result of decades of federal gov't being irresponsible. What did we think was going to happen? The issue is being forced. Which was bound to happen, one way or another. I disagree with you about immigrants learning the language. I completely agree that we should not cater to any language other than English for 1st generation Americans. The actual immigrants have always worked the lowest paying, most thankless jobs. They built our railroads, dug our canals, etc. In my opinion, the true benefit to the United States is their children. Throughout our history, wave after wave of 1st generation Americans of foreign descent, have energized this country. They are the ones who are motivated to pursue the dream of their parents. Within our free-market framework they bring diverse skill sets and innovation in starting businesses and expanding industries from which we all benefit. Without them, Im afraid we get stale and complacent. In that respect, I do believe that we need to concentrate on being an inclusive American nation that first acknowledges what we have in common, before trying to legislate recognition of diversity. Legislated recognition is a far cry from bequeathed respect.
Kim Scott
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 2:05 a.m.
When all of our ancestors came to this country, they learned the language, they adopted the customs and culture of the U.S. The illegals don't bother with this, and many legal ones don't either. Come to Phoenix; it's like living in a foreign country. All government offices post signs and all forms are in both English and Spanish.
Mike Maloy
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 1:58 a.m.
This topic always manages to both bewilder and disappoint me. It seems so obvious a bi-partisan failure of the federal gov't. And yet we as a people still bicker along partisan lines. Legal immigration is a joke...it's an unfair bureacracy that is not at all based on the traditional promise of the American Dream that we laud ourseves for. The whole "Give me your tired...poor...huddled masses" is DOA and has been replaced by an inane lottery system, political favoritism and utter government incompetence. On the other hand, when 3K* people simply walk across every day, it's not a border. Lord knows the standards were low to let my drunk, illiterate people off that boat, but that had to give their name...they had to say where they were from...? It wasn't a tough policy, but it was a policy. In short, I always feel that there is no room for someone who believes in a fairly open / liberal immigration policy, and on the other hand, believes in maintaining some semblance of a border. Am I alone? Why is that such a divisive concept? I do understand and agree that the illegal/undocumented immigrants that have been here for years (per the story) are a much more complicated issue to resolve. But how can we even start to address that problem while we are incapable of taking some basic steps to contain it? * The 3K number appears to be fairly median. I know everbody has a site with numbers that "prove" them right. I'm not looking for a stat argument.
Mike Maloy
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 1:55 a.m.
This topic always manages to both bewilder and disappoint me. It seems so obvious a bi-partisan failure of the federal gov't. And yet we as a people still bicker along partisan lines. Legal immigration is a joke...it's an unfair bureacracy that is not at all based on the traditional promise of the American Dream that we laud ourseves for. The whole "Give me your tired...poor...huddled masses" is DOA and has been replaced by an inane lottery system, political favoritism and utter government incompetence. On the other hand, when 3K* people simply walk across every day, well we just can't call that a border. Lord knows the standards were low to let my drunk, illiterate people off that boat, but that had to give their name...they had to say where they were from...? It wasn't a tough policy, but it was a policy. In short, I always feel that there is no room for someone who believes in a fairly open / liberal immigration policy, and on the other hand, believes in maintaining some semblance of a border. Am I alone? Why is that such a divisive concept? I do understand and agree that the illegal/undocumented immigrants that have been here for years (per the story) are a much more complicated issue to resolve. But how can we even start to address that problem while we are incapable of taking some basic steps to contain it? * The 3K number appears to be fairly median. I know everbody has a site with numbers that "prove" them right. I'm not looking for a stat argument.
Kim Scott
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 1:44 a.m.
Illegal immigrants are by definition, criminals. Anyone who supports them is supporting criminals. Phoenix, AZ
Jim
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 1:20 a.m.
@ rusty shackelford - how would you know who has been through what? My wife, then girlfriend, was here on a student visa and returned to her home country because we weren't ready to be married. Took 1.5 years to get her back here when we were. And I wouldn't have had it any other way. So yes, I can speak on this.
Matt Cooper
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 11:33 p.m.
I'm not sure why, but I am surprised at the lack of compassion here, as well as some of the ignorance. Unless you are of Native American blood, guess what. You are also an illegal alien. You, or your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are illegal aliens as well. White Europeans came to the so-called "New World" and stole the entire continent from the Natives who had been here nearly since the dawn of time. The Natives didn't ask us to steal their lands, rape their women, confiscate their herds, make slaves of their children and grandchildren, murder their people and kill any and all who dared resist. But we did it anyway. Immigrants each and every one. I know. Whites will say "Well, I never killed anyone, so I'm not a part of all that and I'm not responsible". Guess again. You live on stolen land saturated with the blood of 100 generations of real Americans, and by "real Americans" I mean the ones that were here before our white european ancestors stole the land. So don't give me this crap about how "they" should only be allowed to come here "legally" when none of us were EVER here legally to begin with. And stop acting like you are better than any of "them", because you aren't. You, like "them" are nothing more than the spawn of immigrants looking for a better life for themselves and their children. Remember the words of Emma Lazarus, who wrote "The New Colossus", a poem of love and community and compassion that is permanently engraved inside the foot of the very Statue of Liberty your immigrant forebears sailed past into New York Harbor: Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
JMA2Y
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 9:59 p.m.
Americans face tough scrutiny overseas so why do others feel that they should face less scrutiny here? When I can move to Europe freely, live there without time limits (3 months is the avg. max), work there without a visa/green card/job offer beforehand, then anyone should feel free to move to the U.S. under the same conditions. But I can't. They require visas and other working documentation in hand before moving to a country; or a student visa; or enough money that you can prove that you can pay rent, medical, and not need a job to support yourself. Or you face deportation and possibly arrest if you are caught.
JimB
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 9:55 p.m.
Thanks Jon Q, I obiously meant the police now has the "reason" to arrest and turn someone over to the proper agency to be removed from the country.
John Q
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 9:38 p.m.
"Isn't Abdollahi subject to the new Arizona "profiling" law that enables the police to arrest and deport anyone without the proper papers?" Last time I checked, no state police officer anywhere can deport anyone.
JimB
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:42 p.m.
Isn't Abdollahi subject to the new Arizona "profiling" law that enables the police to arrest and deport anyone without the proper papers?
Stephen Landes
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:30 p.m.
Rusty, There is no right to become a resident of the US. We have a process and thousands of people each year follow that process and wait in line for a chance to move to our country. Somehow they manage to work through the immigration system. This fellow wants an exemption because he has been here illegally for years and doesn't want to follow the process. Sorry, go home and follow our laws.
Mikey2u
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:17 p.m.
People that enter the United States without the proper paperwork are showing their disrespect for our country and our laws. Go home please.
Danny Noonan
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:08 p.m.
Why isn't MR.Abdollahi arrested. Come on ann arbor police. You have his name and city. He is an ILLEGAL immigrant. He has broken a federal law. I dont feel sorry for him at all why at 18 did he not apply for citizen. Get in line and do it legally. He disregards our laws. He should be in jail.
rusty shackelford
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.
None of you have dealt with the immigration bureaucracy before. It is a suburb of hell. What he is protesting for is the very mechanism by which he could correct his immigration status, so all of you complaining he didn't do it earlier should try some literacy lessons (which is on the immigration exam, btw).
tlb1201
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 6:48 p.m.
Undocumented = Illegal in non-PC language.
tlb1201
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 6:44 p.m.
It's too bad that Mr. Abdollahi is in his current predicament. As others have already said, he has been here a long time without getting things fixed. Not to pick on him, but how long without getting the proper Legal documentation is long enough? Offhand, twenty days seems more appropriate than twenty years. I feel that we need to put a stop to so many people being in this country illegally. There are too many dangers and costs as a result of the large number of illegals. The other side of the coin means fixing the immigration process for those who try to come here the proper way. That should include making it easier for all to understand what the right way is and why they should wait their turn.
WashtenawCountyCourtsExaminer
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 5:45 p.m.
The city's name is Tucson, not Tuscon: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/
voiceofreason
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
Shouldn't Mr. Abdollahi be angry at his parents for not taking care of his paperwork in the 21 years since arriving in America? Or possibly taken it upon himself in the 6 years since he legally became an adult? Excuse me, Mr. Abdollahi, while I play this very small violin for you.
Stephen Landes
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.
Legal immigration, yes emphatically so. Illegal immigration, no and just as emphatically. This protester's family should get their act together and correct their status -- even if that means they have to leave the country to do so. NO other country is as lenient as the US in these matters and that is particularly true of Iran (this fellow's country of origin) and Mexico. At a time when a trio of US hikers who apparently strayed into Iran without intending to do so are in prison in that country it is incredible that this man thinks he should be allowed to stay here in knowing violation of our laws.
Macabre Sunset
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 5:02 p.m.
I wonder how many countries in the entire world would allow someone who is illegally in the country to purposely violate the law, even peacefully, to try and change legislation. We truly live in a great country. We are nothing without legal immigration. All we ask is that you wait in line with the others who seek citizenship before establishing residency.
Lokalisierung
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 4:59 p.m.
That's a tough issue right there. Techincally he is an illegal alien...but over $20. When did this error by his family happen? I didn't know people living here for 20+ years still had to pay.