Two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, are about to be put on trial in North Korea for illegal entry. Laura’s sister, Lisa, has been making the rounds to plead for her sister’s freedom. They are very scared for her. Who wouldn’t be.
I saw Lisa Ling on Good Morning America, where she said that if her sister had illegally entered North Korea during her investigation of female sex trafficking across the North Korean and Chinese border, it was by accident and it was a totally unintentional. She offered her “profuse apologies.” The report went on to discuss how Laura Ling has health issues (an ulcer), and a daughter waiting for her at home.
One would have to be a heartless cretin not to be sympathetic toward Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I am. I believe what Lisa says, and certainly have no reason in the world to dispute it. I join in her plea for the release of these two Americans held by North Korea.
But one thing bothers me. There’s a fellow I know, who I’ll call Jose, who also crossed a border illegally. His children were starving. He lived in a country where the regime was harsh and callous, and not inclined to care much for the welfare of Jose’s children. Jose’s health wasn’t all that great either, but he wouldn’t know what was wrong as he had never seen a physician. So Jose crossed a border illegally in the hope of getting a job, making some money and feeding his children.
Jose never found a job, as he was caught and placed in a prison. He was then told that he would be put on trial for illegally crossing the border. Jose tried to explain his purpose, that he was just trying to save his children from starvation and he meant no harm. He begged to return to his homeland, to his children. He offered his profuse apologies.
No one listened to Jose.
I waited as a watched the Lisa Ling interview on Good Morning America. As long as they were interested in the topic of illegal entry, this would be the perfect opportunity for Diane Sawyer to ask that Jose be returned to his family. There was no mention of Jose in the story. There was a great deal of hand-wringing over Laura Ling, as well there should be. Let her go.
Of course, the situations are entirely different. We are the United States of America. North Korea is, well, North Korea.
Update: To the extent an imperfect analogy could be used to make a point, it stops dead in its tracks with the sentencing of Laura Ling and Euna Lee to “12 years of reform through labor.”
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The analogy doesn’t quite work. There are very few (any?) illegals aliens in the U.S. in jail for simply being in the U.S. I doubt there are any that are in jail for being in the U.S. and committing “polical crimes.”
Most (all?) are in jail for other crimes.
I’ll wager there are a few cases of mistaken identity but that happens regardless of one’s resident status.
It also doesn’t help Jose’s case that MS13 and Latin Kings are all in the U.S. to “simply feed their starving children”.
What usually happens around these parts is that ICE works on a “catch and release system”. The actual Jose’s are given a trial date, released and then never show (until the next time they are caught).
A couple of mistakes, based upon your assumption that Texas reflects the United States of America. There are indeed people in jail for illegal entry, though it may be less the norm than in a border Republic like Texas. Second, Laura Ling is about to go on trial. She hasn’t yet been convicted or sentenced. This hasn’t silenced the pleas for her release.
Third, as to MS13 and the Latin Kings, there are claims of the existence of La Cosa Nostra as well. Do you suggest we imprison all Italians because they are all mobsters? And finally, North Korea doesn’t have the problem with too many illegals trying to enter to find room for them in jail. I doubt that ICE in Texas would be as kind if it had empty cells.
“based upon your assumption that Texas reflects the United States of America.”
It doesn’t? /humor
I doubt Ling will get anything close to a fair trial. That and the rarety of the case would account for the large number of pleas for her release. If cases like hers happened more often, there would probably be organizations lobbying for her.
I don’t suggest imprisoning all Italians or Latins or any one particular group (except maybe the Irish). It’s just the norm that whenever a “legitimate criminal” is caught – they keep day jobs and blend into society too – and his story is just like millions of others, it becomes very difficult and time consuming to sift them from those jailed merely on illegal entry.
If ICE did have the cells available, the “nuclear option” would be an option. I.e. jail every illegal caught until his case can best be determined. As it is, ICE, with all of the efficiency of a DMV/DPS/VA hospital, goes through what they can.
The results are sometimes Joses being detained a long time and bad men going free.
Hey, if I didn’t have Texas to make fun of, I’d only be left with Florida. And Alabama. And Idaho. Okay, maybe I should leave Texa alone for a while.
I have similar doubts about Ling’s trial, though fair by North Korean standards may be different than ours. Of course, I similarly wonder whether Jose would get a fair trial here by our standards, Some would suggest that his chances aren’t much better than Ling’s. I’ve written about one or two trials that were less than perfect right in the good, ol’ US of A. Maybe even more than that.
While the analogy may not be perfect, its sufficient to make the point and far too close for comfort.
Are you kidding? Comparing N. Korea’s legal system to the U.S.? Please!
You forgot to mention what happened to Jose after his arrest. Jose was arrested, he complained of an illness because he had not seen a doctor in over 20 years. He is giving a complete physical and given proper medication for his high blood pressure. Jose is a repeat offender, having come to America 8 other times, each time incarcerated but on average less than 6 months for each account. Jose will serve 4 months for this offense. Jose is released 60 days after incarceration due to overcrowding in the prison. He is deported back to Mexico, but his “lady” and his children are living in Texas in a section 8 apartment, attending public schools and receive monthly checks from the government.
Jose now being back in Mexico has to get back to Texas in a hurry, just in time for the 2008 voting Caucus…he’s a Hillary supporter…can’t miss his right to vote, now can we. No ID…no problem Jose!
I wonder what would happen to Jose if he wondered across the N. Korean border?????
I feel for Jose, his children will be able to go to college for free, while some lower middle class Americans have to do without, because they simply cannot afford even a state college.
Please.
The last time I was in jail was Travis County, Texas. I’d failed to pay a traffic ticket (they call it failure to appear, but that’s not really accurate since you can’t appear in court without first posting a bond greater than the fine amount).
I asked for medical attention for abrasions to my forehead caused by a jailer slamming my head against a concrete floor. I asked a jailer, a county nurse, a judge, the screener for legal aid. No medical attention for me.
And I hadn’t been convicted of anything, I’d just refused to plead guilty.
Any lower middle class American can go to college via GI Bill money. I did it. My parents didn’t pay a dime for my college education.
Wrong. Under 8 USC 1326, an alien gets one “free” deportation. If he is caught back in the U.S., he has committed a federal crime. The mere act of being here is illegal under the federal criminal code.
In my jurisdiction, every 1326 is prosecuted. No pretrial release, federal incarceration of about 6 months just to get the case heard, then the defendant is given to ICE for immediate deportation. Costs the U.S. taxpayer $3K per month for federal incarceration.
And if an alien returns to the U.S. after being deported after having committed a crime, he can be exposed to a lot more time. It gets ugly quick.
I don’t think this circus is an intelligent use of our resources. We need to issue work permits. We don’t need to waste 3K per month on a completely unnecessary incarceration. It only helps the prison guard unions and the private prison industry.
Finally, the reaction I anticipated. The old 100% American idiot answer. Thanks Cindy. I was growing disillusioned until you stopped by.
you’re welcome, one should not walk in a disilliusion state most of his life.
So are you stating that since you did not get treatment, there is no such treatment in the prison or jail system…I think not.
As for the GI Bill, funny you mentioned that…I am a vet, I even participated in the education incentive they had…I believe it was the montgomery bill at that time…I paid into it and when I wanted to cash in guess what…I missed the deadline or that certain schools don’t qualify for the bill. How ironic.
Understand in a nation of 330 million no two stories are exactly alike. What one individual gets doesn’t necessarily mean others get it, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Methinks he’s pointing out the error of your doing the same. Can’t have it both ways.
“One would have to be a heartless cretin not to be sympathetic toward Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I am.”
Here I thought you were finally admitting to being a heartless cretin. 🙂
Not even a declaration against penal interest out of me.