Deportations to Honduras

DesMoinesRegister.com: "Everyone who wants to 'round up' illegal immigrants and 'send them home,' should consider the case of Estephanie Izaquirre, who is sitting in the Polk County Jail today.

The 18-year-old parentless teenager came to the United States illegally from Honduras when she was 13. She was able to remain here by using a provision in the law allowing child immigrants to get a green card. She started to build a life. She made friends. Spent time with family, including an uncle who is a Des Moines school principal. She graduated from East High School in Des Moines this spring.

Then she turned 18. The next day, her attorney, Jim Benzoni, received an e-mail from an immigration official informing him the young woman should come to the office and 'complete the paperwork.' He thought that meant she was going to get a green card.

Izaquirre was thrilled.

When she showed up, a deportation officer arrested her.

The plan is to deport her to Honduras. Where she has no family. Where the person who was supposed to look after her pushed her into prostitution. Where people will not care 'if she dies,' Benzoni said.

If Iowans can't recognize the sheer inhumanity of what's going on here, they should note the sheer absurdity of the cost of 'rounding up' people. Benzoni said the girl could spend months in the county jail. He estimated the process of getting her back to Honduras could cost as much as $5,000. Those are taxpayer dollars.

Multiply that by the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country.

That's $60 billion. And counting, since more illegal immigrants will come."