The Knucklehead of the Day award

Today's winner is Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. He gets the award for the following.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida (CNN) -- Eduardo Gonzalez, a petty officer second class with the U.S. Navy, is about to be deployed overseas for a third time. Making his deployment even tougher is the fact his wife may not be around when he comes back.


Mildred and Eduardo Gonzalez worry about what would happen to their family if she is deported.

1 of 3 His wife faces deportation to Guatemala -- her home country that she hasn't seen since 1989. He also doesn't know what would happen to his young son, Eduardo Jr., if that happens.

"I like being in uniform and serving my country, but if she goes back I'm going to have to give it all up and just get out and take care of my son and get a job," he said.

"Defending the country that's trying to kick my family out is a thought that always runs through my mind."

Gonzalez, who works on helicopters that bring cargo, supplies and military personnel in and out of Iraq, testified before a House Judiciary Committee panel last month, detailing his situation and urging officials to consider some sort of policy to deal with cases like his, where military members' families could be deported while they're defending their country overseas.

What is happening to Mildred Gonzalez, is slightly reminiscent of the Yaderlin Jimenez story. She was the illegal alien spouse of a US citizen serving in Iraq. In Yaderlin's case, her husband was MIA and believed to be dead. She was facing deportation, but the proceedings have been stopped. As she should. As long as the marriage is legitimate, we don't any reason not to think so in either the Jimenez or Gonzalez case, the spouse of the military member should be granted residency. He is fighting for our country, that's the least we can do for him.

The reason for Mildred Gonzalez deportation? Read it.

In Gonzalez's case, his wife, Mildred, came to the United States with her mother in 1989 when she was 5 years old. They were granted political asylum because of their status as war refugees from Guatemala.

In September 2000, Mildred's mother applied for legalization and included her daughter in that application. Her mother was granted legal status in July 2004, according to Gonzalez.

However, six weeks earlier, Gonzalez and Mildred got married, canceling Mildred's ability to apply for legal status through her mother because she was no longer an unmarried daughter under the age of 21. As a result, her legal status still remains in jeopardy.

A judge in June granted her a one-year extension to remain in the United States. If her legal status does not change by June 8, 2008, she will have 60 days to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation.

Because she married her husband, Mildred lost her right to become a legal resident. So we're going to deport her. With 12 million illegals in this country, someone tell me why we're pursuing people like Mildred Gonzalez who fall through some immigration legal crack, or widows of US citizens?

Note- I married a Philippine citizen in 1989 and then went through the paperwork process for my wife to legally immigrate here. Leonita entered the US five months after we married, and we been together eighteen years. Another milblogger with a foreign born spouse is ROK Drop. GI rarely talks about personal stuff on his blog. I know a little through email exchanges we've had.

In the past I've advocated our military members getting expedited treatment when they are petitioning for their foreign born family members. They are serving our country, often in war zones, and I feel this benefit is due them. A service man or woman living overseas, often has to PCS leaving their family behind because the immigration isn't done. This separates a family for months, or even a year. Why can't those putting their lives on the line get better treatment from the government they are serving to protect?

Now for the Knucklehead.

A judge in June granted her a one-year extension to remain in the United States. If her legal status does not change by June 8, 2008, she will have 60 days to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation.

That's just fine, according to Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which lobbies for tougher laws on illegal immigration.

"What you're talking about is amnesty for illegal immigrants who have a relative in the armed forces, and that's just outrageous," he said. "What we're talking about here is letting lawbreakers get away with their actions just because they have a relative in the military. ... There's no justification for that kind of policy."

No justification? How about compassion? How about giving a soldier his or her due? They're putting their life on the line, the least this country can do is help their family.

Mr. Krikorian is just a sick, hate filled, bigoted, small minded man. The trouble is, there's far too many of them in the present immigration debate. Read this blogger who felt deporting a US citizen was just. Just watch when a story comes out about some foreign born person committing a crime. Bloggers jump to the conclusion they're illegal. Here's a recent example. Don't tell me there's no bigotry or racism at play when we're talking immigration policy.

A few spouses of US citizens isn't opening some flood gate. People who don't realize it are badly informed at the very least, or in Mark Krikorian's case, today's Knucklehead of the Day.

Also blogging on Eduardo and Mildred Gonzalez- Shaun at The Moderate Voice, John Cole at Balloon Juice,
Linked to- Bright & Early, Cao, High Desert Wanderer, Leaning Straight Up, Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson, Pirate's Cove, Right Voices, Right Wing Nation, Rosemary, Samantha Burns, Webloggin, Yankee Sailor,