You are Judge Judy - what would you decide?

[Citizen]

Here's a test for you.

You are a judge in a country whose soldiers are fighting overseas. One of your soldiers is missing, probably killed by the enemy. His buddy who was patrolling with him is found dead.

Back home his wife waits. She is 23. They have no children.

Now this is your dilemma:

She is an illegal. She entered your country undocumented. Her husband's high profile missing in action status has brought her into the public eye. The law says she must be deported. What do you do?

Here's a link to some background material that might help:

www.thebostonchannel.com/video/13540391 ... ml?taf=bos

[morryah]

give the illegal a break.

[Victor Meldrew]

Let her stay and give her a green card, her husband fought for his country (irresective of your opinion on Iraq, this is the case), is presumed dead. She is probably widowed, she deserves dignity, compassion and full support from the US state.

[corelli]

Well presumably the immigration judge will have to inforce the rules as they are but I would hope that the government would step in and give her permission to remain on humanatarian grounds. It would be a travesty should she be deported.

[NM_123]

Dance the funky chicken

[DaraghM]

Firm believer that if one volunteers to fight and defend a country as part of its armed forces they should of course be granted citizenship as should their families as a matter of course. This is just another chapter in the US's double-standards when it comes to immigration from south of the border - you can mow our lawns and fight our wars, but don't you DARE try to become a citizen.

[The OD]

Send her to Iraq?

[Odyessus]

If you were a judge, you would know the law ( not someone's opinion of what the law says ), and hear all the arguments from both side before making a decision.

[MichaelR]

Is it within the power of a *judge* to grant her leave to remain?

In Ireland, this seems to be in the power of the Minister of Justice. But I don't know how things work in the USA. The President can obviously pardon her for illegal entry, but can he issue her a green card?

[Rich OC]

The Military have actually contacted her legal team and offered to help her in any way they can. Should end up making a lot of money for the lawyers.