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Although we have had an overindulgence of sappy Olympics background stories, this one is genuine. Henry Cejudo, 21 son of an undocumented migrant or like some like to call them, illegal aliens has just won the gold for the U.S. in the 55-kilogram wrestling event. His immediate reaction - “The United States is the land of opportunity. It’s the best country in the world and I’m just glad to represent it.” His mother worked two jobs to feed a family of six children on her own and Henry himself worked hard as a kid to put food on the family table.
Although his family and friends were in the stands during the final, his mom couldn’t make it understandably considering the country that his son won a gold medal for wouldn’t take her in (although the official reason is she is taking care of her grandchildren). While not condoning illegal immigration, Cejudo’s story reflects the majority of such immigrants who cross the border due to economic hardship and to avail of the opportunities that their native country did not accord them. Nativists would like us to believe that people like Cejudo are criminals and are a threat to the American society. I wonder if Bob Costas will cover this American dream story in tonight’s Olympic telecast.
But the important question here is will Lou Dobbs and his ilk now demand deportation of an Olympic gold medalist’s mom?
by Patrix | on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pm | 
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August 19th, 2008 at 7:30 pm reply
Cejuda should have been deported along with his criminal mother.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm reply
Indeed they should if his mother is still an illegal alien. Either you open the borders to everyone or guard them jealously. Otherwise, you are simply unfair to people who choose to respect the law.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:03 pm reply
David, thanks for not disappointing me with your prejudicial views. Now tell me why should a U.S. citizen (an Olympic gold medalist to boot) be deported?
Rohit, true but there have always been exceptions and now thanks to Henry’s achievement, I doubt deportation would be even mentioned. Doesn’t work with their sappy feel-good Olympics stories, you see.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am reply
I think this has opened an awesome alternative to millions of illegal immigrants to become Citizens here hehehe :D. Nonetheless, his family’s nationality or his own withstanding, you cannot disregard his achievements. And to do it after such hardships is a fairy tale story.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm reply
Supremus, I don’t think many would complain if that were offered as a way to citizenship. Right now, you are promised a path to citizenship if you join the army and fight the Iraq war. Also, you must have heard of those two African athletes that US ‘imported’ to boost their chances in the long-distance events. And of course, the gold-medal winning gymnastics have foreign-born coaches; one of them (coaches) even won the gold for USSR in 1988.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm reply
Proof? US Citizens can sponsor their parents for Green Cards without restrictions, and any past mis-demeanors are usually forgiven. How do you know Cejudo’s mother wouldn’t be “taken in” by the USA?
August 20th, 2008 at 4:05 pm reply
ravi, I wasn’t sure of that anyway. I didn’t know of the “special treatment” for parents of US citizens who are undocumented. In that case, why are they harassed so much?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm reply
Good sportsmanship should require that he be stripped of the Gold Metal and his family should be deported immediately. Another question to ask what would the other countries that participated in the Olympics have done? Would he have been allowed to take part and thus displace another US Citizen from the possibility of competing, possibly someone that came to this country after obeying the Law that we citizens are expected to obey here as well as in every other country in the world.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm reply
Moultrie, You make the mistake that most nativists make. Henry Cejudo is a citizen of the United States; his mother is an undocumented resident. So tell me again, why should a child be punished for his parent’s ‘crimes’? Other countries including the U.S. have ‘imported’ athletes from other countries to boost their medal standings. I’m sure most athletes have broken the law at some point in their lives even something as innocuous as a speeding ticket so why should past crimes let alone that of a parent be used in barring someone from competing?
PS. and it is Gold Medal not Metal.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:02 am reply
I’m very proud of Henry Cejudo and what he has been able to achieve coming from such a disadvantaged background and I’m proud that the United States consists of so many different people from so many different backgrounds. It is an important part of what makes ours a great nation. From what I understand, his mother came to the United States 30 years ago. This means she was likely granted amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and is now a legal resident of the United States. Also, the fact that Henry was born in the United States makes him a full fledged U.S. citizen. Anyone thinking that Henry has any less right than any other U.S. citizen would be advised to become acquainted with the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Look it up on Wikipedia.