Girl, 4, personifies our immigration mess
Emily Ruiz, who lives at an undisclosed location on Long Island, was returning to Brentwood from a trip to Guatemala with her grandfather in March 2011 when they were stopped by customs officers at Dulles International Airport. Credit: AP
There's no good reason to deny a 4-year-old U.S. citizen entry into her homeland. Especially when her parents are here waiting for her. But that's what happened to little Emily Ruiz of Brentwood recently when she returned to the country from Guatemala with her grandfather.
Her story is one absurd result of a broken immigration system in need of reform.
Emily was born in the United States, but her parents are illegal immigrants. Her grandfather has a valid visa but, due to a 2-decade-old immigration infraction, was detained at an airport near Washington, D.C. That created a dilemma; what to do with Emily? The answer should have been, reunite her with her parents.
But David Sperling, the lawyer representing Emily's father, Leonel Ruiz, said officials told his client the only options were to send Emily to detention in Virginia or back to Guatemala with her grandfather. Terrified, Ruiz, who speaks little English, chose Guatemala.
Yes, the country needs to stop illegal immigration and better deal with those already here. But this was a needlessly callous way to treat frightened parents worried about the well-being of their little girl. And it showed too little concern for the child.
Emily is with family in Guatemala and due to return to Brentwood next week, a good end to a worrisome episode. Immigration reform with a path to legalization, would allow millions of people, like Ruiz and his wife, to emerge from the shadows. And that would make citizens like Emily less vulnerable to ham-handed bureaucracy.
