Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 8:29:49 AM

I wonder how many of us would not consider our grandkids or our grandparents to be close family ties to us?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 10:21:28 AM

I suppose it depends on the context.  Regarding immigration I would say no and here is why.  It's like a pyramid scheme.  Man comes over, brings wife and kids.  Then brings parents.  They then bring their other children with their spouses and children.  The spouses of their children then bring their parents over.  Their parents then bring their children and their spouses and children and so on and so on. I can't put my parents on my health insurance as immediate family.  They are considered my extended family in so many other ways and immigration should be no exception.

Name:	Buteye -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 11:17:23 AM

A very logical response.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 11:56:04 AM

It is clearer to Buteye than to me.

Explain again. It is not  parents that is the issue...it is grandparents. You can't put either your parents or grandparents on your insurance as immediate family. Yet, parents are allowed in but not grandparents.

Name:	au67 -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 2:54:48 PM

Disregarding the immigration issue, have you ever checked on the legal rights of grandparents as it pertains to their grandkids?  Generally speaking, it's very limited and can vary from state to state.  You have to prove to the courts you are very close to your grandkids and have a beneficial relationship to them for contact/visitation rights in family disputes.  Extended family can get in the tall weeds very quickly.

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 7:32:46 PM

I appreciate the responses and 'slighty' understand what you are saying.  I guess I'm reducing it to a personal level (and, after all, we are talking about real people).  I have warm and loving memories of my grandparents and can't imagine, if I were legally in the USA and able and wanting to sponsor them and house them, that they would not have been allowed to enter (or even visit) by my government.  And....well...need I talk about my grandkids?  To me, they'll always be 'close family ties'.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 8:29:04 PM

When a person makes the decision to leave his existing country (situation) he makes that decision with the clear knowledge he is breaking all ties, family, friends, loved ones......all, to move away....for whatever reason.  Yes, he may miss those in his previous life, but he has absolutely no reason to think he a "right" to invade his new country with others....for any reason.  If he wants grand children, grand parents, or anyone else close by, then move back where you came from.....the answer is that simple.  You made the decision for a new life, live with it, or go home.....got it.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 8:34:21 PM

I grew up very close to my grandparents.  But if I were here illegally, I would realize that I had made a choice and family would suffer as a result  If I were here legally, I woud realize I had made a choice and my family might suffer. 

Life is full of choices.  I agree with MM.

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 8:56:55 PM

Do you (not the personal 'you') all know the difference between an immigrant and a refugee?  I am not proud to admit that I didn't really know the difference until recently.  I could fill this page with what a refugee is and what he/she has to go through to be accepted as a refugee and the reasons why that is the designation.  They really don't have a lot of choice.  If they are fortuate to arrive here without family, it is a horrendous punishment to not be able to have grandparents (if they qualify) join them.  Please, do a bit of research.  And also do some research as to the contributions the refugees have made to our country.  Also, my grandson was a student for a year in France.  I was fortunate and happily able to visit him and meet his roomates and see his apartment.  That was great.  There are so many immigrant students in the USA........sadly, now not all grandparents can visit them.  'Nuff said from me.  It's just very sad to me.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 9:13:09 PM

i guess I am just not feeling you.  I know the difference between a refugee and an immigrant.  It's harder on refugees, because most of the time, they are fleeing politcal oppression.  In most cases, grandparents choose to stay behind.  In the case of immigration, the family makes a decision to immigrate.  They know that they are leaving their other life behind. 

I don't know why you find this so sad. 

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	6/30/2017 11:20:52 PM

Well GF, you see its only the smart Republicans and Trumpelthinskin himself that are smart enough to know that its yo grandaddy that is very likely to be a terrorist while yo daddy loves America.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	7/1/2017 9:00:31 AM

So you are old enough to have grandkids but just finding out the difference between immigrant and refugee? I will type real slow so you can try to keep up. Use your favorite search engine and find historical pics of refugees. There are plenty out there. You will see lines of old folks, children and women with very few millinery aged males (mam). The reason, since you seem to lack critical thought processes, is that they are fleeing war or pestilence brought on by disaster, natural or otherwise. Why? Because the MAM's stay behind to try and overcome whatever the old, weak and sick are fleeing from.

  Now look at pics and video of the obammy are refugees. What you will see is lines dominated by MAM's. They are not refugees in any sense of the word. They are invaders sent forth on a global diaspora to recruit and conquer. You can argue any humane reason you desire for allowing this to continue, but none hold up when comparing to traditional refugees. Also traditionally refugees want to flee just far enough to be safe, not half way around the globe, because they desire to return home ASAP. Hence refugee camps usually end up just across borders. The refugees tended to stay there, not demand transport to another continent with very liberal welfare policies. These are invaders, not immigrants nd certainly not refugees.

  Interestingly I read a week or so ago that Europe, especially Germany, has an issue with these "refugees" who were granted status and welfare benefits for fear of persecution and retaliation if they are forced to return "home" are using the benefits provided to purchase plane tickets back home to visit family and friends, and mosques and Imans and  terrorist training camps no doubt. If one feels threatened if forced to return, one of the main reasons to be granted refugee status, why would one get on a plane to go back to where they live in fear? Rhetorical question Casey. I'm sure you still don't get it. Go back to wherever you "learned" the difference between refugee and immigrant and learn a little more. Nobody is anti-immigrant or anti-refugee as long as they a true immigrants and refugees that abide by the rules that society and governments have put in place to protect everyone, particular their own citizens to whom governments owe their only allegiance.

  Bottom line is yes, blood relatives are "close family ties" but that doesn't mean we owe them a family reunion at the expense of taxpayers. If an immigrant or a refugee wishes to maintain close family ties they are free to return home and visit them all, just don't come back claiming to be a refugee.

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	7/1/2017 10:41:13 AM

When insults start, conversation and understanding stop.  

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	7/1/2017 11:37:02 AM

GOOD!  See ya 'round.....

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Close family ties
Date:	7/3/2017 9:05:56 AM

It's not like you can never see them.  All it means is that you can't sponsor them to come here with all the consequences of them then sponsoring their children and so on.  You can always go visit them or they can visit you for extended periods of time.