Land of Opportunity

The Roanoke Times

In increasing numbers, Hispanic immigrants are putting down roots in the Roanoke Valley. They're pouring concrete, opening hair salons and filling classrooms. Some employers, meanwhile, are attributing their success to this new labor pool. In this occasional series, The Roanoke Times explores the local impact of the national debate about immigration.
Recent Roanoke Times stories on Hispanic immigration have included:
gallery-immigrantsDuring a busy Friday night dinner waiter Jesus Malaga serves an armload of food to their Anglo customers. Malaga came to America four years ago from Mexico and, like many Mexican immigrants in Roanoke, first landed a job at El Rodeo.

December 31, 2006

As Congress wrestles with what to do about the estimated 12 million illegal Hispanic immigrants, friends and relatives keep showing up on the Roanoke doorsteps of those already settled here. The Roanoke Times documents the people behind the debate in this series of occasional articles titled “Land of Opportunity.”

Though some subjects were reluctant to have their names used and photographs taken out of fear of being deported, many believed that telling their stories would put a human face on a growing population that is still largely invisible — but which openly co-exists — in our community. In most cases, the newspaper has not pinpointed where the immigrants live or where they are employed.

Beth Macy

Beth Macy has been a features writer at The Roanoke Times since 1989. Macy gravitates toward stories that feature real-life struggles of ordinary people, with profile articles that have garnered national feature-writing awards and Virginia Press Association honors. She has published freelance articles in salon.com, The Christian Science Monitor and The Chronicle of Higher Education, and taught literary journalism at Hollins University.

Josh Meltzer

Josh Meltzer has been a photographer at The Roanoke Times since 1999. Earlier this year, Meltzer was named Photographer of the Year (Under 115,000 Circulation) by the National Press Photographers Association. Meltzer previously was a staff photographer at the Duluth (Minn.) News-Tribune for four years. In addition to his still photography, Meltzer has photographed, recorded, edited and produced more than two dozen video, audio and multimedia online presentations that have received awards from the Virgininia News Photographers Association and the Society for News Design.

In 2005, Macy and Meltzer teamed up to produce "An Unlikely Refuge," a multimedia series documenting the resettlement of Somali Bantu refugees in Roanoke. Their work won several national awards, including the 2006 Digital Edge Award for multimedia storytelling and the Associated Press Managing Editors award for online convergence.

Evelio Contreras

Evelio Contreras has been a reporter at The Roanoke Times since June 2005. He began as an editorial assistant in Metro and is now the community sports writer for the New River Valley Current, Neighbors and Sports. Contreras hopes to write narrative stories with a photographer's eye for detail. Before moving to Roanoke, Contreras was a desk assistant at The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS and worked as a sports editor of The News Gram in Eagle Pass, Texas. He graduated in June 2004 with journalism and philosophy degrees at Northwestern University.

Reporters: Beth Macy, Evelio Contreras

Photographer/multimedia: Josh Meltzer

Online designer: Amanda Hicks

Online producer: Jordan Fifer

Editor: Carole Tarrant

Multimedia editor: Seth Gitner

Print designer: Terri Macklin

Photo editor: Michael Stowe

Graphics: Grant Jedlinsky, Rob Lunsford

Copy editor: Alison Weaver

December 31, 2006

Far from home

By Evelio Contreras

Leonardo’s at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

A street light illuminates Leonardo’s face as he sits alone in his room watching a Spanish program on television. Leonardo moved to Roanoke illegally four years ago to help support his family in Mexico.
Photo gallery Open A street light illuminates Leonardo’s face as he sits alone in his room watching a Spanish program on television. Leonardo moved to Roanoke illegally four years ago to help support his family in Mexico.

It’s a Friday morning in mid-June.


There aren’t a lot of people. Maybe 30. But he’s waiting.

When will his number be called?

Leonardo’s dressed neatly in black jean shorts and a tucked-in white T-shirt. He’s boxy and built like a linebacker. His hair is thick like a dried paintbrush.

About this story

This is the last installment in The Roanoke Times' "Land of Opportunity" series. In this story, and in some previous installments, we have chosen to not fully identify subjects because such details could increase the risk of their deportation.

In this story, the subject is identified only by his first name, Leonardo. The reporter, Evelio Contreras, spent more than five months following the lives of Leonardo and his roommates in Roanoke. All of the subjects in the story spoke only Spanish, with the exception of government officials. Contreras translated the quotes into English at the time of reporting.

Contreras accompanied Leonardo to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Crossroads Mall to observe if he could obtain license plates. Contreras translated the conversation at the DMV, as well as the described documents, because Leonardo does not speak English or read in any language.

"I did not provide any answers Leonardo didn't have," Contreras said. "When we arrived at the DMV, I didn't see any translators — I didn't ask, either — so I decided to translate for him."

Contreras, 24 and a community sports reporter, brings a relevant background to this story.

"He [Leonardo] reminds me of my father, Evelio Sr., a 63-year-old semiretired construction worker living on the border of Texas and Mexico. He's not a U.S. citizen but a [legal] resident alien. He's from a different generation of Mexican construction workers.

"My father wasn't big on words but work. Leonardo approaches life similarly."


He works in construction. Most of his T-shirts are marked with white paint.

But not this one. This one is clean. He wants to look good.

Leonardo is at the DMV to see if he can get license plates for his car, even though he doesn’t have a driver’s license, and even though he is not in the country legally.

Other Hispanics in the Roanoke Valley pay strangers hundreds of dollars to help them get fake Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses. Leonardo has seen others get license plates some way, somehow. Usually through someone in Rocky Mount, he’s been told.

But he has already spent almost $600 on license plates that didn’t arrive.

Leonardo’s at the DMV in Crossroads Mall because he wants to do it right, or as right as he can under the circumstances.

Leonardo paces near the entrance, looking at the vanity plates on the wall. Man, he thinks, do those vanity plates look good. How about one of those?

Nah, he decides, just something simple. He just needs the plates. Until Christmastime 2008.

By then, he’ll be done working in the United States. By then, he’ll be home. With his wife and daughter in Mexico. With a new truck and a new home.

Minutes pass. Leonardo’s nervous.

A woman’s voice speaks over the loudspeaker.

It’s Leonardo turn.

| Car trouble »

Comments

Whatever happened to Karla Benitez Vandiver that you wrote about?

Posted by: cindy | November 14, 2007 11:13 AM

Well to me they shouldn't be here me and my husband worked in Roanoke for about 18 years and the company we worked for {BD} bought in immigrants, and out of the 10 or so that was working 1 could speak and they made more money and all of thems pay was on one check. Wasn't long after that I was hurt on a job and the people we worked wanted as to be on the job at 7 am and we was getting on the job at 7:30 am and we said we would just work 30 mins over everyone else and the head man told us his way or no way and so I was hurt and my husband didn't go back to work for them and I couldn't cause I was hurt. So I didn't get anything from the company or Workers Compensation cause the Company lied and said I didn't get hurt on the job. And they said they would like to have all immigrants working for them, so you can say the immigrants took my husband job and this isn't right for all of us cause we can't get jobs cause to immigrants for working the jobs. What has went with the USA. What a way to repay us nice people for helping them out! Why doesn't anyone have the backbone to report on what their presence is doing to our neighborhoods? ).....most of the hispanics in this area are not taking jobs that americans want...if american citizens were willing to work at these jobs for low pay and long hrs, & 6 & 7 day work weeks, then no one would be hiring foreigners for these jobs....i think we need to reassess our own values and priorities before we judge others....do you want to work 7-10 days in a row, 10+ hours each day and minimum or close to it wages?? Go back to your homeland.

Posted by: Nicole, WV | October 28, 2007 1:15 PM

legal seems to be a word that the roanoke news paper does not comprehend! where do they get off breaking the law, and why is all our judicial system in roanoke disobeying the laws that we as american citizens have to follow. our sons and daughters are fighting and dying to protect our rights and that means the little benefits we get,i have heard that roanoke is the name of the city that is recommended when they illegally come into the united states because they won't have to worry about anything because roanoke welcomes illegals with open arms! there is no border patrols looking for them! if they feel so good about coming to the united states,why don't they join the arm forces and give alittle back to this country instead of still supporting their countries by sending back all the money they make. it is true about the mexican restaurants because the owner of most of the mexican restaurants are owned by one man in roanoke and he bragged a while back in the story they wrote about him how proud he was that he contributed to roanoke's growing problem by bringing illegals over all the time! when they tired of his low wages,they moved on to other better jobs or better yet american benefits that are freely given to them when they apply for them because even social services feels sorry for them, and they are better qualified to get benefits that most americans have to fight to get! its not a matter of how hard they work its about obeying the law! come in legally, learn english, and obey the laws and atleast learn something about america, this is what most americans are saying. it a slap in the face to the ones that worked hard to be able to come legally to america!!!!where is the fairness!!we have alot of our young people coming out of high school not knowing what to do and would gladly do the jobs the illegals do if they were paid at least minimum wages, most of the construction,restaurant, and lower paying jobs are given to the illegals. how are our part of our younger generation suppose to live. i ask the roanoke newspaper to write stories about our hard working people in roanoke and turn the illegals in as the law states,i beleve that harboring them is an offense to your american readers!

Posted by: juana | May 22, 2007 4:41 PM

Okay...they need to feed their families and well, I wouldn't want to be in Mexico either, but the social security numbers they are buying could be yours. There is already a problem with American Citizens finding out that an illegal alien is using their SS number and they have ruined credit and are unable to collect social security. The reason the newspaper will run stories like these is too encourage other illegals to come and work for little money. The problems that come with it are not small though and the US will be paying for this cheap labor. Our government should be finding ways to make Mexico a better place to live for their citizens so they would like to stay and work in their homeland.

Posted by: Julie | May 9, 2007 10:33 PM

I do not find this posting worthy of the eminent place it gets esp since it is authoered by a Latino who would be biased. Maybe a short run, but not eternally. Doesn't the Times have anything more current to display?

Posted by: Edward Greer | May 3, 2007 12:55 PM

Illegal aliens acquire social security benefits through the theft of American social security numbers, birth certificates, etc. The individuals, who have had their personal information stolen, are not notified or compensated. Nor do the illegal aliens feel remorse or responsibility for using this information to buy homes, iPods, or cars, or ruining the credit of victims. They only feel that they should not be questioned and allowed access to rights not afforded to American citizens.

Being a poor American is not, as represented by previous writers, the inability to buy an iPod or get a new car, or the related disappointment. Have a look around the country and our state. I do not think the 800 employees released from the furniture plants in Pulaski and Galax are worried about iPods or new cars, but rather making a living. They would most likely appreciate job opportunities in factories, etc., but now have to compete with illegal aliens. The Wall Street Journal article produced an article related to benefits to an African American community following the Swift raids. Swift was forced to offer $7 to $9/hr after the raids. I am sure the 10 or so thousand Citi bank employees who are being released aren't shopping for new cars or iPods, either. Hurricane Katrina showed us that there are millions of our American friends and families that are struggling with much more serious daily concerns than an iPod or new car.

Illegal aliens are neither migrants nor suffering poor. They seem to be able to earn large sums of money in order to sneak in to the US. The US has bestowed billions of dollars to Latin American countries for development. Check the US Agency for International Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank project and funding lists over the past decades. These countries have responsibility for their citizens. And the illegals are citizens of other nations. They have a political and economic agenda within US that is designed only for hispanics. It is not designed to benefit the multicultural American population, poor or other. I have only seen Latin American flags during their asinine marches. American citizens have fought for more than 200 years for their employment and economic rights. American’s rights should not be altered to accommodate illegal aliens. Again, their respective countries are responsible for their welfare. The US is struggling to provide health care and basic services to It’s citizens. Now we have to support leaches.

On the bright side, the “illegal alien as a benefit and indispensible“myth is cracking. Write your elected representative and demand interior enforcement as well as border enforcement. Boycott businesses using illegal aliens.

Posted by: American's First | April 20, 2007 11:02 PM

The American people in this country need to wake up...what would you do if you had to have your baby at home because you had to walk 1 day to the nearest hospital, what would you do if it was your family that was starving...one day it just might be you...we all benefit from the back breaking work that these so called illeagals do. They are the ones who provide food on your table, build your homes, clean your office buildings, landscape your 3rd million dollar lake vacation home. People come here and don't speak English...well I bet your ancestors when they come to this country didn't either. These people deserve our respect not hatred and ignorance. Viva La Raza Hispana

Posted by: Lorrie Guzman | April 9, 2007 2:39 PM

Since the beginning of times, man has migrated to wherever he could find food. People who have never had their children starve in a Third World country should refrain from passing on judgement. Not many of us mind the cheap labor which supports major industries of our economy (construction, food, cleaning, farming, manufacturing, etc.) or the billions of dollars paid into Social Security through the fake ids undocumented workers use to work, but cannot use to claim government benefits? Yet, we'd secretely rather not "see" them. Survival is a human right, not a crime. Maybe a little soul-searching wouldn't hurt us much.

Posted by: Roxana Valencia | March 26, 2007 7:50 PM

Have been reading all the comments. Here in central Florida we have a bad time with people driving and killing people. They can't read the signs, they don't have insurance. Lord only knows where how they got a license if they even have one. My daughter was hit by a woman a few yrs back and the woman was driving her boyfriend's car, no insurance, no license. My daughter was six months along at the time. She had to see a doctor for over a year for her back being messed up from the accident. The woman and her boyfriend was here without a visa, no job, living on welfare etc. Needless to say my daughter had to pay for eveything, her vehicle to be fixed, her doctor and also had to miss work. Thank God the baby was okay when he was born.
I feel they need to stay in their own country until they can be legal. We should not have to keep paying them to be here.

Posted by: Nonia McQuay | March 5, 2007 2:18 PM

Americans and those from Mexico are all individuals. Some are loud and obnoxious, some are hard workers, some are lazy, some are selfish, others are out to protect their families. You find so many different types of people in all communities in all nationalities. So to group them together is inaccurate. As a parent, I would do just about anything to provide my child with a fair chance for a better life than what many of those people experience in Mexico. Most Americans can criticize these illegal immigrants because they have never even lived one day close to what these people have lived for their entire lives in poverty. Here, we think being poor means we don't have a brand new car, but a lot of "poor" people have satellite TV and game systems for their kids. Many of these immigrants (illegal or not) are concerned in providing the basics for their children or families. They are not risking deportation and the hardships of the journey to the US to spend money on game systems, stereo equipment, and I-pods. Until we actually spend years working for next to nothing doing back breaking labor in Mexico, none of us have the right to judge these people.

Posted by: MRG | February 20, 2007 2:52 PM

I was at the DMV the other day to get a title for a boat trailer from South Carolina. Approximately three weeks ago an employee at the DMV told me to get a bill of sale (South Carolina does not license/title small trailers)vin number, etc. She said it did not have to be notarized (which I did "just in case"). Upon my second visit with all the information supposedly needed the DMV staff turned me down for a title saying "this trailer could be stolen". I think it is just great that this country/state will give titles to illegal immigrants and treat someone like me (descendant of founding fathers going back to year 1650 what is now Suffolk, Virgina) like a piece of trash. We reap what we sow. When we are just as "third world" as central and south america just look in the mirror.

Posted by: Rick Sumner | February 9, 2007 4:14 AM

I have enjoyed reading the series on Hispanics in the Roanoke Valley. I am also a Hispanic American; I moved here from Chicago in 1992 and cannot believe how much Roanoke has changed since I moved here. In the 14 years that I have lived here, I have experienced nothing but kindness from my neighbors and the community. It is great to know that we as Americans can welcome and accept the different cultures that are moving into the area almost daily.

Posted by: Aurea Otero | January 27, 2007 7:49 PM

I am so SICK AND TIRED of everybody speaking of the negatives. So what if they have come here illegally, those who have something to say should go to the countries and try to live and take care of your family for less than $9 A DAY. I know you couldn't better yet I know you wouldn't. I am proud of my raza. They are strong people who aren't afraid of hard work unlike most of the lazy americans. Think of it though they have a right to be here, there are eight states that were originally Mexico and as everyone has forgotten the Native American Indians were here first their land was stolen away by the white man who came here and claimed the land as theirs and oh my, that means they were immigrants then weren't they. So stop your crying and get over it. I myslef enjoy going into a store and hearing spanish its a romantic language. Instead of saying something about it try learning the language yourself. If you took the time to learn someting about those who are here you would learn they want the same things as you and that we all as human beings have alot in common. THE FOLLOWING IS FOR ROSA--there are alot of latin stores here in Roanoke there is one that is located on Williamson Rd called La Bodeguita Hispana near KFC and its a mini market I'm sure you will find all that you are looking for and if not they will be able to tell you where else you can go to find what you need I hope that helps you. VIVA LA RAZA

Posted by: Jenni | January 24, 2007 11:12 AM

Legal immigrats are ok, but remember what the word ILLEGAL means, criminal, law breakers. I moved to Roanoke from a town close to Atlanta and all I can say to you "Coming to your Town". If this is not stopped then you might as well start speaking spanish and get a tank to drive cause they will run you over and keep on going.
Another thing why is the news paper here trying to make the illegals look like they are just trying to have a better life, when most are just making money to send home and they will go back in a few years themselves, they do not want to become America. Some even want to take America and give it to Mexico.

Posted by: IG | January 17, 2007 10:41 AM

It's refreshing to read comments from people who are taking a stand to defend themselves and their city. In reading, Beth Macy's article this week, I see that it ended with a "Happily Ever After" theme. However, I can't help but wonder, where's is Child Protective Services in all this housing overcrowding? In my experience in the Social Work field, it's a violation for children to even share a bedroom with a sibling of the opposite sex, if over a certain age. There's also a person to bedroom ration rule. So, what gives here? Are they excempt from that too? What about the "deaf child" sign, the "one way" sign or the "children playing" sign that they are driving around without a license and can't read? Don't forget, when they run through the stop sign and hit your car, and have no insurance, guess who's uninsured premium will be footing the bill-YOURS! YES! Us legal American's are angry over the "special treatment" and "empathy" that's plastered all over the paper for illegals in our community. I'm glad someone mentioned Frontier Apts. There's already been 1 murder there and if I remember correctly, wasn't that a communication problem involving -not speaking english?

Posted by: George | January 14, 2007 12:41 PM

I don't think the comments written here are fueled by hate, but by anger. Anger because American's are tired of the double standard. We legal citizens have to follow all the laws of the US and the illegal aliens seem to be exempt from those rules. This city has a serious problem with illegal aliens and absolutely nothing is being done about it. Let me give an example. A friend of mine went to court today for a speeding ticket and waited 3 hours to get her ticket resolved. Why? She said there were more than 25 Hispanic individuals receiving $25.00 fines for driving without a driver’s license. But the judge didn't even attempt to ask if they were legal or look at any documentation. They had to have interpreters to speak for them. This is wrong. This same person's daughter had to renew her driver's license and because of a ticket, she couldn't renew her license. Then when she got the ticket resolved she had to provide her birth certificate. Does anyone see my point here?
Lastly, if immigration officials went to Frontier Apartments they could clear the whole place out.
Roanoke wake up and take care of this rapidly growing problem. This is a wonderful country to live in, however come her legally. I work hard and so does my husband. We pay taxes, state, local and federal. We pay for insurance, life, health and car,the list goes on and on. However, we pay for the American dream the legal way.

Posted by: Kelli | January 12, 2007 5:38 PM

By now you surely realize that the majority of your readers do NOT think illegal immigrants should be here. I don't understand why you continue to portray them as some kind of heroic people who are doing us a service. The old " they do jobs that Americans won't" has been disproven by the workers who lined up to take jobs they left when they were picked up by ICE.
I have a nephew who has laryngeal cancer but can't get financial aid because he made $400.00 too much last year. If he were an illegal he would get all of his treatment free compliments of the American tax payer. Is that fair?
I say legal immigrants welcome - illegals go home!

Posted by: Shirley Durrant | January 12, 2007 10:47 AM

Wonderful, I have just sent all the attached pages to my group in Carpentersville, Illinois!

We have a group and we are trying to change the mood of live and let live. I have almost been hit at the intersection on my street 5 times in 5 weeks. They don't care for the laws! Never will, why should they, break the law, run back to Mexico or go to some other poor darn village that can't deal with it. Pass some laws, get on your congress persons back and stay there.

Posted by: Dennis Carr | January 11, 2007 9:50 PM

I have no problem with immigrants... most if not all of us fall into that category one way or another....

BUT... ILLEGAL IMIGRATION is WRONG.... I see no excuse.... and am disappointed that the Roanoke Times spent so much time on stories about Illegals... if you want to tell us about people who have legally come here and are working and trying to improve their lives you might do better than focus on illegals.. there are many immigrant groups in the Roanoke Valley [Somalian, Bosnian etc] who don't cause the disention and neighborhood issues that the illegal Hispanics are causing... WHY.. most of us accept that people have the right to come to this country for sanctuary or opportunities.. but we also expect that they will do so legally... Not simply by walking across a border to our south........

Not that you care, but don't expect me to be a subscriber or patron of your paper any longer... I am through with you patronization of Illegals.

Posted by: Lisa | January 10, 2007 8:56 PM

So don't be surprised when "Leonardo" or someone else like him slams into your car at an intersection because he has no knowledge of driving regulations, can't read traffic signs etc., has no insurance to cover the damage to your car and possibly yourself. But wait. Your insurance can kick in and cover things. Why should the illegal "immigrant" have to pay for insurance when you already do?

Posted by: Joe Amriss | January 10, 2007 1:49 PM

RE: the comment from LB- You forgot one word which has repeatedly shown up that IS the PROBLEM Here..."ILLEGAL" Latinos. LEGAL immigrants that have to equally abide by the same laws and pay taxes, are NOT an issue whatsoever. If supporting thiefs and criminal activity is ignorant, then so be it.

Posted by: George Hill | January 9, 2007 11:44 AM

I find it so depressing that there are so many ignnorant people like the ones that have posted comments regarding this article. We are all immigrants in one way or another, so stop trying to attack Latinos.

Posted by: LB | January 8, 2007 4:48 PM

Speaking from experience and I hate to say it, but the old "I told you so", will come into play in the future for those of you that support illegal immigrants moving into Roanoke. As you drive around Roanoke look around you, especially Williamson Rd and Hardy Rd in Vinton areas. Do you see an increasing amount of Hispanic stores opened up? Ask yourself, if they are coming over here with nothing, working in all these very low paying jobs, which the rest of us lazy roanokers won't work at, and sending everything that they earn back home, how can they possibly afford to open up all these stores? Gov't Grants, maybe? Which we help fund. It seems as if DMV isn't the only State Agency willing to bend the rules. How much red tape do you think the rest of us would have to go through to open up our own business or have the up-front money to do it? BB&T offers "easy", meaning little or no ID verification checking for them. Maybe, like DMV, getting a loan with a low paying job or no job is a breeze. But, maybe one day in the future you will get to be a neighbor to the 20 family members in one house and get angry when you can't find a place to park or have to put up with noise all night. I'd hate to say "I told you so." But, sometimes when you open up your heart and your community to anyone and everyone, chances are good that you'll have some regrets.

Posted by: George Hill | January 8, 2007 10:25 AM

I read some of your comments about illegal mexicans working in your area.I dont know much about your area but I sometimes read the paper online because my son is living in Covington. He met a girl on the internet and moved there and when the relationship didnt work out, he decided to stay.He had more work there then he did in NY. He is learning disabled , not physically strong and went to a vocational school where he learned factory work.The day he obtained his own apt , he was laid off!My son is black and white. He says he now knows what a red neck is. He has been for interviews where theperson wouldnt shake his hand in disgust. Coming from NY,the melting pot, this behavior is rare. I understand that there is a high unemployment rate. Ilegal people are willing to work very hard, take the abuse from other workers and their boss, live in substandard conditions to survive.I dont see the unemployed so called americans lining up for those jobs. My son said he found such laziness there; they rather live with a girl who gets welfare for her kids then work because its minimum wage, and this is all races.There is just as many rowdy drunken white people piling into their pick up trucks in the walmart parking lot with their 12 packs of Buds than there are mexicans, who work harder to survive,and may need just the same to to remind themselves that they too can enjoy something more.
The point that is missed here is that IT is the IMMIGRANTS that discovered this country and developed this country and its on their backs that have made the average white of middle class America successful.

Posted by: jean fitch | January 6, 2007 11:35 AM

THANK YOU-J. GARVER! It seems as if the Roanoke Times is overlooking the rest of it's citizens who've had to make sacrafices and work hard to get ahead. And for the record, my comments are not by any means "hate motivated". But, here we go again with the "poor victim" mentality. Local citizens are simply fed-up with illegals CHOOSING to move on in to Roanoke ILLEGALLY. Then they want to whine about how hard they got it with low pay and long hours. Come on! Do us all a favor and put your story on the Lifetime Channel and keep it out of the paper that we read everyday. After all, if any of us do anything illegally, we have to pay the price of the consequences that come with it. Just so you know...A lot of us also live without Health Insurance because we can't afford it either.

Posted by: George | January 5, 2007 10:41 AM

I was recently offered a job in Roanoke, and so took to the internet to research the area.

Imagine my surprise at seeing the leading newspaper in the area aiding and abetting criminal activity. What I am referring to is the article about "Leonardo" in the "Land of Opportunity" series on the front page of the Times.

So now I'm wondering, if I take the job and move to the area and decide to sell drugs, will Mr Contreras be my front man? After all, I'm just trying to get ahead in life, and I hear selling drugs makes people a lot of money.

If I decide to go into the child porn business when I get there, will Mr Contreras hide my name from the police, as he has hidden the name of people in the article here illegally? After all, I'd just be trying to get ahead in life and make my life better.

One of the more galling issues about this particular article is that I made a trip to the DMV about two weeks ago as well. I recently retired from a 22 year career in the Air Force, having served my last three years overseas. Needless to say my license, issued in Virginia years ago, was expired. I was told that I would have to take the basic drivers exam, just as if I were 16 and getting my first license again. And I was also told that I needed a valid license in order to register my vehicle in VA. I now know that I don't need to do any of that "By the book" stuff. All I need do is to come by the Roanoke Times and get Mr Contreras to go to the DMV with me, and all will be good.

On a broader note, and I hope something like this never happens, but I wonder what Mr Contreras would have to say if "Leonardo", whom he helped stay under the radar of police detection by getting Virginia license plates for his vehicle, cruised by the "Children at Play" sign (that "Leonardo can't read) and ran over a young child? I wonder what he would feel knowing he contributed to something like that?

I must say I was gratified by most responses posted here, pointing out the fact to Mr Contreras that "Leonardo" is here illegally to begin with. Rules and laws seem to have less meaning to society today for some reason, at least with some people.

And for those sticking up for this law breaker and others like him, I highly suggest you do some research on the effects of illegal immigration, especially along the border states, where hospitals are going bankrupt and schools are headed downhill due to overcrowding by illegals.
Then ask yourself whether or not you want that here.

In 2004 alone, Virginia taxpayers spent an additional 453 million dollars on education for illegal immigrant children. Think that money could be used elsewhere? I do.

Legal immigrants - Welcome to America

Illegal immigrants - Go home

Posted by: J.Garver | January 4, 2007 4:02 PM

Reading these comments, I can't help but wonder:


Are these hate-motivated comments? We go from talking about illegal immigration to bashing personal lifestyles. For the record, is it "Legals vs. Illegals" or "U.S. vs. Mexico"?


Why are we here illegally?
Because Mexico sucks, and the process for entering the U.S. legally is worse than the process of getting tags, a bank loan and a single-parent adoption all wrapped up into one.

Here's a thought: FIX MEXICO!
We can send thousand of U.S. troops and billions of dollars to Iraq to "help" with their government, but we make no effort to fix the corruption in Mexico's government. If we fix, or "help" clean up Mexico's government, we wouldn't have to worry about so many people sneaking into the U.S.


If you think getting tags for your vehicle is time-consuming, costly, mind-numbingly meticulous and unforgivingly detail-dependent, you should try applying for permission to enter the United States from Mexico legally. At least you can get tags the same year you apply for them.

BUILD A BORDER WALL?
Yeah, right. Who do you think they're going to get to build it?!

Posted by: Pepito | January 4, 2007 12:14 PM

You know, I dont know why some of you have to be so discriminating like you are. Most of the Mexicans that come from Mx illegally , come to basically get head in life. In their county , their president is the only rich one there and the people who work for him also. In there county the wage has been the same for many decades. There is no help there like their is here. If you want medical help,there you have to have money for forget it. Basically where it comes down to. Is that many illegals cross the border to have what they call a betterlife. For their children to grow up not in poverty. There are alot of people also from Asia,African and more other places. That also come illegally. Stop discriminating against mexicans. I think if they work , they should pay their taxes, our government needs to make some kind of plan to let them say and pay. It would cut alot of problems. Also not all criminals are from mx. That can be solved if the immigration here would take the time to THROUGHLY investigate anyone who wants to became a US citizen.

Posted by: Txborn, but raised in Michoacan | January 4, 2007 3:40 AM

Jamie K. it sounds as if you haven't been around a lot of Blue Collar "American" workers. There are a LOT of American Males and Females working in HARD LABOR jobs with long hours and low pay! If workers are not paid fairly or discriminated against, there are laws to protect them. If Hispanics would come here LEGALLY, then they would be entitled to use those laws for their own benefit. Don't you realize they are hurting our labor market by showing employers they can get away with paying very low pay? Illegal Hispanics KNOW the hardships and obstacles they are up against when they CHOOSE to bring their butts over here. So STOP with the "poor victim" whining because there's a LOT of us law abiding hard workers, who don't feel one single bit sorry for them at all. Oh, and guess what, last year I worked a hard-labor day job from 5:30am to 6:30pm outdoors-in rain,snow,wind and heat, Then worked a second job from 9pm to 1am to support my family and pay my bills. I hardly saw my family but that's the SACRAFICES that I and many of my fellow American Citizens make everyday. Now's who's judging who?

Posted by: George Hill | January 3, 2007 9:52 AM

It's funny, Leonardo says that he likes the order and the laws of this country, but he is breaking the law in order to get those benefits (go figure!), and no, the US dollar is not 10 times bigger than the Mexican Peso. An average house with 3 rooms in Roanoke cost $250,000.00, and the same house in Mexico cost $250,000.00 US dollars).
I definitely disagree with illegal immigration, I am an immigrant myself, but being in line for 20 years until I meet all the requirements. They said: "your ancestors immigrated to this country, so why we can not do it"? well, if that would be the case, why we don't chose the piece of land that we want, as our ancestors did it before?

Posted by: JL | January 3, 2007 9:11 AM

I agree! I am sick and tired of the media writing articles in favor of the "poor Hispanics and their hardships." I say if the government doesn't do something soon to send these ILLEGAL aliens back unless they get their required citizenship, there is going to be a showdown!

Posted by: Susan Smith | January 2, 2007 7:33 PM

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and the reporter should be commended for doing such a good job. I have lived as an american in other countries where i didn't speak the language and could not hold a job...even as a volunteer... becuz i was not a citizen of that country....(only my hsb. had a work visa)...its very, very hard to not understand the conversations going on around you and to be viewed with suspicion just because you are a foreigner, even if you are legal....i now have neighbours who only speak spanish or who speak very little english and i try to speak to them with the little spanish i have learned and to be kind and helpful when possible...i understand that perhaps they do things differently in their culture and that different does not mean "bad"....one of the things that really struck me was how hard these people work and how they are willing to live on a poverty level in order to send money back to their families...how much they sacrifice to make the lives of the ones they love better.....
in one of the earlier responses someone said that at least our ancestors came over LEGALLY......when the europeans who first came here to become the first (white) americans there were no laws about legal or illegal immigration and these ancestors proceeded to just take over what lands they wanted and kill off the people who were already here! let's not be silly! i remember when my state achieved statehood......and the history of the white americans who killed the local natives to achieve their goals for their own economic prosperity, not that of the locals....and lets not forget how these same ancestors imported people from other countries to do their scut work, (i.e.importing chinese laborers to build their railroads becuz they did not want to do it themselves).....most of the hispanics in this area are not taking jobs that americans want...if american citizens were willing to work at these jobs for low pay and long hrs, & 6 & 7 day work weeks, then no one would be hiring foreigners for these jobs....i think we need to reassess our own values and priorities before we judge others....do you want to work 7-10 days in a row, 10+ hours each day and minimum or close to it wages??

Posted by: JamieK | January 2, 2007 5:55 PM

Woudn't it be interesting to hear DMV explain themselves on this one? I vote to send reporters to DMV and demand an explanation! Better yet, I think us legal drivers should show up with the article in hand and ask why we get harrassed with nitpicky forms and questions and threatened with suspending our license if we fail to notify them that we switched insurance carriers.

Posted by: George Hill | January 2, 2007 2:37 PM

This country was founded by immigrants, but there is a major difference between the immigrants who founded this wonderful country and the illegal aliens entering now. At least our founding fathers came here LEGALLY!

If you would like to come to our country I agree whole-heartedly that you should be able to, if you follow the proper procedures. The illegal aliens now come over to our country and deplete our resources while they send most of their earnings back to Mexico. They are to blame for this, but there should also be blame placed on the employers that hire them to work and the landlords who allow them to rent.

I am glad that the Roanoke Times chose to showcase this situation and how even our government run Department of Motor Vehicles is enabling these illegal aliens. Perhaps a follow up article should be included in the days to come with ways to stop perpetuating the never-ending sea of illegal aliens coming into our country and our own backyards. If this continues we will no longer be known as the United States of America, but Mexico Norte.

Posted by: April Johnson | January 2, 2007 1:23 PM

In response to the comment of Ray Garcia; I do respect your opinions and your views. So, I hope you will do the same. Yes, I do pay taxes to the gov't and to hire interpreters to train our police,rescue,teachers and employers to speak Spanish. And I do eat at mexican restaurants, only because I love mexican food, even though a past newspaper article pointed out that by doing so, We LEGAL citizens are helping to support their families and helping them move their family members here. Which is fine IF they do it legally. HOWEVER, what infuriates others and myself in the Roanoke Valley are articles such as this one that makes us question why we have to abide by laws and they don't. Is that right? I waited at DMV for over an hour with a signed, legal, bill of sale and was turned away because a box wasn't checked! Yet, they can drive license and insurance free. And this other crap of they're here to do the jobs that "we won't do"! Whatever. I did roofing and hard labor construction for 12 years, worked cleaning out fecal in dog kennels and worked in 2 poultry plants alongside americans, mexicans, asians, ect. And the employers who train them are guess what, Americans.. who have been "doing that job!" So, do you understand the hostility from the community? We abide by the laws, pay taxes, work in hard jobs. Yet, the medias message is that "we are all lazy" and therefore we should "welcome illegals with open arms" so they can help us useless people out! Now, they are permitted to break all kinds of laws and drive on our roads when they can't even read the road signs. That's dangerous! Shame on DMV and the media for glorifying criminal behavior. As for the partying, I respect my neighbors enough to not have 20-30 people at my house-partying or having 10 of my family members grouped together, living with me with 4plus cars, taking up other people parking spaces. If they want respect then they should earn it....LEGALLY.

Posted by: George Hill | January 2, 2007 11:18 AM

As I read the recent newspaper article, "Far From Home", I'm sitting here wondering why is this man DRIVING an automobile on our roads with no driver's license; why is this man driving an automobile on our roads with NO insurance; why is this man driving on our roads when he can't even speak or read English (do road signs mean anything??). What happens to the law-abiding citizen when "Leonardo" has an accident with the car he isn't supposed to be driving because he has no license and insurance? Who is going to pay for those damages? What if he kills someone driving that automobile? Since he is illegal, who is going to pay HIS hospital bills? Why, of course, it's the law-abiding AMERICAN citizen!! Duh! So according to this article in The Roanoke Times, Leonardo will be driving ILLEGALLY until Christmastime 2008!!! Where are the authorities on this one? I think it's time to quit 'playing nice' and send these people back to Mexico. Why is The Roanoke Times trying to play the sympathy card with this guy? Where are the immigration authorities? Why wasn't a red flag raised at the DMV when a non-English speaking/reading person tries to get tags and is asked for a social security card (none), a driver's license (none), form of identification (none). They should have hauled his butt off then and shipped him back to Mexico!

Posted by: Bren | January 1, 2007 6:57 PM

I can understand the way people fell about illegal alian's in this country, but I am also an alian to, with a resident card or you can call it a green card if you like. But I dont have any proble with them coming to work here, and do the job's that regular americans do not want. I do think that they should learn how to speak englesh so that they can comunicate with other people, and to better themself's, and to Mr Hill, I have seen regular american's also getting out of their cars with 12pack's of beer. and how have you help any of them out. Just couse you pay tax'ex, face the fact that you still have to pay tax'ex ether way, just like I do. Mr Hill I respect your thoughts like I know you will respect mine, just keep in mind that they also have to raise a family just like us

Posted by: Ray Garcia | January 1, 2007 6:45 PM

As i read your story again on Leonardo I was feeling good about the young man trying to do whats right.but as I read it again and again I was shocked by the fact that DMV would issue tags
to a person who says to them that they do not have a valid Virginia license.but want plates to put on a automobile.It does not make since that the DMV would issue tags knowing that the person
does not have valid Virginia license it appears
to me that the young man plans to drive the car
even thou he has not permit as a american citizen
they would be prepared to lock me up if I attemped to get plates for a car .if I didnt have a valid Virginia license If he has no license am sure he doesnt have insurance on that car

Posted by: James Howard | December 31, 2006 7:47 PM

I'm so tired of hearing about these illegals and how our community is "helping them out" and bending over backwards to conform to "their" language. When I lived in Harrisonburg, groups of them lived in one house. They were very loud and inconsiderate. Last week, driving on Tazwell Ave there was a house with 20-30 hispanics ON THE PORCH partying and more of them getting out of their cars with 12pks of beer. I'm sure the neighbors were not happy. What a way to repay us nice people for helping them out! Why doesn't anyone have the backbone to report on what their presence is doing to our neighborhoods?

Posted by: George Hill | December 29, 2006 11:16 AM

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