Political Officials - Undocumented Immigrants?

A former California Republican Party official who resigned last year from his $130,000/year position in a controversy over his immigration status had no valid visa or work permit during his high-profile career as a Washington lobbyist. The man is a Polish-Australian immigrant who is just now in the process of legalization after several years as an undocumented immigrant. Here is a link to the Wonkette post

He's got good company, our buddy Arnold the governor violated the terms of his visa and would have been deported if ICE had been notified. Instead, Arnold went on to become a legal resident, then citizen, and now he is our very own self hating governor.

Another self hating politician with an "undocumented past" is Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico who's mother was an undocumented immigrant.

Then of course there is Ayann Hirsi Ali who was an undocumented immigrant in Denmark who made it into the Dutch Parliment and in 2005 TIME Magazine labeled her amongst the 100 Most Influential Persons of the World. She now works and lives in the U.S. for a conservative think tank.

The point of this post is to highlight how the shadow population is hidden in plain sight. It isn't always the day laborer, sometimes it's our high paid lobbyists or politician. I also offer this up as supporting evidence about my statement in this post regarding "wealthy" undocumented immigrants.

Senator Pete Domenici

Click here for the full story

"During the heated immigration debate on Capitol Hill, some Republicans have portrayed immigrants as invaders, criminals and burdens to society. But for Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, the image that comes to mind is that of his mother and the day the authorities took her away.

It was 1943, World War II was raging, and federal agents were sweeping through Albuquerque hunting for Italian sympathizers. They found Mr. Domenici's mother, Alda V. Domenici, a curly-haired mother of four and a local PTA president who also happened to be an illegal immigrant from Italy. Mr. Domenici, who said he was 9 or 10 years old then, wept when his mother vanished with the agents in their big black car.

Now 73, Mr. Domenici surprised many of his colleagues when he stood up on the Senate floor last week and shared the story, which he has kept mostly to himself for much of his life."

His mother was brought to the US as a child and had this been the situation today she would have been eligible (provided she completed at least 2 years of college or joined the military) for the DREAM Act.

The sad irony is Pete Domenici voted against the DREAM Act only a couple months ago. I wonder if Pete let any of the hate mail labeling him an "anchor baby" contribute to such a blatant disregard of his heritage.

Click here for Sen. Domenici's orginal speech regarding his mother