[RubyPitbull]

RecCatholic, the sarcastic remarks thrown in here and there by you and your colleagues really don't help your cause here. Just because someone is obviously not interested in being solicited to your web site, doesn't translate that they shouldn't be interested in what is going on here on this thread they are subscribed to. Bickering with, making derogatory or sarcastic comments to the people on this web site is not a way to influence people to your way of thinking. All of us who are subscribed to this thread are very active on this web site, and just as you feel the need to speak out for and defend your friend, you will find all of us here closing rank when one of us is attacked.

Is it correct that Luci's son registered to vote in New Jersey? Have you questioned him about why he filled out the voter registration form where the first question on the form clearly asks you to check the "yes" or "no" box for "I am an American Citizen"? Or have you asked him what was going through his mind when he signed it where there is a large declaration to the left of the signature that states "I swear or affirm that: I am an American Citizen" in addition to "I understand that any false or fradulent registration may subject me to a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both pursuant to...."?

I have read Erhard's letter on "planetatheism". He appears to be a very bright and articulate man. I find this whole affair very baffling. I think it would be very wise for his lawyer to properly prep him to answer those questions prior to being interviewed by anyone in the media. Any journalist will ask those questions and his response will be pivotal to garnering the help he requires from the public and/or the government. Another thing that comes to my mind is if he is engaged, married, has children, or has a child on the way, that would help his case far more than a mother pleading for help for her 25 (or 26) year old son.

[shygrneyzs]

My question is - why are Christians or any sympathic and caring person supposed to sign this petition? Just because you say so? I still need proof of what I am signing - gullibility is a separate issue here and you are asking all of us to be that gullible and sign something. Any person, regardless of their professed belief or non belief is going to ask questions and want straight answers. A 25 year old is a man not a child anymore and should be able to handle his own affairs.

[rivalarrival]

To those of you who have been asking for evidence:

Luce has sent me a scanned copy of the notification from the INS. It is available here:
Notice from INS

Is it correct that Luci's son registered to vote in New Jersey? Have you questioned him about why he filled out the voter registration form where the first question on the form clearly asks you to check the "yes" or "no" box for "I am an American Citizen"? Or have you asked him what was going through his mind when he signed it where there is a large declaration to the left of the signature that states "I swear or affirm that: I am an American Citizen" in addition to "I understand that any false or fradulent registration may subject me to a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, or both pursuant to...."?

According to Erhard, he was never presented with this form. He claims to have signed a card that asked for basic identification information only. According to Luce, New Jersey has not presented a registration card with Erhard's signature. According to her, they claim to have destroyed this card after holding it for 5 years.

[RubyPitbull]

According to that letter, the Superintendent of Elections has proof that he signed a form. Erhard's attorney needs to get a copy of what INS has in it's possession if NJ has not presented a card to Erhard as proof. That letter states that he voted not only in 2002, but in 2004, and 2005. So, he was 20 when he first voted and was at least 23 when he last voted? Is that right or are they lying? Their lawyer certainly has his work cut out for him. Am I right to assume that he is writing a letter of appeal by January 7? As long as that is done, he won't be deported immediately. If the attorney does his job, they will give him more time to build a case. As I said earlier, good luck.

[rivalarrival]

According to that letter, the Superintendent of Elections has proof that he signed a form.

No, it says that the superintendent of elections has signed an affidavit to that effect. He has reason to believe this, seeing as how Erhard is/was registered. However, no such document has surfaced. I've been told that New Jersey keeps these records for only 5 years, and that the alleged document has been destroyed.

Erhard isn't the first permanent resident to have problems with INS over voting issues.

FOXNews.com - California Councilwoman Faces Deportation for Voting When Not a U.S. Citizen - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

This woman was born in Cuba, but has been in the United States since she was 1-year-old. She was never naturalized. She was elected to the Adelanto, California city council in 2004, and held office for 10 weeks before she discovered she had not been a citizen these past 39 years.

Then there's my sister's classmate. Everyone in his family has subsequently become naturalized but him: During his senior year in High School, one of his teachers made voter registration a mandatory component of her class. Only those students who would not be 18 by graduation were exempt from the policy. When he initially refused, she took him aside, handed him the form, and told him to sign it or fail the class. Now, INS will not process his citizenship request.

[RubyPitbull]

Rival, the letter states "A letter dated August 08. 2006, was received from the Superintendent of Elections.......attached to the letter was proof of your registering to vote and record of your voting in the General Election of 2002, 2004, and 2005."?? So you must have additional info that we are not privy to.? That is okay. I don't need any additional proof. I do believe he is in trouble with INS. I also am not someone who is completely in the dark about INS and other people who have voting issues or paperwork issues. I mentioned in my first post on this thread about a friend of mine who was deported. But, thanks for the additional info. Maybe it will help someone else here.

The fact is, these things do happen to a lot of people and they have to deal with it and defend it. That letter doesn't state he is being deported on January 7th. It is telling Erhard that he can request a review hearing on this decision within 30 days of the date of the letter (Dec 7). So, if his lawyer is any good, he will file all the forms required, give them all the info he can, cross his "t"s and dot his "i"s, maybe he will claim that there was never a "normal" application filled out and signed by Erhard in which any mention of being an American Citizen was included, and do whatever is necessary to convince them that Erhard deserves to get a review hearing. All of this will take INS a while to process and get back with another scheduled hearing date. Unless the lawyer is incompetent, Erhard is more than likely at the very beginning of the investigation process. Hopefully his lawyer will get a delay of decision so that he can do more fact finding, and get more people behind Erhard through whatever means he decides to use. Unfortunately, I won't be one of them. Of course, I don't think it is right to send him packing when we have so many people in this country legally and illegally who are breaking much more serious laws IMO. But I haven't changed my position from my initial post. I am not willing to put my name on a petition for someone I don't know and can't personally vouch for. Sorry, but that is how I have always operated and it has served me well all these years. But again, good luck to them.

[rivalarrival]

Ruby,

The notification talks about a letter from the superintendent of elections, not the affidavit Erhard allegedly signed. He claims that he did not sign such an affidavit, only a small card with basic identification information, and then only after being told that registration with selective service and a social security number were the only requisites.

Hopefully, pleading his case before an immigration judge will be enough. Would you leave it at that if it was your son?

In any event, thank you for your discourse and well wishes.