Stories

Immigration/ Selective Service Dept's Unethical and Unprofessional

I immigrated to the United States at the a young age of 9 months old in 1971. In the arms of my father from Cuba after working 6 years in a communist work camp cutting sugar cane and fed worm infested rice.

I have lived in the United States my entire life. And have complied with the laws of this country and I have been a Permanent Resident since 02/73, living in Los Angeles since our arrival in 1971.

I have attempted to solve this problem on my own just to get tossed around through the different channels of bureaucratic red tape from both the Department of Justice and Selective Service to acknowledge the improper and inaccurate handling of my personal information. Which is concerning to me of how personal lives are affected by the mishandling of records and documents. This year after almost 8 years, with perseverance I finally obtained proof of my registration from the Selective Service.

In 1990 I enlisted myself with the U.S. Marine Corp to take part in and do my part in protecting this country in the Persian Gulf War, unfortunately I was denied due to an irregular right foot and being the only son of three. In 1995, I applied for citizenship and passed all questions and exams with flying colors.

In compliance with all requirements to take my oath, I later found out that after several months and years of inquiring and being told to wait due to the long process. In the mean time no response from the Department of Justice, not until years later I recieved notice after personally taking time from work and spending the entire day up to close to 12 hours at the INS office dealing with unprofessionally rude attitudes from employees who had not an ounce of people skills, much less understand or speak English properly.

I recall being tossed around from one line to another, just because the original agent wouldn't consider the time to listen to what the situation was. And after the many hours of dealing with the inappropriateness of those few that make the good agents look bad.

I was informed that I was denied my citizenship. And to top the day, I wasn't given a reason. I was told to get a lawyer and to please leave. In my mind I was fed up and tired with their treatment not only towards myself but of the hundereds of people around me. Whom are here for a better opportunity to live a better life. At this expense!

It is not worth the mistreatment and discrimination. So, I calmly stepped into first line that I stepped upto at 10:30 am after being there in line at 4:30 am. I spoke my mind out. Not until then did I get a direction to another line to wait in as to where to get an answer to this confusion.

After sitting in a waiting room for another 2-3 hours to see the rudest and coldest person I have ever met. This agent hands me a copy of my Citizenship applicaton and writes down a phone number and suggests I get a lawyer. So I went to solve a problem and left with the problem still pending. I later found out that. Allegedly there was no record of my registration with the Selective Service.

Knowingly that I had done so in 1990, I attempted to obtain my Selective Service registration number from the department and was unsuccessful for years of calling and getting hung up on or "accidently" disconnected, or just not calling at the right time because all agents are busy which seemed like anytime of the day was the wrong time. Not until this year, two months ago did I get an answer from a request I submitted years ago.

I have directed my case to Senator Barbara Boxer, she has forward this issue to the Department of Political Affairs in Washington D.C. Even if I don't get assistance from your service. I just want to state that it is sickening to experience discrimination from some few people who just don't want to do their job of servicing and helping others.

I believe that perhaps the problem is not them, instead it is who is hiring these people. It is obvious they are under qualified and are hiring based on their qualifications which are probably limited and fewer than yours and mine put together. I am not one to place judgement on people.

As I mentioned previously, that the bad outstands the good. That is the case in this situation, I can hope. Or else what is this coutry coming too, as the GREATEST country on earth. It kind of sounds like a circus slogan to me. I live in hopes that this situation will be settled before next year. THank you for your time.