A real life "Born in East L.A." story

Pedro Guzman is a US citizen wrongfully deported to Mexico. Luckily his story had a happy ending. But it should never have happened in the first place.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Guzman is an American citizen, but when he was arrested in May, a mental impairment may have prevented him from convincing immigration authorities of his legal status. So, rather than accord him his rights, the authorities assumed he was in the country illegally, took him to Tijuana and left him there. Desperate to bring him home, his family pleaded with the American government for help. The government refused.

Guzman's journey remains hard to reconstruct, but he eventually stumbled upon a border crossing in Calexico, where he was detained. Rather than admit their error, the authorities locked him up for missing probation hearings -- hearings he missed because the government had deported him.

Guzman was released, at last, on Tuesday, miraculously ending his three-month odyssey. For those who turned him out of his country because they couldn't understand him and assumed that he was foreign, Guzman's story should stand as a reminder of what happens when the hardhearted command America's borders.

This is Mai

Hello!
It's too late, but I managed to write here.
Mimu told me how to link here, so I write this now.

I have the same question with Misato.
I couldnt get the meaning of "Born in the east L.A."(if it's the west L.A., I'm sorry;)
Some of you got it the meaning?
If you did, please tell us!

I couldnt attend the making up class, because of part-time job.
I wanted to go...I'm sorry.
I'm looking forward to speaking with my team mate next class.

Some Questions about the movie

I watched this movie but I can't understand what they were doing. I tried to hear what they are speaking, but I undeartand the story by only image.

１．What's the meaning of "Born in the east L.A."? Is it stange that born un the east L.A.? They were singing "Born in the east L.A.～♪", but I can't understand the meanings. I think L.A. is the most fantastic city in the U.S.A, like Hollywood. Hollywood is in the north-west in L.A., but is it any difference between east and west in L.A.?

2. They were running down from the hill and through the two policeman. Where they wanted to go? First, I thought they wanted to astonish the policeman, but they didn't so.

Please tell me what they were going to do.

Born in East L.A.

I mentioned the video "Born in East L.A." in class as a humorous take on the immigration debate in the US. It's more than 20 years old now, but I think it's still funny. There's a lot of local humor in it, but I think you can still appreciate some of the humor. Let me know if you have any questions. Ah, heck! You WILL have questions. Just let me know what they are, ok?

More on immigration

Tom Tancredo is generally considered the most anti-immigrant member of Congress. Here is his proposal for immigration reform.

Other anti-immigration (or at least anti-illegal immigration) groups include:

California Coalition for Immigration Reform

Numbers USA

Federation for American Immigration Reform

_____________________________

The most pro-immigrant member of Congress is perhaps Keith Ellison, the only Muslim in Congress. Here is his proposal about immigration.

Here are some immigrant rights activists:

Immigrant Solidarity Network

American Friends Service Committee (the Quakers)

American Civil Liberties Union

_________________________

Finally, I can't resist pointing out again that my governor is an immigrant. I didn't vote for him, (living out of state I only vote for federal offices anyway) but we could have done a lot worse. If you go to his website you'll notice that he doesn't say anything about immigration, probably because immigration is a federal responsibility and state governments have nothing to do with it. And as an immigrant he can't run for president anyway.

About The U.S. immigration

Hello, everyone.
I found a news video about immigration.
If you are interested in it, please watch link.

Immigration

Well, it's been a long time since I dealt with the US immigration. AAMOF, I don't think I've ever dealt with them. They are no longer the INS, but the USCIS, and they're in the new Department of Homeland Security. Wikipedia also has information about US immigration history. There are many links at the bottom of the article you should explore. They also have another article about the US immigration debate, complete with links to more information at the bottom.

Good luck finding information for your debate!

Hi!! This is Ai

I got an e-mail to enter this blog from Kaori.
I'm very happy that I can write this comment on this blog.
It was my first time to debeto in English. It was very hard time for me.
But I enjoyed that.
Next debeto topics is the U.S. immigration.
It sounds very defficult. I'm anxiety about it.

Hi! Im Kaori!!

I forgot my password so I couldnt enter this blog.
But I found the paper that I've written my correctly password, and I was tought how to enter it by my friend.
Finally I could enter this blog. Now Im very glad to put this massage on that like this.

At last class we debated about the nuclear powar. It was too difficult for me and I was very tense, because foreign students came to see our debate. But it was very useful and I was very excited.

Kaori Mimura.

About Movies

First, I have to apologize about my delaying contribution. That's why because I had forgot my passaord. So I couldn't access this blog. I'm so sorry.

We wached some movies for a long time ago. I'm going to write about "Lion King". That was very interesting and I enjoyed it. I forgot the name of charactors but the main charactor is very strongful, so I encouraged by him. I thought I have to live more strong.

I think Disney movies are all like misicals. It's because all charactors movable and they sing a song suddenly (in spite of it's on the way of the story!). That charactor fit to musicals.

If I could have understood more English, I could enjoy movies much more.

No relation to this story, I want to watch "Pirates of curibbean" very much!! It's very intersting. Jonny Depp is very cool, neat, flash, great, and stunning(^-^*)!! If you have watched it arleady, DON'T TELL ME about the story!! I haven't watched yet.

Thanks for your reading☆

misato

Impression of watching movies in English

Hello! Today, I managed to understand the way of using this blog, so this is my first coment.
We watched three Disney moveis until last week. I have watched Alladin and Lion King, so I can understand parts of conversation.
But I have never watched Snow Dogs, I had to depend on my ears. It was difficult for me and I couldn't understand the story. Why did the hero go to Alaska? Please tell me!!(> <)
It was interesting experience to watch movie in English, so I'll try other movie.

Aladdin,The Lion King and The Snow Dogs

We watched the movies in English Class. All the movies were Disney and I like it very much.
I've seen Aladdin and The Lion King before. I like The Lion King especially. The characters are so funny, and this story give me the bravery.
I didn't understand the story of The Snow Dogs well, so I want to try again!

Lion King & Snow Dogs

I'm sorry I was late to write the blog about "Lion King" and "Snow Dogs".
I thought both of the videos was difficult to understand the conversation in detail without subtitles also. "Lion King" was easy to understand the evolution of the story, but "Snow Dogs" was difficult, so I want to watch the video again in person.
By the way, I watched the situation of the tornado in America on the TV. The tornado appeared seven at one time. I was very surprized!!

Aladdin~♪

Yesterday, I watched the Aladdin. I know the story because I have ever watched this video many times, but it was very difficult to understand the story only English sound.
I could a little understand the content of the lyrics in the video, but I couldn't understand the conversation because the characters talks so fast!
I think it is hard to understand the English sound story without English subtitles, especially part of comedy.
Although it was hard to hear conversation, I enjoyed the video.

blogging about videos

You'll be watching videos for the next few classes. You should blog something about them. What did you understand? What did you not understand? What interested you about them? What were you not interested in about them? What links to Internet sites can you find about them? The Internet Movie Database is a good source of information about movies of all kinds.

For the first video I thought I would give you some links to news stories about the recent tornados in the United States, which took place not far from where today's video was set.

Survivor found in tornado-ravaged Kansas town
Rescuers dig through debris in town wrecked by tornado
Governor: War slows recovery efforts in Kansas
Tornado kills 27 cats bound for new homes

And some general background information on storm chasers.

Good Holiday♪

Hello!!I'm Natsumi☆
During Golden Week holidays, I spent the days lazily. Also I went out to see the cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park. The cherry trees were in full bloom, so I felt the beauty of these blossoms!
Sorry, I can't think effective ways of this blog, so I want to think by next class.

My Golden Week

Hello everyone. How was your golden week? For me, These holidays were not holiday, because
I worked everyday!! I work at a convenience store, So the shop is not close even if it is holiday.
But I went to see the cherry blossoms with my friends of club at May 3rd. they were very beautiful, and I had fun very much.

I'm sorry but I'm not sure what is the best way to use this blog. But I'm happy if I can get information about next class on this blog.

next assignment

Because next week is Golden Week I am tempted to give you the same assignment I gave the other class with a blog, i.e. to chronicle their plans and activities for Golden Week. I'd like you all to do that, too, if you could. Please include pictures of your activities if you can. Golden Week in Hirosaki is very beautiful, and we all like to see cherry blossoms.

I'd also like you to let us know how you think we can best use this blog and let us know what you think we should do on it. Some of your suggestions will become blog assignments, so please be careful to suggest things that you really think will be useful for the class.

the subject of our debate

I'd like to devate the atomic power station. There is a nuclear facility in Aomori. How about that.
Do you think it's necessary, or not?

My goodness that was an interesting class today!

I'm sorry I talked more than I had intended to in the class, but everyone got a chance to say something, and several people had to work on what they were going to say. I think everyone learned some new vocabulary that may come in handy later. So in general it was a productive class. I hope we have more like it. Please try to speak up more and interact more directly with other students. It should become easier over the course of the class, until by the end you won't need me to hold a class. In fact, when I am in the UK you will have to do it without me. (--);

Everyone said they wanted to debate something in the class but they couldn't decide what to debate. Either it has to be something that the class disagrees on, with a fairly even split, or you have to agree to take a position you don't really agree with and defend it in the debate. It's up to you students what you want to debate, but you have to agree on a topic.

This week's topic, therefore, is to decide on a topic of debate for the class. This is in addition to your regular groups that will report as already planned. In fact, the debate groups will probably be very different from the report groups that you are already in, but that will give you a chance to interact in English with more people from the class.

BTW, here is the video of the Japanese political assassination that I mentioned:

Hello! This is Misato☆

Hi! This is Misato. This article is my first contribution. Today, let me introduce about myself.
My name is Misato Yoshida. I came from Morioka in Iwate. And now I live in Hirosaki.
My family grow up apples. My father is office worker, so my mother and my grandmother work for apples. On a holiday, my father and my sisters help them. Thanks for them, I can eat a lot of apples for free. Aomori is famous of apples, but I have never eaten apples which made in Aomori.
My major is International cooperation. This theme is very difficult, but it's very interesteding. My teacher is Mr.Kojimoto. I thought he is VERY strict person, but he has a strong passion for his study. His attitude for his study is always intense. That's very excellnt. Next Wednesday, we hold a discourse about Japan Overseas Coorperation Volunteers. I have to prepare of this discourse, and I'm so busy. But I don't diskile it because this is my interst field. Please attend the discourse if you have a interest to Japan Overseas Coorperation Volunteers.

That's all. Thank you.

P.S Please tell me if you find some mistakes about my English!

Hey, everybody

Welcome to the advanced English practice class. I haven't used this particular blog for a while because I haven't had the advanced class, but I just cleared the decks and sent invitations to everyone enrolled. Feel free to check out the links, and suggest anything you would like to see improving the blog.

This blog is an assignment for the class, to give you practice with English and the Internet, as well as to provide a means of communication for the class. Don't forget to check the blog regularly and see what others are posting. You will be required to post at least one message and one comment every week. Many of the weeks' assignments will be specific projects, and most of them will be made here on the class blog, not in class. So don't forget to keep coming back.

Let's start with self-introductions. Please tell us a little about yourself, what you hope to get out of this English class (besides credit) and what you suggest we do on the blog together.