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9 de Enero, 2008
Answering for Thievery: The Worker Deserves His Pay
Categorized under Latin America , M | Tags: activism, borders, eat the rich
[M is a guest blogger and leather wearing administratrix at The Unapologetic Mexican. She can normally be found at Problemchylde.]
A reader shared more information about Pedro Zapeta with me; Nez originally posted about it earlier last year.
Proud to Live in America has created a petition for Zapeta, an immigrant who saved up $58,000 while working as a dishwasher so he could start a business in Guatemala. When he prepared to board the flight home, U.S. Customs did its underhanded legal finagling and tried to take all but $10,000 as a penalty for Zapeta not undergoing an administrative step of filing a declaration form about how much he was carrying with him.
Zapeta is currently being represented by Robert Gershman, a pro bono attorney. He is accepting financial contributions for Zapeta's representation and cause. You can contribute, if you wish, by e-mailing Gershman here. The petition is in support of Gershman's request that the only penalty Zapeta pays (if any must be satisfied) is a fine of 10% of his savings, and Zapeta be free to return to Guatemala with his hard-earned money.
This petition is available to sign in English and Spanish.
While you're online activatin', you can also check out the general resources PTLIA offers to immigrants in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.
sombrero tip to P.C. Knab, head of Proud to Live in America
[posted by Sylvia/M, a heart breaker, soul shaker, and blog maker]
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Comentarios (9)
janna dijo:
I've been wondering what's up with his case, since last I knew he had until this month to leave the country. Thanks for keeping us posted. BTW, you're doing a great job in Nez's absence, I'm enjoying your posts.
Palabras por janna spat forth on el 9 de Enero, 2008 at 07:33 PM
M
dijo:
No problem, and thank you. :)
Palabras por M
spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 06:26 AM
Carmen D. dijo:
Thank you, I signed. ::waits for notification of IRS audit::
Palabras por Carmen D. spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 07:43 AM
azgoddess dijo:
sign it - i remember traveling to brasil in 2000 and having to declare how much money i was taking out of the damn country and thinking then this was stupid law...sigh - we seriously need to change the law
Palabras por azgoddess spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Joan Kelly dijo:
This literally made me gasp. I wasn't reading blogs last February so hadn't seen the earlier post. I cannot fucking fathom the degraded nature of the people who would with a straight face and no hesitation try to steal money from someone who specifically worked that hard for it. It wouldn't be right to steal it in any case, but jesus this just does not compute.
Palabras por Joan Kelly spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 10:00 AM
DonChep dijo:
Damn, first S Chip and now they're "rolling" dishwashers for cash. Talk about a shakedown.
Palabras por DonChep spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 02:37 PM
M
dijo:
Carmen, you think they're actually going to try to go for it through traditional taxation? I'd be padlocking my piggy bank's snout if I were you.
AZGoddess, you're right about the ridiculousness of the law. If you've earned the money legitimately and they discover it on you while traveling, there's no reason they have the right to take the majority of it from you. That's bogus.
Joan, you're having the same reaction I have to this. It's his money. You'd think a country so crazy about possession and ownership would recognize such a basic relationship. But then you have to remember this is a country of thieves and manipulators...and the bile becomes slightly easier to digest. I hope the petition helps.
DonChep, that about sums it up. Our government's next dashing move: a bunch of suits frisking restaurant workers for gold...
Palabras por M
spat forth on el 10 de Enero, 2008 at 04:33 PM
William (goodbye kitty) dijo:
Because of the 'war on drugs', they can seize money from anyone carrying large amounts of it if they cannot prove how and where they got it.I remember as far back as 1990, a news story about a black man, who was in his 60's being arrested at an airport and having $6K in cash confiscated. he was on his was across the state to buy a car or a truck, and I guess, because he was black, he was a drug dealer.
Pedor Zapeta's story heartwrenching, maddening,infuriating and sickening.I'm going to sign the petition and send something when I can.
Its hard to 'keep the faith". Our rulers dump tons of this shit on us each and every day to keep us running around in circles so by the end of each day, we are so exhausted that we loose hope.
As much as I reject violence as a solution,Im beginning to really question the validity of a non-violent approach.
Palabras por William (goodbye kitty) spat forth on el 11 de Enero, 2008 at 10:19 AM
mimi dijo:
vote for pedro
Palabras por mimi spat forth on el 11 de Enero, 2008 at 11:32 AM