It always amazes me how people get off track, like the writers did in response to the Palestinian Cleavers. I had to read way, way back into the posted letters to see if anyone was commenting about the actual story itself instead of battling peripherally-related issues.

The FACT is that the Kesbeh family was here illegally. They KNEW they were here illegally. They apparently didn't attempt, other than extending visas, to apply for citizenship for themselves or her children. And, then, they went underground when exposed.

Unfortunately, this happened in relation to 9/11, but if 9/11 hadn't happened their situation would be unchanged---they were here illegally and would have remained illegals with little effort (if I'm reading correctly) to gain citizenship. That, despite the fact that there obviously were constant reminders that they weren't citizens. Every election day from the time them arrived here until they were deported should have reminded them that they weren't citizens. It isn't something that could have slipped their minds. Moreover, the parents were negligent to such an extend that they denied citizenship to their children who would have had a much easier path to citizenship (OK, so I used a Bush phrase---but what other words are proper here?) when they were younger than they have now as adults.

This sounds like it's coming from a right-wing conservative, but I'm a died-in-the-wool liberal (forget that title "progressive"). However, I'm also old enough to have seen immigrant families struggle toward citizenship for many years. In one of my roles, I help register new citizens to vote after they've participated in naturalization ceremonies. Parents and their children - whole families - are sworn in together. So why didn't the Kesbeh family (parents) start the process long ago - when they first came here on visas? Why did they allow themselves - and their children, as a result of their bad decisions - to become fugitives in the country the children called "home"?

Do I feel sorry for them? Sure. The same way I feel sorry for the refugees in Darfur and other countries living under oppressive governments. But, there IS a difference here. Somehow the family is sending some of its younger members to private schools. Somehow the brother is "saving" part of his pay so he can leave the country to go to college. In other words, all of their income isn't going to food and shelter. Wouldn't it be better for the English-Arabic speaking parents and older siblings to help the younger ones translate Arabic textbooks, or teach them themselves, instead of paying expensive tuition in private schools? Wouldn't it be better for the overall family to use the money to move to a better, safer area? Upgrade their standard of living? And, as a result, be in a better position for the children (most of whom are now adults) to find work closer to home?

I think readers need to divorce themselves from the 9/11 argument. Yes, their deportation was heightened by the 9/11 furor, but the problems started long before 9/11 and could have been resolved. The Houston relatives obviously were citizens. The Kesbah's weren't. End of story.