My Friend from Brazil

When I was going to college at Hardin-Simmons University, I met a guy from Brazil. He had come to America as an exchange student in high school and had decided to stay and go to college here. His parents apparently wanted him to stay so that he could make a better life for himself. My friend's name is Thiago Carvalho.

Tye and I went to the business school together. He excelled academically by making a 3.7 GPA majoring in economics and finance with a minor in leadership. He was also the student council president (the first foreign born one I might add). He also excelled in all of his extra-curricular activities by helping various organizations win academic competitions and is fluent in English. All in all, Tye is a well educated, disciplined, and optimistic man that loves America.

Here's the rub. Tye is having a hard time staying in America. That's right. He's panicking because after he graduates from his masters degree in international business he is looking at possibly having to go back to Brazil unless he marries an American woman. The other option for him is to get a job, but the employer basically has to keep him on for at least 3 years, pay a large sum of money to the government, fill out extra paperwork, and say that he's the only one qualified for the job. What are the odds of this happening? Tell that to a future employer in the interview and see where it gets you.

While at the same time George Bush is allowing uneducated Mexicans stay as long as they want. These are immigrants that cannot speak any English, but have driver's licenses, jobs, kids in our schools, and the use of our social services.

I am not prejudiced, but I find this so frustrating. I will be irate if my friend is forced to go back to Brazil. America will truly be losing out on the very talent and fortitude that originally built this country. I wanted to tell this story so that people are aware of what's going on with our immigration system and that this actually happens out there. It's a travesty.