Community Torn Apart By Immigration Raid

Fear, Uncertainty Follow Detention Of 330 Alleged Illegal Immigrants In South Carolina

(AP)  When Magdalana Domingo Ramirez Lopez moved to this South Carolina city nearly two years ago to work at the chicken processing plant, she felt at home.

On weekends, the neighborhood near House of Raeford's plant was filled with the sounds of salsa music and the scents of Guatemalan cooking. She would shop with her three young sons at nearby businesses that catered to the immigrants - some in the country legally, others not.

While the sights and sounds reminded Lopez of her native Guatemala, she said she was happy living in the United States - a place that offered a better life for her family.

But those hopes were shattered Tuesday when federal agents swooped into the plant, arresting 330 suspected illegal immigrants, six of them juveniles, effectively shutting down the factory and tearing apart the close-knit community.

Lopez was arrested and could be deported, as her husband was two years ago.

"My whole life has changed," she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want to go back. My sons are better off here. The country is so poor. There's nothing there."

In response to requests Wednesday for comment on the raid, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said only that those arrested were violating immigration law.

A day after the raid, families waited to hear from loved ones at detention centers. Meanwhile, businesses and streets were vacant because those not rounded up stayed home, afraid agents would return.

Just days before, poultry workers visibly filled the neighborhoods around the plant.

The community's transformation was slow but steady over the last 15 years as the newcomers replaced working-class whites and blacks. Neighborhood residents who knew about federal charges against plant supervisors accused of helping illegal immigrants forge documents didn't think the trouble would trickle down to them.

After all, they were only here to give the plant long hours of joint-aching work and local officials didn't seem to mind. That thought was likely shared by immigrants in communities nationwide, including states throughout the South, Iowa and New York who have been caught in similar raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lopez, 29, believed she was safe. But she spent most of Tuesday being fingerprinted and questioned by federal agents and a day later was coming to grips with being sent back to Guatemala. Her sons - ages 4, 5 and 6 - were all born in the U.S.

"The whole time I was there with police, I cried. I kept thinking about my sons. That I wouldn't see them again," she said.

She left Central America because she didn't want her family to grow up in a place where she was so hungry at times that she had to eat grass and dirt.

"I came to the U.S. for work. I came in peace. My goal was to help my sons grow up in a better place. Now that's gone," she said.

House of Raeford processes chickens and turkeys in eight plants in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Michigan. The Greenville plant and its nearly 900 workers have been under scrutiny for almost a year as authorities looked into allegations the company knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Eleven supervisors and the plant's human resources director have been arrested, mostly for falsifying immigration documents.

The company has issued a statement saying it never knowingly hired illegal immigrants and was cooperating.

Many workers say they had no idea about the legal troubles or that a raid was imminent.

"We never thought they would come in and start arresting everyone," said 35-year-old Jorge Mendoza, who missed the morning raid because he works second shift. "That would be like shutting down the plant. They wouldn't do that, we thought. The plant is too busy."

Mendoza said he plans to move his family because it's too dangerous to stay.

Greenville County deputies couldn't do much about illegal immigrants because no provision in South Carolina law makes it illegal to be in the U.S. without permission. Instead, deputies who thought they arrested or spoke to an illegal immigrant were told to contact federal immigration officials, said Master Deputy Michael Hildebrand.

Those arrested in the raid face various charges, including re-entry after deportation, counterfeit documents and false statements. All are in the U.S. Marshal's custody and have been processed for deportation.

Luis Garcia, an interpreter in the area, said removing so many people will devastate the community.

"They're breaking families. Everyone is worried," said Garcia, who visited Lopez to see how she was doing.

Lopez is under house arrest and has to wear an ankle monitor until her deportation hearing Nov. 14. She has no money to hire a lawyer.

Her 4-year-old son, Issias, is recovering from surgery. She doubted he would get proper medical care in Guatemala, where she plans to take her children to rejoin their father.

When immigration officials asked her to sign a deportation order, she said she refused, replying: "First you kill me, then I'll sign it."

Several miles down the road, Emilio Espinoza manages the Guatemala Restaurant in a strip mall with a grocery store, bakery and nightclub, all catering toward Hispanics.

His usually packed restaurant was empty at lunchtime Wednesday for the first time since he opened seven years ago. Half his employees didn't show up because they were scared immigration agents might be in the area.

"People are afraid to leave their homes," said the 35-year-old Espinoza.

David Wynn said he has watched the neighborhood change around his heating and air conditioning supply store across the street from the plant.

Everyone knew the plant hired illegal immigrants, said Wynn, who added no one wanted to do anything about it because they figured the workers were doing jobs no one else wanted. With the economy getting worse, that's probably no longer true and he worries what is going to happen to all the people caught up in the raid.

"We need to pray for them," Wynn said.

[grammawhamma]

Ok I read this sob story and yes it is heartbreaking. But and yes I mean but...what do these people think?

They broke the law when they first stepped foot illegaly on US soil. This woman has 3 kids all born here...oldest age 6. So she was here illegally for at least 6 years. Her 4 year old is recovering from surgery...who paid for that? She doesn''t want to leave her kids behind...then send them back home with her.

Enough is enough already. Come here legally and you will be welcomed and not have to worry about deportation.

[anonbychoice]

"The community''s transformation was slow but steady over the last 15 years as the newcomers replaced working-class whites and blacks."
I agree with you on this being a "sad" story, but atm I''m having a hard time feeling sorry for any of them. We give them everything, and it''s still not enough. How dare we make them come here legally!! How dare we expect the same taxes that we pay. I for one am tired of giving to everyone but our own. We won''t take care of our own homeless, starving children and families, but we will everyone elses?!
They should have done the right and legal thing to do, then they wouldn''t have to "worry" about anyone raiding the place they work in. And one is going to move because it''s not safe for him to live/work there illegally anymore.
"People are afraid to leave their homes," said the 35-year-old Espinoza.
GET LEGAL and you won''t have to be afraid. No sympathy left!!!

[drkingjd]

Illegal is illegal. They all know they are breaking the law. Excuses are just excuses and a crime is a crime. What will be next, "I just robbed that bank because I wanted a better life for my family." They know the consequences when they commit the act. The criminal act and the mindset to commit that act are both present. i.e. GUILTY

[anonbychoice]

expect them to pay the same taxes we pay. (Oops didn''t notice I messed that up)

[clew37]

I get really disgusted with the fact the media and others keep calling these people "immigrants". Immigrants is not the right word. These people are invaders. When you have 14 million people erupt over your border in the space of two presidential terms, it''s not immigration! I also don''t agree with the fact they figure if I have kids here, we all get to stay. I don''t recall on anyones constitution saying "if you pop one out here you all get a free ride". And please take your age of consent is at twelve mindset with you. We have more than enough pedophiles here already.

Illegal is illegal?

THINK ABOUT THIS. Seriously.

America is the illegal immigrant in Latin America.

Our media denies us full knowledge of CIA and other covert operations in Guatemala, Honduras, and other countries, supporting their death squads, driving peasants off farmland into wandering starvation conditions. WE PAY FOR MURDER OUT OF OUR TAXES.

In 1921 (or so), American statesman Walter Lippman said WE OWN THEM. He said that no leader in Latin America can do anything without permission of Washington.

Any wonder why in their rich rich countries with rich soil, minerals, oil, etc. the people are so poor? Every time they have a chance to overthrow a corrupt dictatorship and install a democratic govt, WE overthrow them.

DO THEY ASSASSINATE OUR LEADERS? NO!
DO WE ASSASSINATE THEIR LEADERS? YES!
continued

[rudy654-2009]

Change the laws to make it easier for the poor to come and work, and there won''t be illegals here.

continued
Read about the history of General Rios Montt in Guatemala, his motto of "a Bible under one arm and a machine gun under the other", and his habit of killing priests, nuns, and peasants.

Montt was a close friend of Pat Robertson, got hugged by Ronald Reagan, was aligned with Oliver North and members of Operation Phoenix (Vietnam) and the World Anti-Communist League, an underground-overground network based in the Heritage Foundation incl actual Euro Nazis, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Korean fascists, along with Gen. John Singlaub and American fascists. Koreans include Rev. Sun Myung Moon a close friend of the Bush family and the Christian Right.

The group I just described, part of the Council for National Policy, that''s who chose Sarah Palin for McCain.

Besides military force, the IMF regularly "loan sharks" these countries and demands "austerity" so they slash all public services and loans, cuts off opportunities for peasants to develop a working economy, or even to survive. Bolivia recently kicked out Bechtel, which seized drinking water with collusion of their govt.

Guess where the IMF is coming next. HERE.

Not content to exterminate them with guns, we now exterminate them through economic starvation. WE have to clean our own house before we start blaming them for their poverty, but Americans are too afraid of our govt (or too ignorant or selfish) to help these gentle people survive without being subjected to extensions of CIA terror.

[slim1h2o]

They were doing work that most American people would not do, 11 hour shifts at a chicken processing plant.


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Posted by Sky_Five at 02:52 AM : Oct 09, 2008

I assume you were being sarcastic. And in the same vain, child labor. We utterly refuse to send our children into the work force without a proper education 1st, and the proper age 2nd.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Everyone knew the plant hired illegal immigrants, said Wynn, who added no one wanted to do anything about it because they figured the workers were doing jobs no one else wanted."

This is the single most common lie used in the immigration debate.

The truth is that they do jobs for just-above-slave wages that no American can afford to do.

[slim1h2o]

The truth is that they do jobs for just-above-slave wages that no American can afford to do.


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Posted by brianbwb at 05:48 AM : Oct 09, 2008

The above statement is absolutely true.

And the reason they can afford to take jobs so cheaply, is because they jam 10-15 or more people into a 1 or two bedroom apt. Or 2 or 3 families into a house.

Where we, as Americans, have been conditioned to get our own apt, or our own house.

A house (ownership) used to be "The American Dream".
Now, a house is nothing more than a warehouse for illegals.

For shame,, for shame.

[ahrats]

I understand some of these people are here illeaglly but the were working, paying taxes, not trying to live off our government, like some bankers & CEO''s are doing. Are they taking jobs from americans? If the company that hired them could not find other americans to do the work why not hire them. This is just another republican ploy to make themselves look good since everthing eles they have done has gone down the tubes with our economy.

[c-mo6]

"Everyone knew the plant hired illegal immigrants, said Wynn, who added no one wanted to do anything about it because they figured the workers were doing jobs no one else wanted."

This is the single most common lie used in the immigration debate.

The truth is that they do jobs for just-above-slave wages that no American can afford to do.


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Posted by brianbwb at 05:48 AM : Oct 09, 2008
+ report abuse

Couldnt agree more. I''ve done factory work for twenty years and americans will do these jobs if you pay them a fair wage.

[kesac4650]

Those people could have gotten legal. I work in Greenville, SC. We have a dozen LEGAL immigrants working here. They make the same good wages as anyone else, and have the same opportunities as anyone else.
They pay the same taxes.
Greenville has a lot of Defense work, auto manufacturers, the International Auto Research Center, and on and on. This is not some little community where anyone or everyone knows those arrested the other day. The community is certainly not torn apart over this, and it is their own *** fault.

[stupidrules3]

If the government were serious about solving this problem, they would punish the employers. This would cause the jobs to dry up and the illegals would go back home.

[riddelup]

How can anyone support lawbreakers. If you think the law is unjust then work to change the law. WE do need to review our immigration laws that punish people returning to lands taken from them by war. Yet we allow mass immigration from any country we invade. We allow mass immigration any country with a caucasian majority.

[u-r-right]

The truth is that they do jobs for just-above-slave wages that no American can afford to do.


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Posted by brianbwb at 05:48 AM : Oct 09, 2008

The above statement is absolutely true.

And the reason they can afford to take jobs so cheaply, is because they jam 10-15 or more people into a 1 or two bedroom apt. Or 2 or 3 families into a house.

Where we, as Americans, have been conditioned to get our own apt, or our own house.

A house (ownership) used to be "The American Dream".
Now, a house is nothing more than a warehouse for illegals.

For shame,, for shame.

Posted by slim1h2o at 06:27 AM : Oct 09, 2008
+ report abuse

I live in a small county of about 8000 people and know of at least 3 houses that were occupied by multi-family, illegals. They defaulted on their loans and abandoned the houses and left them in terrible shape. You can tell there was no pride of ownership. I would like to know how many illegals have contributed to our current mortgage crises. More than one would think I bet.

[checkthepast]

This is just another republican ploy
Posted by ahrats

If enforcing the law is a republican ploy... then what are you saying about democrats? They support criminals? Oh yeah that''s right they always have since welfare came along so why change now?

[formrusmcsgt]

WE do need to review our immigration laws that punish people returning to lands taken from them by war

SC never belonged to Mexico. the only state that was part of Mexico was Texas and they fought for their independance and then they asked to be part of the US. the US never took anything from those trashy Mexicans

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:11 AM : Oct 09, 2008

You obviously smoked in the bathroom instead of attending American History class.

California, New Mexico, Arizona, and part of Nevada were all Mexican territories before we invaded Mexico and took everything north of the Rio Grande from them.

[checkthepast]

If they are illegal and paying taxes who''''s Social Security number did they steal? I am a democrat and this has nothing to do with a repugnican ploy.

Posted by Obiden08

I agree, but your spelling needs work. There''s no reason to be insulting in every comment you make.

[formrusmcsgt]

And we invaded Mexico during which war??? Never happened

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:20 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Boy howdy, you ARE ignorant aren''t you?

Here, read about the war that you say "never-happened"...sheesh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican-American_War

[formrusmcsgt]

Texas was an idependent country for a number of years. We actually did not want to grant them statehood.

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:22 AM : Oct 09, 2008

The first statement is true, the second is false.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:24 AM : Oct 09, 2008

You know, xenophobia IS a treatable condition.....

[formrusmcsgt]

Where does it say anything about Ca, NM,AZ etc. Stop smoking crack

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:28 AM : Oct 09, 2008

"The most important consequence of the war for the United States was the Mexican Cession, in which the Mexican territories of Alta California and Santa Fi de Nuevo Mixico were ceded to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo."

Could you comprehend that paragraph or do you need it broken down into smaller words?

[formrusmcsgt]

formrusmcsgt, you were as sargent in the army, yet know little about the country you served????
You are the ignorant one.

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:31 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Two thoughts:

First, the USMC is not the army, fyi;

and secondly, I''m the one here teaching YOU history, not the other way around.

[slim1h2o]

You know, xenophobia IS a treatable condition.....


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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:25 AM : Oct 09, 2008
Oh, here we go again! Some people can''t admitt when they''re wrong in this illegal alien debate, so they dress it up under a different name, like racism, xenophope, or some other such silliness.

Just admitt you are wrong, and you can move on to something else that makes sense to be upset about.

Like the economy tanking...

[formrusmcsgt]

I don''''t converse with illegal aliens, so you and I are done. you do not have the right to even be in this country.

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:34 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Illegal aliens are not allowed to serve in the USMC or any other branch of our military.

You''re done alright, but not because I''m illegal, you''re done because I''ve proven you to be an ignorant a$$ every time you open your mouth.

[formrusmcsgt]

Oh, here we go again! Some people can''''t admitt when they''''re wrong in this illegal alien debate, so they dress it up under a different name, like racism, xenophope, or some other such silliness.

Posted by slim1h2o at 07:35 AM : Oct 09, 2008

I do not defend illegals, but calling for extermination is nothing short of xenophobia.

[formrusmcsgt]

I guess you think we should give back Hawaii and Alaska too then, how about the Loisaianna purchase, should we give it back to France so they can give it back to Spain.

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:36 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Nor did I promote returning the southwest to Mexico.

You stated that only Texas was Mexican terrority.

And I proved you dead wrong.

What has you miffed is your own ignorance.

[slim1h2o]

I do not defend illegals, but calling for extermination is nothing short of xenophobia.


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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:38 AM : Oct 09, 2008


I am not calling for extermination, just deportation.

Of course I know you were responding to another poster, but still, lets call it for what it is,

Illegal Aliens, and nothing short of pillaging, and the raping of a country.

Think, the U.S economy...

[formrusmcsgt]

I am not calling for extermination, just deportation.

Posted by slim1h2o at 07:43 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Have you considered the price tag?

The USCIS estimates the cost of location, apprehension, detention, processing, and deportation to be about 24K per.

Multiply that by 12 million and see if you want to pick up that cost.

[credibility2]

There is an insidious and festering new mentality with far too many and that is to look the other way whenever any type of crime is being committed. After all, we''re all the same and the criminals probably didn''t mean to commit the crime and they probably felt trapped by their circumstances. Oh puke! These malcontents that excuse criminal behavior and therefore the crime are just as guilty and disgusting. The laws are clear and defined. Too bad if the criminals breaking them are being rounded up en masse. They entered this country that way, they should go out of the country this way. We need to permanently rid our nation and save our financial resources from these looters and burdensome criminals. BTW, just because a person''s skin color is darker doesn''t make them a separate race. This is yet another myth and idiotic hype by those who want to look the other way when criminals commit their crimes.

[formrusmcsgt]

Posted by Obiden08 at 07:43 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Thanks.

[formrusmcsgt]

There is an insidious and festering new mentality with far too many and that is to look the other way whenever any type of crime is being committed.

Posted by Credibility2 at 07:46 AM : Oct 09, 2008

You mean like Bush regarding Libby, I assume......

[winslowe1]

A community of sneaky lawbreakers has no place in any decent society. Illegals obviously do not respect our immigration laws ... what other of our laws do they not respect?
If the United States had been properly enforcing the law for the past couple of hundred years we would not have this epidemic today. Hopefully, we will continue to root out these undesirables and replace them with decent immigrants.

[ioweign]

formrusmcsgt, you were as sargent in the army, yet know little about the country you served????
You are the ignorant one.

Posted by mrcrosby1 at 07:31 AM : Oct 09, 2008

Two thoughts:

First, the USMC is not the army, fyi;

and secondly, I''''m the one here teaching YOU history, not the other way around.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:34 AM : Oct 09, 2008

And serving in the military IS a path to becoming a US citizen.

And the USMC is part of the USN... :-)

[slim1h2o]

Multiply that by 12 million and see if you want to pick up that cost.



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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:45 AM : Oct 09, 2008


Have you considered the ramifacations of NOT doing anything about illegal immigration?
It''s not a pretty picture as to what I have seen (and I''m sure you have seen some things that you don''t agree with regarding illegal aliens) already. But lets multiply that by another 20 million illegals.

And the picture gets dimmer...

[formrusmcsgt]

Thanks, all.

I must take my leave.

As always, a pleasure.

[formrusmcsgt]

And serving in the military IS a path to becoming a US citizen.

And the USMC is part of the USN... :-)


Posted by IOWEIGN at 07:51 AM : Oct 09, 2008

True, but one must be a resident alien (legal) to join in the first place.

Later.

[slim1h2o]

As always, a pleasure.


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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 07:51 AM : Oct 09, 2008


Later,,, Have a good one.

[thechooch1]

If we were to go after the companies like this one that knowingly hired illegal aliens, and put the owners and managers in jail, would it help? I think if we made employers actually document that their workers were legal, by checking their Social Security numbers against government records we could fix this mess. It seems too simple, no jobs for illegals, no reason for illegals to come.

[omnibus66]

The vast majority of Americans are fed up with the presence of these illegal invaders. Oh, there are those who want to feel sorry for them, but those feelings would be better placed toward helping disadvantaged AMERICANS.

There are millions of families in this country that were torn apart by the arrest and imprisonment of a loved one, but there is no hue and cry for them. So why shed any tears for foreign criminals?

As for the cost of rounding up 12 - 20 million illegals. I''ll bet it wouldn''t cost 700 billion, and it would do a lot more good than the bailout.

[maraneer]

I don''t know why we make this immigration so difficult. It is rather simple. I am an immigrant from The netherlands. We applied, we were accepted, we immigrated, we learned the language within a year, and I am now a permanent resident. I am also a Dad (Two girls both married of which one served in the Navy and is married to a Navy Senior Chief) I am also an Opa with two wonderfull grandaughters and a former U.S. Marine. My advice, PLAY BY THE RULES! If you don''t play by the rules, don''t cry fowl to the media who loves to print these teary eyed stories.

[redstripe11]

Realize too that with the declining birthrates in this country and the decrease in immigrants (legal or illegal) that you are in effect contracting the economy. Fewer people to work in the fields is yet another reason why food prices rise. For every person you deport, you are deporting a consumer and a contributer to social security and medicare (which they will never be entitled to).

Given that we are already in a deep recession, the anti-immigrant sentiment is not helping things at all.

Whether your for immigration or not, it''s another point worth considering.

[srz25]

u.s. law SUX don''t it?

hey, yeah hi, do you believe a judge should go to prison for attempting to rule that attempted murder by forcible suffocation not only isn''''t a crime at all in florida, it isn''''t a tort at all in florida, in fact it''''s a medical procedure, for which priviledge i''''m forced to give the state my whole life savings?

doesn''''t that sound bad?

this is a real lawsuit, orange co. case # 2003 ca 5314. i am totally unrepresented, haven''''t been able to find a lawyer in 7 years. the judge is cynthia mackinnon, and if i could fire her i would have fired her four years ago. after all this time i still have no clue whether she is republican or democrat.

maybe i should move to south carolina, couldn''t be worse.

[jscottelwood-2009]

I would tell you what I think but the moderator would just omit it because it would be politically disruptive.

[panhandlpete]

Sorry for your current situation illegals, but YOU should have respect for laws and the proper way of doing things. So the raid has torn up a community and all the people have disappeared. Ask yourself...."What affect does a sudden influx of people into a small town do to the job market for the lower income working class?" Oh, how about that operation your 4 year old just had....."Did it get paid for by your own health care policy?" (No one should get to become a legal citizen just because they were born here....to criminals.) School systems suffer drastically due to influx of non-English speaking students.

You have been here for YEARS and made no effort to become legal, and you have three sons born here to prove this point. This says you only want to reap the good things from this country and still have your heritage, and all those Americans who have given their sweat, blood, and lives in the past to build this country should just take you in and take care of you.

Go Home wherever you came from and work to make that place better.....like our pioneers did in the past. OR, commit to becoming a legal citizen and a true American who loves this country.

If we continue to allow illegals to ignore laws, customs, and disrespect our traditions, then we should not be surprised when the stars and stripes get replaced by some other flag.

THREE CHEERS FOR THE ICE SQUADS. Keep earning your pay.

[checkthepast]

You mean like Bush regarding Libby, I assume......

Posted by formrusmcsgt

Kinda except times 20 million....

[babooph]

3rd world people have endless kids they know they cannot care for-agencies then beg for me to pay for it all-each year this method breeds more misery-stop the $ to them & try that for awhile,with strong birth control.

[robert2237]

redstripe11- You are so right play by the law and you will have no problems what so ever. But if you break the law jail and deportation is what you must expect. I am really amazed at how the news gets going on this on the side of the illigals. If it is someone that broke into their house they want them in jail but breaking across our borders they want us to feel sorry for them. Not going to happen find them jail them ship them home. Oh yes for those of you would wants to try to turn my Illigal immigrations in the anti-immigrations, won''t work since my wife is a immigrant from china.

Shipp them home, if they want their kids to grow up here then I guess they are going to have to leave them here if not then take them with you.