Both Macarena’s children, Karen and her older brother, Roberto, are citizens of the United States by birth. Macarena raised them as a single mother ----details/story…what kind of work did she do to support you, etc?----------------------------------------------------. and she did a wonderful job. Karen and Roberto are genial, responsible young adults who endear themselves to all who know them.. Roberto, (age), works as a city of Denver employee in the Department of Human Services. He’s been working for the city since 2007, and is an exemplary employee. Though Roberto is preparing to take responsibility for his sister, he too is devastated by this dismal turn of events. For Roberto, his mother is the apple of his eye. Macarena has always been a fountain of love and support and affection to both of her children and they share an enviably close bond. (quotes from you and/or Karen about how close you are or how you cannot imagine life without her) Karen still lives with her mother, and newlywed Roberto lives only 5 minutes away and speaks to her daily. 

 When Macarena’s undocumented status was discovered, the family raised $10,000 to cover legal fees to hire a lawyer to represent Macarena’s case in court. The attorney did next to nothing to prepare Macarena for court and called no character witnesses, despite scores of people who volunteered to speak on her behalf. Macarena was sentenced to immediate deportation to Mexico with no chance of reapplying for entry into the US for 10 years, while her lawyer coolly pocketed their hard-earned 10 grand. Macarena has been living and working in this country for ____years. Her adult children were born and raised in this country. She has to leave behind everything she’s worked for her entire life, and her family to go a place where she has nothing and no one. (quote from your mom about what it feels like to have to leave everything behind)

 While the Dream Act is a major victory for immigration reform in this country, there are innumerable cases like Macarena’s which will not benefit. "Our nation's immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner," said the secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano. "But they are not designed to be blindly enforced without consideration given to the individual circumstances of each case. Nor are they designed to remove productive young people to countries where they may not have lived or even speak the language. Discretion, which is used in so many other areas, is especially justified here." Is not discretion justified in Macarena Villalobos’ case as well? While giving hope to so many young immigrants, must we dash the hopes of 2 young citizens by tearing their beloved mother away from them?