Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Should the police seperate illegal college educated from his family man human rights abuse?
   Varlan, however, not only refused to lower Erazo's penalty range but actually boosted his sentence from the minimum 151 months to 160 months, or just more than 13 years.

   "The court certainly is aware of the (U.S.) Department of Justice's stated position (and) while the court recognizes the discretion of the court (to lower the punishment), the court is mindful the defendant led a conspiracy involving the distribution of large quantities of crack cocaine while in the U.S. illegally," Varlan said.

   Crack burst onto the drug scene in the 1980s. To make crack, a peddler mixes powder cocaine with various additives and literally cooks it on a stovetop, transforming it into pebble-sized crystals dubbed "rocks."

   It was an immediate hit. At a rock, it was far cheaper and, therefore, more accessible than the 0 price for a gram of cocaine. It was said to trigger a quicker "high" than its powder counterpart and a more potent one.

   As its popularity grew, so did the number of dealers. Violent turf wars ensued, particularly in inner cities. To try to stop what was becoming viewed as a pandemic, Congress mandated tougher penalties. The U.S. Sentencing Commission, in turn, crafted a sentencing formula that made one gram of crack equal 100 grams of powder. So, a dealer caught peddling 10 grams of crack faced the same penalty as a dealer pushing an entire kilogram of powder.

   Decades later, a sea change is under way, with a push to eliminate that ratio-based sentencing formula. The sentencing commission two years ago dropped the ratio from 100:1 to 80:1. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled judges are free to ignore the ratio. Congress is considering erasing the ratio altogether via legislation, and the Obama administration has gone on record supporting the move.

   Erazo's defense attorney, Charles Poole, noted the Justice Department's new position in his brief on Erazo's behalf. He also pointed out the nation's highest court is allowing federal judges to "deviate from that ratio and decide what is the fair and appropriate sentence."

   Federal prosecutors David Jennings and Melissa Millican countered that although there is a growing movement to eliminate the "crack disparity," it is not a done deal.

   "Congress has not acted to change the law since this administration took office," Jennings said. "And, we don't know if they will."

   Millican also noted that her bosses in the Justice Department have made clear that while they support a move to strike down the sentencing formula, they aren't pushing to coddle criminals.

   "Considering (Erazo) led a conspiracy to traffic in large quantities of narcotics in the United States while illegally present, it is clear that he falls within the category of persons the Department of Justice would not recommend a lighter sentence or elimination of the crack/powder disparity," Millican wrote.

   As for Erazo, he demanded a new court-appointed attorney - his fifth - and a taxpayer-funded appeal.

   It's not clear why Erazo came to the U.S. from Honduras, where his three children, wife and parents live. A college graduate, Erazo held midlevel management positions in his native country. Poole wrote that Erazo insisted he made more money as a "painter" in the U.S. than as a manager in Honduras.

   Erazo will be deported after he completes his prison term.
   http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jun/23/judge-offers-no-sentence-break-in-crack-drug/

   • ANSWER:
     He is from the dream act we taxpayers paid for his education.Being he has a wife and kids all charges will be dismissed.

2. QUESTION:
   Good business to start in El Salvador?
   I'm thinking of moving to E.S., but I want to make sure I can make a living for myself. What is a good business opportunity to build abroad? I don't have a college degree, so finding a company to employ me is out of the question.
   Background info:
   I'm a U.S. citizen. My husband's visa was denied and he's got the 10-yr bar for being in U.S. illegally. We're working on appealing it, but I'm trying to come up with ways to make money if/when I join him down in E.S. I speak enough conversational spanish and can read/write spanish. What would be the minimum $ investment in a small biz that would flourish down there? I'm not trying to get rich, but I've got 2 children I need to make sure I can take care of. I want to be able to eventually buy a small house too.

   • ANSWER:
     Join my business group. There is a person from E.S. in this group.

3. QUESTION:
   My mom illegally claimed me as a dependent..help!?
   Okay here's the story. I have not lived with my mother for 3 years now. I am 21 years old and in college and working part-time. I only made about 00 last year, however I live with my boyfriend who makes enough to support both of us. My mother has not helped me out in any way shape or form. I have actually given her money for utilities, etc.
   She claims that her tax lady "accidentally" put me down as a dependent for her, but I know that it was no accident. She hasn't supported me in any fashion since I was 17. I moved out when I was 18. She did not claim me last year.
   I'm upset that she fraudulently claimed me, but the issue here is mainly that she refuses to give me her tax info since, now that she claimed me, I would need it for my FAFSA. With this recent development, I'm considering my options. But I'm not sure what to do. Can I notify the IRS? Is there anything I can do? I know that since I AM in school and under a certain age and made under 50 that would seem like I'd qualify to be a dependent, however my mother has provided me NO financial assistance in any form (I don't have health insurance, I pay my own utilities, etc..).
   Any advice is greatly appreciated!
   I forgot to mention that I already got my taxes done, but when we tried to e-file, they were rejected. Should I try to file via paper?

   Also there is a way to file independent for FAFSA under certain circumstances. I had to do it last year when my mother refused to give me her tax information.

   • ANSWER:
     You could go ahead and do your taxes. Then claim yourself. When IRS contacts you and says your mom already claimed you ... explain it to them then.

4. QUESTION:
   The Absense of Justice?
   Is there ANY justice left in the world?

   In October 2008, I got into a car accident ( a guy cut off 3 lanes of traffic, the woman in front of me stopped short, and I was too close and hit her), anyway usually- that's bad, but I didn't get a ticket because the woman knew me and her husband was a sheriff's deputy, so I thought that was great luck for me... BUT.. it turns out.. the car was a rental, AND that in a miscommunication with my mom's insurance agency- they dropped me off the insurance, and admitted it was their mistake and their fault but refused to take me back because of the accident and told me I had to pay it myself (note: I had JUST started my first semester in college, AND JUST bought that car- I HAD(HAVE) NO MONEY.) SO.. The insurance company of the rental car SUED me, and made me pay them through a collections agency. The collections agency as it turns out, has had numerous complaints about underhanded business (not to mention when you make payments the people treat you like you are trash). SOO... when they took the money out of my account without permission, they overdrew my bank account by 0. EVENTUALLY they gave it back, and I called them (very angry) and said that I refused to pay them anymore and that safeco had agreed to accept payments directly from me (which they had). Anyway.. all was honky-dory. Been paying safeco in increments... until today- I get a letter from the collections agency demanding that I pay the owed balance in full. I call them, and they said if I don't, they will suspend my license.

   I wanted, I so desperately wanted to sue the insurance company that illegally dropped me, but there is no justice in this world. If I WERE to have the money to get a lawyer, the insurance company would hire a better one, and I would lose. JUSTICE these days is never blind. It is reserved solely for those with the deepest pockets. If there were justice, none of this would have happened. My insurance company, KNOWING FULL WELL it was their fault, would have taken me back on, apologized, and paid for the accident that they should have covered in the first place. So... even though I really did have insurace, the insurance agency refused to pay, and I was left uninsured and in debt. In the midst of trying to create a better life for myself by going to college, I wind up facing the possibility of either dropping out and considering the money I spent on college to be a total waste (because even if I ever climb out of debt, I'll have to move out on my own by then, and will not be able to afford college), or risk going to jail for driving with a suspended license. It makes me wonder why I even bother? Why do I even try? I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I'm considered by many to be one of those goodie-goodies that everyone hates, because I always try to stay within the law and obey the rules, and my reward? To be forced to sacrifice my future one of two ways.

   Is there ANY justice left in the world?

   • ANSWER:
     1. You can't "accidentally" drop someone off their mom's auto policy. She'd have to sign. If it really WAS their accident, you sue them, for 'errors and ommissions'. But it wasn't - or the insurance would have added you back on to avoid that lawsuit.
     2. That's normal practice, for collection agencies. NEVER EVER EVER give them access to your account. They will do this, FOREVER. Now you have to close the account and open a new one, and NEVER give them access to it.
     3. Having your license suspended, for driving uninsured, is a normal practice, in all 50 states.
     4. Yes, there is justice left in the world. But it goes hand in hand with RESPONSIBILITY.

5. QUESTION:
   Why allow illegal aliens to attend community colleges if it is illegal to hire them?
   According to the newspaper in my city, 48 US states allow people to attend community colleges regardless of their immigration status. My state (NC) currently does not, but people are pushing for the state board of commuity colleges to vote to allow illegal aliens to attend.

   This bothers me for 2 reasons:

   1) Community colleges are supported by tax dollars. Illegal aliens typically do not pay taxes.

   2) It is illegal to hire illegal aliens. So, unless they plan on being illegally hired, what is the point of training them for jobs with our tax dollars? (For this one, I assume people could say that they were going to take the new skills back to their country instead of being illegal hired; however, this would still mean they are profitting from US tax dollars by going back to their country and getting a better job.)

   I honestly have nothing against illegal aliens. If I was in their position, and the country next door allowed me to live there, make more money, go to college on someone else's dime, and get free health care, I would probably knock people out of the way to jump the border. My problem is with our government practically paving the way for them. Thoughts?
   Argyr, I never said they were stupid. Again, I don't blame them for coming here at all. Given similar circumstances, my dad probably would have taken our family across the border. Still, do you really think we (the USA) can be everything to everybody during this economic crisis?
   Cheelicious- Yes, you do pay for others to attend college. Public state colleges can not run on collected tuition alone; they need tax dollars to be sustainable. The reason out-of-state tutition is so high is that you aren't paying taxes in that state, therefore; you must make up the difference as if you were a tax-paying citizen.

   • ANSWER:
     There is no good reason to allow this. Illegals are raping our country. If they are so motivated, why don't they go and improve conditions in their country of origin. Or if they are so great for our economy, then why is our nation bankrupt with California leading the way. Data, time and time again, shows that immigrant households are more likely to have lower income, collect welfare at a higher rate and commit crimes at a higher rate than non immigrant households. This has no regard to race, just immigrant status. We must remove the incentive for illegal immigration. When we deny jobs, welfare, social services, health care, education, and citizenship to illegal aliens and their children, they will self deport and the problem will be solved.

     Support the SAVE Act!
     End Birthright Citizenship!

     www.numbersusa.com