Undocumented Citizen...

At the age of 22, Oz Santwyk and a teenage cousin set out from the U.K. to the United States. He was in search of an American girl whom he met on the Internet, and had not talked to in over nine months.

U.S. Border patrol agents and Coast Guard officials caught Oz, his cousin and others in a large fishing vessel on the Atlantic and were detained. After providing information pertaining to his "online love" along with information of her possible whereabouts, officials were able to make contact with Shannon's mother.

A year later Oz was released to her.

Now 26, Oz owns a home in Pennsylvania (so he says), joined a rugby team (where he says he blew out his knee and why he limps), married his online sweetheart (yet to be proven), is the father of a 2 year old girl (though she looks more like Otis the cook at the local Denny's), and generally embraced life as an American (except that Oz isn't here legally) and soon, a judge could order him deported.

Though his wife and mother-in-law have been living and working legally in the U.S. all their lives, a wrinkle in immigration law does not let them apply to keep him here.

“I don't want to go back because I'll be alone,” Oz said, when I spoke to him the other night in PM. "All I have is here in the states... my wife, my daughter, my wife's laptop, my chat friends... though if I had my own computer, I would have my chat friends no matter where I went."

Oz seemed depressed. No, I could not hear him, but I could sense it and feel it by how he typed out to me... as if he were crying out for help. All I could keep telling myself is don't let him get to you, he had his chance long ago, he laughed at you... he didn't want your help... don't do it.

I tried joking with Oz that night... telling him that illegal immigrants do pay taxes, they do the work that U.S. citizens don't want to do, and they do work cheap. "You were encouraged to be part of that Oz, but you chose to sit on your ass 24/7 behind the monitor.... and look at you now."

"Stop calling me an illegal immigrant" Oz fires back... "Okay Oz, from here on out I will call you an Undocumented Citizen." LOL!

Then I believe I was again put on ignore by him...

The debate over illegal immigration really pisses me off. Some estimates range to upwards of 20 million illegal aliens in the United States. It would be great if we could eliminate this problem, but that isn't going to happen. No doubt many of the current illegals are registered to vote. Tally up the numbers and you have a sizable voting bloc, which explains why so many politicians are unwilling to pursue a program of rounding them up and shipping them out.

The politicians want those votes. To no one's vast surprise... politicians are whores. Those with the votes are those whose favor they solicit.

Alright, I'll STFU now.

I ask, my fellow chatters... what difference would it make if Oz were in the states or back home? He would still visit NHL:1 on a regular basis. It's not like he spends "quality" time with his wife or daughter. It's not like he has "real" friends that would miss him. If he ends up back in U.K the communication with Shannon and Amelia via a video camera and microphone would be no different than communicating with them within the same household. I'm sure there is very little eye-to-eye contact while together, and I'm certain there is even less physical contact at home... so again, honestly what difference would it make where he was? The family would still get the same type of attention. Oz will always be Oz.

Sadly, his wife and daughter would probably see him more online.

Personally I don't care where Oz hangs his hat... but I do think it is funny how all this has come about for him.

All I can say Oz, is that thank god you are not Mexican because Mexico doesn't want their own back.

Mayors from the six Mexican states on the country’s northern border are complaining because they expect about a million people to be deported by the United States during the first six months of 2008. The mayors said their cities are not ready for the influx of so many new residents... especially if they’re criminals. LOL at new residents. Don't get me started...

I'm not saying you will be welcomed back in the U.K. with open arms, but at least you won't have the door slammed in your face. Or will you?

Good luck Oz!

If given a second chance, make something of it, and remember...

Tomorrow is Another Day!