Encarnacíon Bail Romero (photo New York Times)
It is amazing how slow justice is, and even slower at fixing its own mistake; mistakes, which in the case of family justice, are profuse and leave incurable wounds.
Missouri Supreme Court finally gave back Encarnacíon Bail Romero the parental rights that she had lost in Jasper county circuit court. More than two years ago, an admirable knight of family values, judge David C. Dally, deprived Bail Romero of her custody rights of Carlos, her son. Why? She was an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, in jail after the poultry plant where she was working (plant whose owners, I bet, are one of these folks who would tell you very seriously that taxes and Obama’s health care law kill private- sector hiring) was raided by the I.N.S. After Dally’s ruling, the then two-year old Carlos was given for adoption to an American couple.
John De Leon, a lawyer of the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry, declared that the Supreme Court had recognized that immigrants have the same rights than anyone else. I would not go that far. Bail Romero has still to go through another trial to regain Carlos’ custody.
I have not found anything in the media about Jasper circuit court judge David C. Dally. I wish the Missouri Supreme Court had removed this fellow from his job and had been creative in his sentencing. I would gladly see Dally sentenced to work in the very poultry factory Bail Romero was working, and his wage given to her as long as she is separated from her son Carlos.
It´s amazing that there are no comments to this post. American people has become numb to a mother suffering and I don´t blame them. It´s not their fault. It´s their government fault.
American society has to wake up and demand its goverment to stop sending millions of dollars to countries with corrupted polititians that don´t use the money wisely. The money ends up in the pockets of few ones. The rest of the population struggle on a daily basis. This is the reason why they escape from their place of origin. Shame on these government officials!
Encarnacion Bail Romero is just an honest working woman. This is her crime. She is not and “illegal alien”. She is a desperate mother that needs to have her son back in her arms. It´s her right!!!… It´s not the judge Dally´s right.
Why do Latinos always take a side just for arguments sake? I’m Latina. I was born in Bogota Colombia. My brother was born in Sao Paulo. We were both adopted by an American couple. I can assure you that this is NOT about immigration. Though Romero caused COUNTLESS stress to the Americans whose identity she stole. However, this is about what is best for Jamison. How on EARTH can you presume to know that being sent to a squalid third world country with a complete stranger with zero means of communication would be best for Jamison?? Would it be best for Encarnacion? Undoubtedly. But please review the FACTS. She has two children being raised by her sister. Encarnacion has been deported TWICE before, and TWICE before she left her children to live in filth while she committed fraud and theft to cross the border. She has a proven track record of abandonment. Is this about illegal immigrations? In part. But you cannot convince anyone that she wouldn’t take this poor and shattered boy to Guatemala and leave him with a relative whilst she attempts her FOURTH illegal entry. She is completely and utterly aware of the consequences. This isn’t about a system SNAFU. This is about choices she has made. Should she get caught again she will, again, be detained and deported. And during her incarceration she will AGAIN abandon her children. Do I feel for her? YES. Do I understand? YES. But that isn’t the point. The point is not what she wants. She made choices that lead to a wider problem. She did play a part in this and she has NO RIGHT to ruin Jamison’s life. If my birth mother tried to haul me back to poverty I would have absolutely zero opportunities for a quality life. If she wanted to smuggle herself here so badly for a better life and leave her other children in a worse environment, it’s really hypocritical to then try to forcibly remove one child back to poverty just because she cannot stay in America. The Mosers went through the proper channels, unlike Encarncaion. This is sad. And I believe she ought to have visitation. But not paid for by the Mosers. Just because they are better off does not render them responsible for Encarnacions affairs. Just as tax paying Americans ought not to be rendered responsible for the welfare of those not contributing. I’m hispanic. I’m American. I’m adopted. The Mosers are at present the BEST parents for Jamison. I’m glad justice was served for the sake of this poor boy.
“How on EARTH can you presume to know that being sent to a squalid third world country with a complete stranger with zero means of communication would be best for Jamison?”
Dear Maycin, the way you talk about Latin America hurts – it hurts to see how you too were indoctrinated into believing that everything that is not from (the USA) America is bad, inferior, “squalid”, . You refer to your roots, culture of origin, and blood with contempt. You are unaware of the richness in culture of Latin America… and the vast contributions of Latin America in areas of Literature, Music, Arts, Science, Spirituality, and Philosophy.
“Encarnacion has been deported TWICE before, and TWICE before she left her children to live in filth”…”This is about choices she has made. Should she get caught again she will, again, be detained and deported”
Dear Maycin, I am hoping that by now you are more mature and would understand the relationship with the migrations of the poor, and the oppression of the powerful. More than 6 millions of USA citizen are emigrating from EU to other countries, and they haven’t been deported … not because they are better, not because they are smarter, not because they are legal in their chosen country, but because they have money. Even you can be deported if you don’t have the money in an event of an emergency in the USA or war. And because you are not white like your adoptive parents, you could get deported too.
” it’s really hypocritical to then try to forcibly remove one child back to poverty just because she cannot stay in America”
Dear Maycin, he will be with his real mother we wants him back and loves him… that’s universally better than money.
“The Mosers went through the proper channels, unlike Encarncaion”
Dear Maycin, no, you are wrong. Snatching a baby from the hands of a mother and putting him in adoption against her will is kidnapping.. is immoral, and it is illegal. (Making legal something illegal is brutality)
Hi Maycin,
Thanks for your comment, although I could not disagree more.
Encarnacion’s emigration history is irrelevant. It is not for Judge Dally to decide whether it is better for her kid to be separated from her mother based on her emigration status. Encarnacion Bail Romero’s case is a sad precedent of flagrant violation by Missouri Supreme Court of human rights.
Pierre