Viewers condemn decision to send boy to Mexico
KATU.com received many, many emails in response to the story about the boy DHS ordered sent to Mexico. The following posts are a representative sampling of the responses we received. Nearly all expressed opposition to the decision to place the boy with his grandmother in Mexico. The emails below have not been edited in any way. We thank everyone who wrote in.
as the mother of three, i believe the child belongs with his blood relatives first. understandably, this particular child's foster parents are torn up, but they are foster parents not adoptive and knew first hand when they signed up to be foster parents, that children will come and go. it's not a perfect system, but the child deserves to know his family and grow in his culture, something these parents may not be able to provide. luckily, his family in mexico is better off than most. some can't take their biological children back due to systemic and financial strains. in regards to his "father", well he's not, the courts have already determined that. God bless this boy, and his family.
anon
State of Oregon/DHS please listen to the biological father. His opinion and knowledge of what the little boy’s life in Mexico will be like must be valued.
Sue McAdam
I think an important piece that everyone in the media seems to be leaving out--probably because of the financial impact--is a good in-person interview with the grandmother in Mexico. What really is the living environment the State would be sending Gabriel to. Is is good? Is it bad? Would our State workers be proud to have this element brought forward to the public and be able to stand by their decision to send Gabriel to that environment? Maybe she has a great environment for Gabriel. Maybe she doesn't. We just haven't seen that covered yet. Wonder why? Thanks. Tom, Willamette Valley
I think Oregon is making a mistake. Why rip a child from all he knows, where has loving sibs and parents (okay, foster) to send him to live with an elderly woman in a country he doesn’t know where the language isn’t familiar? This is supposed to be for HIS good?! HOW? All it will do is make him insecure, sad, (and if the old
episode on Quincy was correct) homesick enough to possibly pine, and even die. Wouldn’t that look nice – send him to live with “relatives” and get so depressed it ruins his health.
Brinn Hemmingson
503-872-1695
The "State" is the enemy of children in need. You can't get them to act when you know of a child who is in need, but give them a happy, loved, well adjusted child in the best home possible and they want to tear him away from everything he knows. It's disgusting, criminal and inhumane in my opinion. If this boy gets sent to Mexico, he will be so traumatized it will affect him the rest of his life. He should be left where he is, loved and secure, and the "State" should go rescue some neglected and abused children instead.
Maggie Hamlin
Lincoln City, Oregon
This seems to be another example righteous behavior by a government agency. We must follow these rules or someone will accuse us of being discriminatory towards this or that group of people. I doubt DHS has the best interests of this child in mind. I cite:
Deporting an American citizen????
Sending him to a country he has never known?
Sending him to a culture he does not fully understand?
Sending him to a person he has very little knowledge about?
Sending him to a person that may be older and not be able to be there for him when he is a teenager and in critical need of a supportive family?
Taking him away from the only "real" family he has ever known?
Now disrespecting a father's wish that the child remain in the U.S.?
When are we going to ask these questions and get real answers from DHS
thanks
bob
I am outraged at the action taken by DHS. My husband and I have emailed the governor about our thoughts on this issue. It is my hope that you will do a follow-up about how concerned people can help the foster parents fight this cruel decision.
Basically we are deporting a citizen who has done no crime other than being a minor.
We should be frightened by these people...
Lawrence W. Bergin
Gail E. Bergin
Once again DHS makes a serious mistake. There is no way they should send this small AMERICAN citizen out of the country. Where has the grandmother been for the last 2 years? Why was she not fighting to have this little boy with her for all this time? Has there been a home study done? His foster parents had to have one. Has there been any communication between the grandmother and the little boy? These are very serious things. How does DHS make these decisions. Blood does not make a family, love and security do. WAKE UP DHS. DHS is dead wrong with this issue.
Alaina Giguiere
First Snowball, now Gabriel. No common sense these government people!!!
Last night I heard a quote on your broadcast that went something like, "it is a different culture, but not a lesser culture." My response to that is that it is not merely a different culture, it is a foreign country with a foreign language to Gabe. These are also people he has never met before. We like to think that kids are resilient, but we cannot use that as an excuse to uproot them from the only home they've ever known simply to make a political statement. Furthermore, this issue is not about a country it is about the welfare of a child. While we may want children to be raised by blood relatives, why would the state want to have this child raised by people who have already raised one rapist? Is the state more concerned about the welfare of the child or of being politically correct?
Sincerely,
Jacquie Hoekstra
Toledo, OR
It’s sad that we as Americans do nothing but write words down about how we feel about another American citizen who is being illegally deported to country that he has no nationality with. Where is the ACLU…. Where is the governor…stupid questions I know. Common sense has left the building and is currently residing next to Elvis in this case. The poor boy should stay with the only family he knows, or perhaps….. he can transfer his case to the OD of FW and live with Snowball the deer.
John Loftin
Hello,
Gabriel is a U.S. citizen; DHS planning to send him to a third-world country simply defies common sense. The DHS employees involved in this debacle are showing utter disregard of what is in Gabriel's true best interest. They are arrogant, incompetent, and should be terminated immediately.
Regards,
Tom Spivey
I am a foster mother and have 2 beautiful little girls one of which we have adopted. They are full sisters. The younger of the 2 the mother is fighting the parental termination. Dad is in prison for 20 years for raping 12 year olds. She saw the child twice at one month old and two months old and hasn't seen her since. She turns 2 years old next week. We face the threat of loosing our little girl everyday because of a very screwed up system and I feel for that poor family. I think this little boy needs to be left with the only family he has ever know.....what happened to the 10 month rule for termination?
I prefer to remain anonymous due to our own fight with DHS and the fact that we don't want the mother to find out where we are....
I have already written in my response, but this entire situation angers be me and I need to vent it out.
I am a mother of 3 children and I cannot imagine someone coming to my home, taking any one of my children. Putting them on a plane and sending them to a country they have never been to and do not know how to communicate. My children would only want their parents to console them, not a stranger! How much training do DHS personnel go through? I am absolutely appalled at the idea and I would hope the Governor, the President and anyone else would step in and allow this little boy to stay with his parents. If Gabriel goes to Mexico, it would sadden me that the state I love so much has sent him there…
Debbie Edwards
What is wrong with our system?
I have 3 grandchildren whose father WAS an illegal. They are all grown people now and still won't go to see their maternal grandmother because they can't speak the language. What a scary thing for that little boy!! Leave him where he is!!!
Name withheld from Eastern Oregon
I am appalled, but not surprised.
The Oregon Dept of Social & Health Services failed to protect the 3 year old that we are now adopting in our home.
The social worker and doctor who delivered him, were very adament that he should not stay with his relatives, because of living conditions and the rampant drug use and lifestyle in their home. DSHS made a "deal" with the parents so that they could release him to them.
He ended up up in a terrible, terrible living situation, to which my husband & I were able to rescue him out of, with the parents permission.
DSHS needs a good lesson in common sense. The child is totally better off with the parents who know, care, love, and have relationship with him, than an older lady in a foreign country they know nothing about.
My advice to the foster-adopt parents....Call Good Morning America, get National attention....I have contacts.
Our prayers to you-
Debra & Randy FIsher
Vancouver, WA
If more people were concerned about the welfare of this little boy as were about the deer in Molalla perhaps his best interests would be followed.
Truly unbelievable. First I would like to mention that I am very much against the current law that allows an illegal alien to illegally enter this country, give birth and then the baby automatically is considered A US citizen.
In this case, and according to the law, this child is in fact a US citizen like it or not. How can DHS have the authority to deport a US citizen to a unknown relative? Do they even know for a fact there is a blood relationship??
The father is agreeable to adoption, yes or no? Certainly agreeable to the baby staying with the foster parents.
The mother is on the run? Her desires no longer count.
A good and providing family has cared and bonded with this child for the past 20 months.
Has anyone at DHS considered what is best for this child? The responsible person(s) at DHS need to explain themselves and their rationale.
KATU news needs tell the whole story... something is very wrong here.
Respectfully, Richard Thody
In regards to the incident of the little boy being deported to paternal grandparents that he doesn’t know?
Isn’t true that if someone has filed adoption papers and he or she get a signed consent from the parent for the adoption; that the state cannot deport the child. It seems if the father wants the child to stay with the foster parents all he needs to do is sign the adoption papers. Have a judge sign the papers and it’s a finished process. Is the state looking out for the well being of the little boy who knows no other life or are they just trying to show how much power they have. At this point it seems the child has a good wholesome, stable life and the state is going to make him another statistic? The state needs to focus on children who really need their help.
The state needs to focus on these children in drug or abusive homes instead a stable, well-adjusted innocent child.
It is my understanding that the state will be paying for support of this child if he is deported. An adopted child is supported by the adoptive parents not the state. Wow what’s wrong with that concept? Then the state could take care of a child in need.
J Prindel
Gabriel is a victim of DHS. DHS needs to take a long overdue look at what their goal should be......happy, stable children. Anyone can be biological parents, but true parents are those that have bonded with a child that lasts a lifetime. I hate to see what scares this will leave on Gabriel and other children that this has happened to. Will we see them later in life with no ability to show concern and care for others since none was shown to them? My heart goes out to him and his true "Parents"--the foster parents.
Caprice Locke
Tillamook, OR
as the mother of three, i believe the child belongs with his blood relatives first. understandably, this particular child's foster parents are torn up, but they are foster parents not adoptive and knew first hand when they signed up to be foster parents, that children will come and go. it's not a perfect system, but the child deserves to know his family and grow in his culture, something these parents may not be able to provide. luckily, his family in mexico is better off than most. some can't take their biological children back due to systemic and financial strains. in regards to his "father", well he's not, the courts have already determined that. God bless this boy, and his family.
anon
State of Oregon/DHS please listen to the biological father. His opinion and knowledge of what the little boy’s life in Mexico will be like must be valued.
Sue McAdam
I think an important piece that everyone in the media seems to be leaving out--probably because of the financial impact--is a good in-person interview with the grandmother in Mexico. What really is the living environment the State would be sending Gabriel to. Is is good? Is it bad? Would our State workers be proud to have this element brought forward to the public and be able to stand by their decision to send Gabriel to that environment? Maybe she has a great environment for Gabriel. Maybe she doesn't. We just haven't seen that covered yet. Wonder why? Thanks. Tom, Willamette Valley
I think Oregon is making a mistake. Why rip a child from all he knows, where has loving sibs and parents (okay, foster) to send him to live with an elderly woman in a country he doesn’t know where the language isn’t familiar? This is supposed to be for HIS good?! HOW? All it will do is make him insecure, sad, (and if the old
episode on Quincy was correct) homesick enough to possibly pine, and even die. Wouldn’t that look nice – send him to live with “relatives” and get so depressed it ruins his health.
Brinn Hemmingson
503-872-1695
The "State" is the enemy of children in need. You can't get them to act when you know of a child who is in need, but give them a happy, loved, well adjusted child in the best home possible and they want to tear him away from everything he knows. It's disgusting, criminal and inhumane in my opinion. If this boy gets sent to Mexico, he will be so traumatized it will affect him the rest of his life. He should be left where he is, loved and secure, and the "State" should go rescue some neglected and abused children instead.
Maggie Hamlin
Lincoln City, Oregon
This seems to be another example righteous behavior by a government agency. We must follow these rules or someone will accuse us of being discriminatory towards this or that group of people. I doubt DHS has the best interests of this child in mind. I cite:
Deporting an American citizen????
Sending him to a country he has never known?
Sending him to a culture he does not fully understand?
Sending him to a person he has very little knowledge about?
Sending him to a person that may be older and not be able to be there for him when he is a teenager and in critical need of a supportive family?
Taking him away from the only "real" family he has ever known?
Now disrespecting a father's wish that the child remain in the U.S.?
When are we going to ask these questions and get real answers from DHS
thanks
bob
I am outraged at the action taken by DHS. My husband and I have emailed the governor about our thoughts on this issue. It is my hope that you will do a follow-up about how concerned people can help the foster parents fight this cruel decision.
Basically we are deporting a citizen who has done no crime other than being a minor.
We should be frightened by these people...
Lawrence W. Bergin
Gail E. Bergin
Once again DHS makes a serious mistake. There is no way they should send this small AMERICAN citizen out of the country. Where has the grandmother been for the last 2 years? Why was she not fighting to have this little boy with her for all this time? Has there been a home study done? His foster parents had to have one. Has there been any communication between the grandmother and the little boy? These are very serious things. How does DHS make these decisions. Blood does not make a family, love and security do. WAKE UP DHS. DHS is dead wrong with this issue.
Alaina Giguiere
First Snowball, now Gabriel. No common sense these government people!!!
Last night I heard a quote on your broadcast that went something like, "it is a different culture, but not a lesser culture." My response to that is that it is not merely a different culture, it is a foreign country with a foreign language to Gabe. These are also people he has never met before. We like to think that kids are resilient, but we cannot use that as an excuse to uproot them from the only home they've ever known simply to make a political statement. Furthermore, this issue is not about a country it is about the welfare of a child. While we may want children to be raised by blood relatives, why would the state want to have this child raised by people who have already raised one rapist? Is the state more concerned about the welfare of the child or of being politically correct?
Sincerely,
Jacquie Hoekstra
Toledo, OR
It’s sad that we as Americans do nothing but write words down about how we feel about another American citizen who is being illegally deported to country that he has no nationality with. Where is the ACLU…. Where is the governor…stupid questions I know. Common sense has left the building and is currently residing next to Elvis in this case. The poor boy should stay with the only family he knows, or perhaps….. he can transfer his case to the OD of FW and live with Snowball the deer.
John Loftin
Hello,
Gabriel is a U.S. citizen; DHS planning to send him to a third-world country simply defies common sense. The DHS employees involved in this debacle are showing utter disregard of what is in Gabriel's true best interest. They are arrogant, incompetent, and should be terminated immediately.
Regards,
Tom Spivey
I am a foster mother and have 2 beautiful little girls one of which we have adopted. They are full sisters. The younger of the 2 the mother is fighting the parental termination. Dad is in prison for 20 years for raping 12 year olds. She saw the child twice at one month old and two months old and hasn't seen her since. She turns 2 years old next week. We face the threat of loosing our little girl everyday because of a very screwed up system and I feel for that poor family. I think this little boy needs to be left with the only family he has ever know.....what happened to the 10 month rule for termination?
I prefer to remain anonymous due to our own fight with DHS and the fact that we don't want the mother to find out where we are....
I have already written in my response, but this entire situation angers be me and I need to vent it out.
I am a mother of 3 children and I cannot imagine someone coming to my home, taking any one of my children. Putting them on a plane and sending them to a country they have never been to and do not know how to communicate. My children would only want their parents to console them, not a stranger! How much training do DHS personnel go through? I am absolutely appalled at the idea and I would hope the Governor, the President and anyone else would step in and allow this little boy to stay with his parents. If Gabriel goes to Mexico, it would sadden me that the state I love so much has sent him there…
Debbie Edwards
What is wrong with our system?
I have 3 grandchildren whose father WAS an illegal. They are all grown people now and still won't go to see their maternal grandmother because they can't speak the language. What a scary thing for that little boy!! Leave him where he is!!!
Name withheld from Eastern Oregon
I am appalled, but not surprised.
The Oregon Dept of Social & Health Services failed to protect the 3 year old that we are now adopting in our home.
The social worker and doctor who delivered him, were very adament that he should not stay with his relatives, because of living conditions and the rampant drug use and lifestyle in their home. DSHS made a "deal" with the parents so that they could release him to them.
He ended up up in a terrible, terrible living situation, to which my husband & I were able to rescue him out of, with the parents permission.
DSHS needs a good lesson in common sense. The child is totally better off with the parents who know, care, love, and have relationship with him, than an older lady in a foreign country they know nothing about.
My advice to the foster-adopt parents....Call Good Morning America, get National attention....I have contacts.
Our prayers to you-
Debra & Randy FIsher
Vancouver, WA
If more people were concerned about the welfare of this little boy as were about the deer in Molalla perhaps his best interests would be followed.
Truly unbelievable. First I would like to mention that I am very much against the current law that allows an illegal alien to illegally enter this country, give birth and then the baby automatically is considered A US citizen.
In this case, and according to the law, this child is in fact a US citizen like it or not. How can DHS have the authority to deport a US citizen to a unknown relative? Do they even know for a fact there is a blood relationship??
The father is agreeable to adoption, yes or no? Certainly agreeable to the baby staying with the foster parents.
The mother is on the run? Her desires no longer count.
A good and providing family has cared and bonded with this child for the past 20 months.
Has anyone at DHS considered what is best for this child? The responsible person(s) at DHS need to explain themselves and their rationale.
KATU news needs tell the whole story... something is very wrong here.
Respectfully, Richard Thody
In regards to the incident of the little boy being deported to paternal grandparents that he doesn’t know?
Isn’t true that if someone has filed adoption papers and he or she get a signed consent from the parent for the adoption; that the state cannot deport the child. It seems if the father wants the child to stay with the foster parents all he needs to do is sign the adoption papers. Have a judge sign the papers and it’s a finished process. Is the state looking out for the well being of the little boy who knows no other life or are they just trying to show how much power they have. At this point it seems the child has a good wholesome, stable life and the state is going to make him another statistic? The state needs to focus on children who really need their help.
The state needs to focus on these children in drug or abusive homes instead a stable, well-adjusted innocent child.
It is my understanding that the state will be paying for support of this child if he is deported. An adopted child is supported by the adoptive parents not the state. Wow what’s wrong with that concept? Then the state could take care of a child in need.
J Prindel
Gabriel is a victim of DHS. DHS needs to take a long overdue look at what their goal should be......happy, stable children. Anyone can be biological parents, but true parents are those that have bonded with a child that lasts a lifetime. I hate to see what scares this will leave on Gabriel and other children that this has happened to. Will we see them later in life with no ability to show concern and care for others since none was shown to them? My heart goes out to him and his true "Parents"--the foster parents.
Caprice Locke
Tillamook, OR