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Old Oct 16, 2008, 8:24 pm
  #1  
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WSJ: Now Boarding: Illegal Immigrants on One-Way Tickets Home

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122244477368779127.html


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- While U.S. airlines downsize and scrimp on amenities, one carrier is offering its passengers leather seats, ample legroom and free food. But frequent fliers probably don't want a ticket on what may be the fastest growing "airline" serving Central America.

This carrier is run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency responsible for finding and deporting undocumented immigrants. A crackdown on illegal immigration has led to a spike in deportations and the creation of a de facto airline to send all the deportees home.
If i could only have such service when i fly.
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Old Oct 16, 2008, 8:33 pm
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The unmentioned is that many undocumented aliens are turning themselves in for voluntary deportation so they can get back home at government expense. Even they are hurting for money given the economic meltdown that followed from years of government deregulation and poor oversight of the financial markets and the collapse of the housing -- and construction -- industry.
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Old Oct 16, 2008, 10:21 pm
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Originally Posted by GUWonder
The unmentioned is that many undocumented aliens are turning themselves in for voluntary deportation so they can get back home at government expense. Even they are hurting for money given the economic meltdown that followed from years of government deregulation and poor oversight of the financial markets and the collapse of the housing -- and construction -- industry.
maybe we can leave too...
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Old Oct 16, 2008, 10:42 pm
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"... The swanky Boeing 737-800, leased from Miami Air International, had 172 brown leather seats and a single-class configuration... Halfway through the flight, security agents handed out box lunches: a bologna sandwich, potato chips, orange juice and a bag of carrots. When asked about the food quality, passenger Veronica Garcia grimaced and shook her head..."

172 seats sounds like 31" pitch to me, but a free bologna sandwich... that sure beats BOB!
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Old Oct 17, 2008, 12:00 am
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Originally Posted by Sam - DFW
maybe we can leave too...
Free one-way vacation to your favorite Central American country. Maybe one has deportation flights back to the US.
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Old Oct 17, 2008, 7:42 am
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Originally Posted by SFO777
172 seats sounds like 31" pitch to me, but a free bologna sandwich... that sure beats BOB!
Ryanair seats 189 - 17 more seats (or three more rows) - means three fewer inches of pitch throughout; ICE Air sounds palatial in comparison.

BTW - get rid of the bologna sandwich and one has my lunch . . .
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Old Oct 17, 2008, 8:41 am
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A Guatemalan foreign-ministry official declared, "Welcome home," and informed the arrivals that they had free access to a phone, a money-changing service and vans to the central bus station. "If you used a different name in the U.S., please give us your real name," the official told the crowd. "There is no problem."

wow!...I don't think United even has a lounge with this sort of treatment for Y customers hehehe....maybe its time for me to go back to Afghanistan.......hmm...or maybe NOT!
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Old Oct 18, 2008, 11:52 am
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Originally Posted by SFO777
"... The swanky Boeing 737-800, leased from Miami Air International, had 172 brown leather seats and a single-class configuration... Halfway through the flight, security agents handed out box lunches: a bologna sandwich, potato chips, orange juice and a bag of carrots. When asked about the food quality, passenger Veronica Garcia grimaced and shook her head..."

172 seats sounds like 31" pitch to me, but a free bologna sandwich... that sure beats BOB!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737#737-800
The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two class layout, or 189 in one class,
That means three fewer rows than standard configuration, so most likely better that 31" pitch.
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 6:25 am
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If a sizable proportion of US illegal residents leave, what happens to the economies of the border states who rely on underpaying such workers?

It's an interesting story which I noted from that day's WSJ e-mail.
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 2:42 pm
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Originally Posted by BiziBB
If a sizable proportion of US illegal residents leave, what happens to the economies of the border states who rely on underpaying such workers?
Maybe they could pay decent wages and hire Americans?
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 2:51 pm
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Originally Posted by thebat
Originally Posted by BiziBB
If a sizable proportion of US illegal residents leave, what happens to the economies of the border states who rely on underpaying such workers?
Maybe they could pay decent wages and hire Americans?
I figured a suffificent number had been offered amnesties that the deportation of a proportion would still allow such businesses to carry on paying ex-illegals a similar but slightly higher wage.

I suppose it could be a lot worse, like contracting it out to a Mesa / Taco Bell consortium.
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 2:57 pm
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Originally Posted by BiziBB
[

I figured a suffificent number had been offered amnesties that the deportation of a proportion would still allow such businesses to carry on paying ex-illegals a similar but slightly higher wage.
p
Man, ya gotta proofread these things before you post.
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 5:36 pm
  #13  
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[QUOTE=BiziBB;10544735]
Originally Posted by thebat

I figured a suffificent number had been offered amnesties that the deportation of a proportion would still allow such businesses to carry on paying ex-illegals a similar but slightly higher wage.

I suppose it could be a lot worse, like contracting it out to a Mesa / Taco Bell consortium.
i do not understand what you said.

what are you saying about amnesties?? are you famaliar with the situation?
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 6:00 pm
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Old Oct 19, 2008, 6:12 pm
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Tade advantage of a free flight, why not? Goes with the free in-state college tuition, free healthcare via the emergency room and OB wards (after which they disappear sin pagando), and free schooling for their kids in our already overstuffed public schools. All so we can save a quarter on a wal-mart t-shirt or a dime on some OJ.
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