$59,000 seized from Illegal Alien

[T.S.]

Does he deserve to get it back? I say no.

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant, managed to save $59,000 while working as a dishwasher for 11 years.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back.

Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

Story continued.....

Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000 - CNN.com

[Torrey]

Yeah, he didn't know he was running afoul..... sure.

He never paid no taxes, he illegally entered our country (this makes him a criminal), he never bothered to learn English, and for 11 years I am sure he took advantage of every gimme our system offered to him. I say we take the money, let him rot in jail for a few years doing hard labor for free, feed him only bread and water, and after about 5 years, we deport his ass to Mexico so he can tell all his other little bean bandit buddies how nice we were to him, and let him make his way back to Guatamala where he's from on his own dime.

I saw them post this crap on CNN... showing all the whole sob story, showing the 'poor little illegal' and his 'starving family' back in Guatamala. I have no mercy.

[Panterro]

He wont get it back.. he made his money by committing a crime, several to be honest. Fraud being one of them. So that money is the states now.

[catfish]

Originally Posted by Torrey

Yeah, he didn't know he was running afoul..... sure.

He never paid no taxes, he illegally entered our country (this makes him a criminal), he never bothered to learn English, and for 11 years I am sure he took advantage of every gimme our system offered to him. I say we take the money, let him rot in jail for a few years doing hard labor for free, feed him only bread and water, and after about 5 years, we deport his ass to Mexico so he can tell all his other little bean bandit buddies how nice we were to him, and let him make his way back to Guatamala where he's from on his own dime.

I saw them post this crap on CNN... showing all the whole sob story, showing the 'poor little illegal' and his 'starving family' back in Guatamala. I have no mercy.

I could not give a SH about his starving family back in Guatamala. After he gets out of jail ship him back to them and with any little anchors he may have made here.
Deport them now

[Emanuel labor]

Originally Posted by catfish

I could not give a SH about his starving family back in Guatamala. After he gets out of jail ship him back to them and with any little anchors he may have made here.
Deport them now

You talk all big mean an riches when your belly is full , hard times in your country is nothing compared to mine , are you that stupid to think we would rather live hear in a strange place away from our families an friends. You are no different then some of the rich people in your country everything for yourselves you complain about what they have an you don’t an you don’t an you do the same to us, you have no compassion for people like me That don’t have anything. I feel sorry for you , you are a sad angry person

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by Emanuel labor

You talk all big mean an riches when your belly is full , hard times in your country is nothing compared to mine

I knew things were a little rough there, but is Canada really that bad??

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by Panterro

He wont get it back...

All that needs to happen is to have the IRS calculate his total income for the past 20 years, figure back taxes interest and penalties. He would then go to prison because he could not pay the IRS because the 50K would not even cover it.

[NHYRNUT]

Make an exsample of him keep his money. And after the irs takes out the taxes, we incarserate him, and make him pay for his incarseration with his own money. when his money runs out and he has just enough for a plane ticket home. We take that money and fly him home give him a old parachute and kick his but out the plane, over the jungle.