Absingjul Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124449530735395499.html Monk Phra Bunphithak Jomthong entered the U.S. four years ago on a religious visa and has since devoted himself to serving a burgeoning Buddhist community in Southern California. Barefoot and clad in a saffron robe, Mr. Jomthong recently gave what amounts to the most accurate job description he has: "to share Buddhist practices and to promote peace and harmony among people."But the U.S. government wants to deport the 47-year-old monk, after denying him permanent U.S. residency, or a green card, on the grounds that he was employed without authorization after his temporary religious visa lapsed. Now, Mr. Jomthong, a citizen of Thailand, is fighting in federal district court and immigration court for the right to remain in the country. At issue is the meaning of "employment." Mr. Jomthong's fate may depend on whether his attorney can convince a judge that the monk's unpaid religious services don't constitute employment. "The monk may work at his religious labors but he is not employed by the temple. He took an oath of poverty and doesn't receive wages," says Angelo Paparelli an immigration attorney with Seyfarth Shaw LLP who is representing Mr. Jomthong free of charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimjim Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Ok, and? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWMcMurray Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I Wish him luck. I will be very surprised if he ends up actually getting deported Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surayu Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 That sounds a bit like the US adopting the thai regulations, so hopefully when he gets the kick he will be able to explain to his own people that these kind of regulations are not really meant to do any goods, whatever countries they are applied to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAWP Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 As we have been told so many times, receiving a salary or not doesn't mean anything when it comes to determining if one has worked or not. He clearly worked for his faith... So send him back, get it into the Thai news and inform them that their own rules are equal. Som nom na. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livinginexile Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 As we have been told so many times, receiving a salary or not doesn't mean anything when it comes to determining if one has worked or not.He clearly worked for his faith... So send him back, get it into the Thai news and inform them that their own rules are equal. Som nom na. I agree, Why should he be given special treatment? It wasn't very spiritual of him to brake the law. He knew what he was doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmine6 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Maybe he can get the Obama's aunt exemption. Be ordered to leave, but just ignore it for 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungian Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 All he has to do is claim being a monk is a way of life not a career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumnien Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 He should remain in the US. Then he will know suffering at a deep level. Why let him go scot free back to Thailand and enjoy his life? Make him stay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksamui Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Kick him out for not having the correct visa. Ignorance is no excuse. I have and continue to jump through hoops for visa's to various countries as do a lot of others on here. Rules are rules and he should have stuck to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry9999 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Even Buddhist monks have to follow the rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carib Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 (edited) It is a nice change, I mean throwing someone out, it is not like what is always done; arresting people all over the world. Edit: forgot the smiley.. Edited June 9, 2009 by Carib Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungian Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I'm not sure he is going to get to fight this one, more than 200,000 unlawfully foreign nationals are deported from the USA every year but they aren't as easy to catch as he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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