Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Rodrigo's Second Chronicle: The Economics and Politics of Race

1993; University of Michigan Law School; Volume: 91; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1289757

1939-8557

Richard Delgado, Rodrigo, Richard A. Epstein,

Culture, Economy, and Development Studies

Rodrigo. My God, you're back! [FN1] What are you doing here?"(Normally, I do not use profanity or take the name of the Lord in vain.But the familiar lanky figure standing in my office doorway had given me quite a start.)My visitor broke into a broad grin."I needed a while to get my affairs in order, take care of that immigration problem, [FN2] and pack.I was admitted to the LL.M. program of that school uptown.So we'll be neighbors -living in the same city, at any rate.""I'm delighted," I stammered, putting down the book I had been reading [FN3] and reaching out to shake his hand."I wrote the INS as soon *1184 as I got your letter.But I didn't expect to see you so soon.This is wonderful news.""It took a little doing.I received some letters from colleagues of yours who must have read your account of my predicament.They urged me to return.[FN4] But I'd already resolved to do that myself.And here I am -just moved into my new apartment on upper Riverside last week.My sister Geneva gave me a hand.You're the first person I've looked up since getting settled.""You have no idea how glad I am to see you.I was afraid you'd spend the rest of your life as a cafe intellectual in sunny Italy.At least my letters of recommendation to the LL.M. programs weren't wasted.[FN5] Tell me how you did it.I talked to some colleagues about your immigration problem; they were stumped."I motioned for him to take a seat in my cluttered office, littered with papers and boxes from my recent move."Would you like a cup of coffee?" "Thanks," Rodrigo replied, casting a glance at my office coffeemaker and supply of beans."I'm afraid I became addicted to espresso in Italy, where it's practically the national drink."As I busied myself grinding the beans and setting the timer, Rodrigo launched into his story."First, I appealed the INS decision, emphasizing the brevity of my service with the Italian army and my *1185 reasons for performing it.[FN6] But the agency was having none of it -they acted as though they had no discretion, which of course you know they do.They kept telling me to reapply, as though I hadn't been born here and had no good reason for being in Italy while I was growing up."I poured the coffee and asked, "So are you here on a student visa?And if so, how are you going to get a law teaching job later without lying about your intent?" [FN7]"That worried me, too, Professor, because as you know I hate lying.""So, what did you do?"I asked, indicating the cream and sugar."Whatever it is, I hope it's legal.You're not one of those undocumented aliens, as our Anglo friends call them, are you?""Just sugar," he replied."I used a two-step procedure.As you know, the European Community went into effect recently.