SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Living Legal

We’ve all heard the stories associated with more than 400,000 illegal immigrants now living in Georgia. Now, you will hear from a legal immigrant who says trying to function in Georgia the legal way is nearly impossible – because the system doesn’t recognize his paperwork.

You may have been following our stories lately about how illegals have found ways to gain access to our most vulnerable public services – all by creating fake documentation. Hector Marquez is completely legal, but tells us it has made his stay here nearly unlivable.

In the competitive world of Georgia small business, Hector Marquez is an MVP.

“If Hector was not here working in the United States with our company, 15 Americans would lose their jobs,” explains James Lakeman.

But the Mexican native says it’s nearly impossible to succeed in the states when you’re legal.

“I feel frustrated, really frustrated. We have tried to make it the right way,” explains Marquez.

His story starts out in Pueblo, Mexico – where Hector had developed a global reputation.

“We needed a chemical engineer who had knowledge of application of glass to steel and that’s where Hector came in. Hector and I met in Mexico and we began the process to bring Hector to the United States legally. The process, the paperwork, took us over 2 years,” says Lakeman.

But Lakeman tells Channel 2 – that was only the beginning.

“What we have found is that Hector practically lives in a no man’s land here in the United States,” says Lakeman. “It’s difficult for him to acquire a Driver’s License, purchase a house, even open a bank account.”

Consider what happened when Hector applied for his Driver’s License.

“I have my Mexican Driver’s License and I have my Visa H1B type, she checked my papers and said, ‘No, you cannot obtain your Driver’s License because you are not a citizen,” says Hector.

Compare that to what Channel 2’s undercover cameras found at a business in Cobb County -- a broker who caters to illegal immigrants, buying them car tags that get them on the road – never even bothering with a license.

“I think it’s, to me, it’s a tragedy,” says Lakeman.

Here’s what Hector says happened when he went to a bank for a home loan.

“I talked with this lady and she said, ‘Are you legal or illegal?’ and I said, “Legal.’ She said, “I can’t help you, I’m working with illegal people.’ I said, ‘What?’

“And several times when we were going through this dilemma we were told, ‘Hey, just pay $60 and you can have a Social Security Card and a Driver’s License and everything will be fine.’ We didn’t what to do that, we wanted to go legal. We knew that we needed to do it legally. The last thing we wanted to do is build a company, have 10, 20, 30 employees, then Hector’s sent back to Mexico – then where are we? Everybody’s out of a job – you just can’t do it that way,” says Lakeman.

State officials tell Channel 2’s Dale Cardwell that Hector should have been able to get a Driver’s License by presenting his Visa, but acknowledge some state employees are likely unfamiliar with what to do when presented with one. Hector’s current Visa expires in two years.