2008 Woodie Awards
Illegal immigrants work hard to stay in country
Becky Jimenez
Issue date: 4/19/06 Section: Opinion
No matter what city you live in, everyone has been bombarded with the numerous immigration protests. It has stirred up such controversy that immigrants are angry and have been protesting as a means of retaliation.
Protesting in America is a way of being heard. So, it shouldn't be surprising that illegal immigrants want to be heard in regard to the new HR 4437 proposal.
Years ago this proposition would've been nearly impossible. But what worries me the most is that currently Bush is in power. Once you have a looney as a president, it is a whole new ballgame. Currently, we stand at a brink where illegal immigrants are being singled out. Let me clarify, America has had its share of immigrants, but the reality is that in California illegal immigrants are commonly Mexican.
But really, what's so bad about illegal Mexican immigrants? Illegal immigrants come to America for a better way of life. Many immigrants don't want to be here, but in some cases it's either you stay in your homeland or you die. Many people who agree with this proposition have used the excuse of saying that illegal immigrants take the jobs that correspond to Americans. However, I disagree with that. I have profound respect and pride for all of those illegal people who perform all of the jobs that "we" Americans don't want to do. Our perspective of what constitutes a good job has been distorted. We automatically assume that working in arduous hard labor, such as grape picking and construction, are bad jobs. Surely, we all strive to do better but let's not forget who actually does these tiring jobs.
I know that when my father migrated from Mexico, he worked his butt off to obtain a stable income, a home and all of the other essentials to establishing himself in a foreign country. I am very proud of my father and grateful that he, like other illegal immigrants, migrated to this country.
He sacrificed himself day and night working out in the fields, and because of his sacrifice my siblings. I have the accessibility of obtaining a higher education, a stable home and the luxuries this world has to offer. So, what is the problem?
The problem is we are making it harder and harder to become a legal citizen. I think after a certain number of years an immigrant lives in America he or she should be able to be considered a legal resident, and finally obtain documentation to apply to be an American citizen.
It is absolutely absurd to try to get rid of all illegal immigrants because reality is they, too, play an important role in America.
Without immigrants, we would be lost. Who would we have to fill all of their jobs?
Protesting in America is a way of being heard. So, it shouldn't be surprising that illegal immigrants want to be heard in regard to the new HR 4437 proposal.
Years ago this proposition would've been nearly impossible. But what worries me the most is that currently Bush is in power. Once you have a looney as a president, it is a whole new ballgame. Currently, we stand at a brink where illegal immigrants are being singled out. Let me clarify, America has had its share of immigrants, but the reality is that in California illegal immigrants are commonly Mexican.
But really, what's so bad about illegal Mexican immigrants? Illegal immigrants come to America for a better way of life. Many immigrants don't want to be here, but in some cases it's either you stay in your homeland or you die. Many people who agree with this proposition have used the excuse of saying that illegal immigrants take the jobs that correspond to Americans. However, I disagree with that. I have profound respect and pride for all of those illegal people who perform all of the jobs that "we" Americans don't want to do. Our perspective of what constitutes a good job has been distorted. We automatically assume that working in arduous hard labor, such as grape picking and construction, are bad jobs. Surely, we all strive to do better but let's not forget who actually does these tiring jobs.
I know that when my father migrated from Mexico, he worked his butt off to obtain a stable income, a home and all of the other essentials to establishing himself in a foreign country. I am very proud of my father and grateful that he, like other illegal immigrants, migrated to this country.
He sacrificed himself day and night working out in the fields, and because of his sacrifice my siblings. I have the accessibility of obtaining a higher education, a stable home and the luxuries this world has to offer. So, what is the problem?
The problem is we are making it harder and harder to become a legal citizen. I think after a certain number of years an immigrant lives in America he or she should be able to be considered a legal resident, and finally obtain documentation to apply to be an American citizen.
It is absolutely absurd to try to get rid of all illegal immigrants because reality is they, too, play an important role in America.
Without immigrants, we would be lost. Who would we have to fill all of their jobs?
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Sandra Garcia
posted 12/10/07 @ 8:25 AM PST
YOU ARE CORRECT!! OVER THE PAST YEARS OF MY SCHOOL WORLD, I HAVE WROTE SO MANY ESSAY'S REGARDING EVERYTHING ABOUT IMMIGRANTS! I HAVE WROTE ABOUT MAY 1ST, ABOUT THEIR RISK AT WORK, OF HOW THEY ARE BEING TREATED, ABOUT SO MANY THINGS, THAT I EVEN THINK THAT MY INSTRUCTORS HAVE HAD ENOUGH. (Continued…)
Hannah Belzer
posted 10/14/08 @ 3:51 PM PST
I can't believe how naive you are. First of all, George Bush is more intelligent than you will ever be, he has done an excellent job in an unstable time period and Im pretty sure he knows what hes doing with illegal immigrants. (Continued…)
Huh??? Are you kidding me???
posted 12/02/08 @ 1:33 PM PST
I wish I could find some sense in your article...but I just can't. This country is a melting pot of immigrants. That is true. It's not the immigrants who are the problems. (Continued…)
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