I am proud to say that I am one of millions of naturalized American citizens today, who not being born in this country have adopted this great country as my own. My father immigrated to this country legally and had to go through the long and extensive process of acquiring a working visa. When he finally arrived, he immediately petitioned my mother and me to join him. After a few months, we were reunited as a family. My parents today, I am proud to say, are also naturalized citizens.
It bothers me to hear when immigrants illegally enter the country. I am of the opinion that it short changes the American dream. Since more than half of undocumented immigrants come from Mexico, it is important to examine their motivations in coming to this country illegally. Most Mexican undocumented immigrants when asked why they came into the United States often justify their actions because they believe they had no other choice. Their responses would oftentimes mention their economic plights--there are no jobs in Mexico, no opportunities--and therefore had to leave because their families were starving. So they cross the border (illegally), hero-like, risking their very lives to enter this country to find better opportunities. But, unlike the Chinese a century ago who would go back to their home country after accumulating some wealth, Mexican undocumented immigrants, without an ocean to deter them, refuse to go back, and instead bring their families illegally into the United States.
The point here is that the root cause of this problem lies not in the United States but with the Mexican government. President Bush understands that this is President Fox’s problem. The Mexican government has failed to provide adequate social and economic opportunities for the Mexican people. It is important to bear in mind that the Mexican people do have a choice: they could go to their families for assistance first, then the church, and as a final resort, their government for help. But they opt out of these options and decide to illegally enter the United States.
My gripe with this matter is the simple fact that there is a right way and wrong way to enter this country. By stepping into this country illegally, undocumented immigrants have already broken the law, and that in my opinion, should not be tolerated by any legal immigrant or naturalized citizen who themselves sacrificed to enter this country the legal, right and proper way.
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Immigration
