#1 for YOED 6020

What is your position on the current state of immigration?
First, I think it is important to remind myself (and others) that this country was founded by immigrants! The creation of our country's population consisted of various cultures and groups of individuals who fled to America in search of "opportunity." Due to this unarguable fact, I support immigration rights. However, immigration from Mexico since the 60s has continued to increase at rapid rates. There has to be some form of control.

Quinones wrote about Mexican immigrants taking jobs that people already in America did not want. I think that this is also true and a reason that crossing the border has become so common. Unfortunately, we (American taxpayers) must pay for health care and education for the children of illegal immigrants while they contribute nothing to this funding. (However, I also recognize that there are people in the U.S. that do not work and rely on government supported income (welfare) and public housing.) I believe that neither is correct.

For example, a student at the school where I work is illegal (he has a 9 as the first digit of his SS# and I was informed that this is how we distinguish if a child is here illegally). He is a behavior problem and was recently arrested (not the first time) for assaulting another student. So, now not only are we paying for his education, we have to pay for his criminal incidents as well. Nothing will be done to him because he is a child. He does not have insurance so his mother took him to the clinic for his injuries. She knew not to take him to the ER because she could not afford to pay for it and because she knew she might be questioned about whether or not she had citizenship rights and did not want to face deportation.

I appreciate their ability to make American dollars and become middle class in Mexico due the exchange rate. However, I also think it is important to remember that many who fled their home communities to work in other places actually wound up damaging their home towns because they brought in money for their families, but did not actually live there themselves, which caused buildings to become vacant.

Quinones also mentions that many immigrants, both legal and illegal, have fled to the southeast region. Typically, these workers settle for low wages and complete hard labor. I know that in Cheatham County, where I am from, there are many immigrants, especially Mexicans, who work the tobacco fields.

Do you have any suggestions for immigration reform?

Each situation is unique. Therefore, what is best for one family may not be the same for another. Border control, as it is now, doesn't seem to be fixing the problem. I just wish that those who truly wanted to become American and live the American life would apply to do so. I feel that those who are here illegally are the ones who are not interested in becoming American, but are interested in the exchange rate of dollars and pesos. I may be incorrect or too uneducated about the topic, but this seems to be the case from where I sit.