Voices of immigration: Immigrants vent feelings

Voices of immigration

Over the past several weeks, we have asked readers to share their views and personal stories about immigration. Here are some of their responses. Look for more letters throughout September.

USA TODAY OPINION

The current tolerance for illegal immigrants from mostly Hispanic countries, and the proposal to make millions of them legal through some form of amnesty, would create a "favored nation status" that the immigration law was meant to avoid.

It seems to me that if amnesty is granted to millions of Hispanics, then the quotas for other countries should be adjusted upward in order to maintain the desired ethnic mix.

Derek Fell; Pipersville, Pa.
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Don't degrade citizenship

I entered the USA as a legal Cuban refugee with my parents July 4, 1969. Like many others, we had to wait seven years in order to enter legally. My mother's greatest moment came at age 75, when she recited the Pledge of Allegiance before a judge in English. I was able to teach her the U.S. system of government, so that both of us passed citizenship tests.

Citizenship is a precious privilege to be earned, not something to be stolen by illegal entry into this country. Legitimizing illegal immigrants is an insult to millions who have entered this great land legally and studied to learn its language and its customs. It also degrades the value of the precious right of citizenship.

Regarding the 4 million U.S. citizens who have been born in this country to illegal immigrant parents, perhaps an amendment to the Constitution is needed for future births. The people already born could have dual citizenship until 18. Then they could decide whether they are ready to assume the responsibilities of becoming a citizen of the United States.

Maria Carlota Waltherr-Willard; Greenhills, Ohio
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Unintended consequence

I am a second-generation Mexican American. My parents came to the United States as a result of the 1910 Revolution in Mexico. They came with their families and experienced many hardships, even living for a time in cold boxcars. They worked hard, paying taxes, buying homes and adding to the economy.

I feel fortunate to have kept my Spanish language. I am a bilingual teacher and earned a master's degree in education. I work with Spanish-speaking families in southwest Detroit. The children I've taught have become teachers, police officers, engineers, lawyers and more.

Now, with the emphasis on deporting the undocumented, some families in the neighborhood are being torn apart. The homes, on which they were paying mortgages, have been abandoned, the banks are left with foreclosures and the economy is made worse by the lack of people. How is that making this nation better?

Theresa Rodriguez; Brownstown, Mich.
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Follow the process

My family's immigration started with sacrifice and an opportunity. My father was going to join the Philippine air force. However, the U.S. Navy recruited him to aid in the Vietnam War and offered him a path to obtain U.S. citizenship, which was perceived as a way to escape the poverty in the Philippines. He started out as a Navy cook but eventually retired as a career Navy man.

His sacrifice was the catalyst for my family. He brought over my mother and sister, who eventually were naturalized. Then my father brought his sister and husband, and then my mother brought her sister and her husband. Other relatives followed. All became naturalized U.S. citizens.

I get angry about illegal immigration. There is a process. I'm tired of the "victim mentality" of illegal immigrants and have little tolerance for cheats. Others can argue ignorance, but if an illegal immigrant has been in the U.S. for years, there is definitely an intent to cheat the system.

Rancisco Ballesteros; Oxnard, Calif.
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Citizenship, after 9 years

I came to America in 2002 from war-torn Kosovo as a high school exchange student to pursue an education and live without the fear of political persecution. I went on to college and then graduate school on a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and hard-earned money.

The optimal way to obtain and keep legal status is to obey the laws unconditionally, take up any dirty jobs and work hard, and study even on Friday nights when other students are partying. On days off from school, I often cleaned yards, garages and tennis courts. While some might find that work demeaning, I am proud I earned the money honestly.

Most important, one must resist temptations to take shortcuts. I am on track to receive my citizenship next year. It will have taken nine years. The immigration journey challenges one's character, values and patience.

I have also experienced anti-immigrant comments. For example, a man recently told me, "Lose your accent or at least try to practice." Other immigrants may have been subject to more hateful comments, but one thing is for sure: I can not lose my accent because most Americans love it. Just ask my American fiancée.

Luan Mazreku; Galena, Mo.

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