Response from Ellie "Illegals should be able to vote" Kinnard. Here is her email if your in Orange county and would like to email the esteemed senator -- Kinnairdla@ncleg.net .

Immigration is a hot topic this year, both nationally and in North Carolina. I have enjoyed learning about the role immigration has played in our history, to help place it in the perspective of today’s issues.

One of the driving forces over our history has been the need for a work force - usually at the bottom. Farm labor played a role in immigration when we were an agrarian society mostly from England. When industry developed explosively in the 19th century and early 20th century, cheap labor from eastern Europe and Italy were imported by the shipload. According to Mae M. Ngai, a University of Chicago History Professor, those immigrants were not considered illegal because of the few restrictions on immigration at the time. After one to five years, they became full citizens. ("Chinese were the exception, excluded on grounds of ‘unassimilability.'") Now we have a similar situation: our birth rate is low and we don’t have enough strong young workers to fill jobs that businesses need.

Many people are worried about immigrants from Mexico becoming citizens. Because it is so dangerous to get to this country, those entering illegally cannot go back to be with their families for years and years. Most do not want to stay permanently in the U.S., but because it is so dangerous to re-enter the country, the only good option is to bring their families here. Once established in the U.S., and children are born here, they have roots that compels them to stay.

In addition to being dangerous to cross the border, many are pressed into the drug trade by the "coyotes"as payment for their passage.

A possible solution would be to have open borders where workers could come when there are jobs, but go home at any time, including when they have sent back enough money to build their small house, grow vegetables and buy a few animals for a sustainable food source. That was the goal of the families we visited in Mexico. With NAFTA, we have the free flow of goods, but not the people who produce those goods.

People complain that immigrants are not paying for the services they use, the schools, medical care and services. But income tax is withheld from undocumented workers paychecks, but out of fear, they don't ask for any refund due. They also pay into Social Security, but can't get it out because they have false numbers. Sales taxes and property taxes on cars and houses, are contributed to our revenues.

I am disturbed about the denial of drivers licenses to undocumented workers. This is a safety issue since no license means no insurance.

The downside of illegal immigration is that it drives down wages for Americans. We have yet to find a decent solution without open borders to allow people to come when there is work, but go home permanently to their own country when there is not or they have earned enough to return to their homes.