If you are a US citizen then you are almost certainly the descendant of people to immigrated to the United States. As you consider your position on immigration reform, please look at the issue from at least two perspectives: How do immigrants affect you and your loved ones today, and, just as important, how would your ideal solution have affected your immigrant ancestors?
Immigration has always been contentious for us. My great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents, came to the US from eastern Europe. I do not know their individual experiences but, as a group, eastern European immigrants were not well received in these United States. The immigrants were seen as dirty, poorly mannered, uneducated, and generally offensive to polite society. There was great debate about whether these kinds of people should be allowed to come to the US; how much it would cost the US citizens to house them, feed the, educate the, and transport them to cities away from the eastern seaboard. It does not matter what period of our history you examine; you will find that immigration was a contentious topic. Yet despite all that contention, most of us are here because of our forefathers’ compassion.
Hold that compassion dear. Use your heart and your mind to choose a “solution” to the immigration “problem” which serves you, your neighbors, your community, and future Americans.
P.S. Though you may consider me poorly mannered and generally offensive to polite society, I do bathe regularly and I am well educated. Two out of four ain’t bad. 😉
