Translate
Alyssa, 19: I believe immigration reform in the U.S. is needed because the laws being imposed on immigrants aren’t fair. America was built by immigrants. People have migrated here from all over the world for centuries. A reform that would handle all the economic/political crap would be the first plan our state and national leaders would be pleased with but shouldn’t the priority be to unite families and allow folks that migrate here to believe in the reason they came here in the first place?
Lisbeth, 16: I think that we need an immigration reform in the U.S. because that would help undocumented people that come here for a better future for themselves and their families. Also that would benefit American citizens economically. The kind of reform that we might need would be a reform in which immigrants were given the chance of coming here and if they were not doing damage and living productively for a certain amount of time, then they would have the chance to stay here and live here. If they had a criminal record within that time then they can kick them out.
Jjakoba, 16: I think we need immigration reform in the U.S. because the laws are pointless, they tore me and my family apart. Why should we be allowed to go into their country (Mexico) and they not be allowed to come into ours with no hassle? I think all immigration laws should be reformed.
Deborah, 16: I think we need an immigration reform in the U.S. because the United States is made out of immigrants and the generations that follow like Hmong, Filipino’s, Mien and Laotian. The Mexican immigrants often take jobs that “white” people would never do, like working in the fields. Would they pick our strawberries and other fruits and vegetables in the blazing heat? Uh, no. People focus more on immigrants because they supposedly “take all the jobs.” The U.S. is not made up of just “white” people but others as well.
The reform I think we need is yes, to allow Mexicans and others to come over here and take jobs that American citizens are not willing to work. But there should also be set boundaries, like no criminals like rapists or legitimately bad people. The people that are decent and good should be helped. One of my teachers at school has been waiting to get a visa for his brother for years!
Austin, 17: Honestly, I feel that immigration contributes greatly to our society. For starters they come to America to have a better life, such as my parents who immigrated to America several years ago. If you come from nothing and gain something, you’ll value it more than someone who always had everything. My parents are not free riders. They are hard workers. That is why I feel like we need reforms that target immigrants. Why target them when they come here to have a better life by working? I think our country needs reforms that focus on our progress for a better future.
Ana, 16: I believe that we need immigration reform in the U.S. so that we don’t overpopulate. It’s not because of jobs because I’m sure immigrants do jobs they don’t like. My grandpa is an immigrant and the only jobs he can get are in the field or on the streets fixing cars. I’m sure he doesn’t enjoy that. The only reform I think we need is one that makes it so as long as they’ve been living in the U.S. for five years and haven’t violated the laws, they should be considered citizens.
Jesus, 17: I think the U.S. needs an immigration reform. America was founded by immigrants, so that they could have a better life. Now we have many immigrants here in the U.S., working hard to try to better themselves. They are denied citizenship for one reason or another and cannot do anything about it. We need an immigration reform to revive the American Dream, which is not possible for some people, such as immigrants.
The reform we need must be cautious. We wouldn’t want to have criminals gaining citizenship. Immigrants without a criminal precedent should be allowed their citizenship. We need to give the hard working immigrants what they deserve, a chance for a better life.
