by AnnMarie

Created on: August 03, 2008   Last Updated: August 05, 2008

Path to citizenship or deportation? A difficult answer and is not an easy one. I have thought about this for a long time. I believe there should be a path to citizenship for those who have been here for a long time, played by the rules and are law abiding. However, there should be no free rides, no free medical assistance, welfare, housing or bi-lingual education at the schools. If immigrants come here they should learn the language and adapt to our cultures and rules. Learning English should be a priority first.

My mother was also an immigrant. She waited seven years to come here legally. She and her family enrolled in English classes right away. I was born here, but at home we spoke our native language, so when I entered school I did not know English. The principal back then summoned my mother to school and told her she must teach me English and that was that. So, my parents and I practiced English everyday at home after that.

I also believe that anyone who abuses our laws and doesn't abide by our rules should be deported. We should not have to jail any illegal immigrants and support them out of American taxpayer dollars. If an immigrant is convicted of a crime they should be deported, no second chances either. We have enough gangs, drugs, thiefs and criminals among our own citizens.

What irritates me most is that this has been going on for years and the politicians and immigration have done nothing about it. People from all over the world come into this country and then they just disappear, or they pay to marry an American so they can stay and become a citizen. Then, we have many immigrants who only want to come here, make money to send back home and eventually go back to retire. They are using our education, tax breaks, government assistance, and generosity to fuel their economies back home. This does not make sense to me.

I understand that people want to come here for a better life, but it has to be done legally as it is putting a strain on our country and economy. We should just close our doors for a time until we can get our own situation in order and set up new rules for immigration.

I do believe that some people should be deported. It would almost have to be done on a case by case basis and those who are allowed to stay should have the means to do so, pay fines, enroll in English classes and be put on waiting lists for citizenship. Of course, families should not be seperated, so if parents are to be deported, then their American born children must go with

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