by Christina Bernice Butler

Created on: May 25, 2010   Last Updated: October 29, 2010

My views on immigration are that we should just let the immigrants come but not support it illegally. All illegal immigrants need to be in court just like every other person who breaks the law. This could cost a whole lot financially but, for the sake of remaining the great country worth running toward, we cannot lower our standards in any department. 

Because so many people who come here truly have no other place they can go or they have risked so much to even come, I believe it would almost always be a difficult matter to turn them back around; however, the law is the law and must be upheld! Yet, it must be done with care because, citizens of this nation or not, immigrants are fellow citizens of the human race. We pay taxes and I strongly feel that illegal immigrants who are in need should be directed toward a way to obtain aid, whether monetary or in another form, rather than be swept under a rug or hired for work that is not even legal to give.

To me, the issue of illegal immigration is one of great conflict, although I did not always see it as such. Throughout the past five or so decades and especially in the last two to three, cases of illegal immigration have been severely large in number and have caused a variety of problems. Knowing this information and having now grown up, I've changed my perspective. New York City has diversified so greatly within my lifetime. I cannot think of one ethnic group that I have not interacted with in my twenty-one years. My mind has finally changed to realize just how significant an issue illegal immigration is to this nation.

With tattered clothing from a long journey, determined spirits from trying to overcome a troubled past and a large heart with hope for the future is how immigrants are depicted.

However, many illegal immigrants have not been living like that at all but still desperately and wholeheartedly desire to get into the United States of America. My ancestors have been in this country as far back as we can remember. Before New York, it was the South. Whether you've always been here or not, as a citizen and especially one in government, it is with great care that you must handle our nation's immigrants. I can only imagine how many come each year and I can see it, even with the fact that I've never been in the position myself.

They call America a melting pot because of the cultural diversity from immigration but, for people like me, it's just the place I live. Our nation's immigrants are important to us in so many ways and policies on illegal immigration are in need of change.

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