A letter on immigration from
high school student Amber Molina"Be proud of where you come from and always follow your dreams"
Amber Molina - November 13, 2009November 13, 2009
Re: Issues on Immigration
Dear Ernesto,
I come from a family of what used to be undocumented immigrants from Mexico. My father and uncle came into this country without documents but are now United States citizens. I never really paid attention to undocumented immigration until my high school years. I now realize and understand what undocumented immigration is and who undocumented immigrants truly are and the struggles they face. I have researched the topic quite a bit, both the positive and negative aspects of undocumented immigration and I truly believe that undocumented immigrants need our help. Therefore, I believe the United States should come up with a reform to help legalize undocumented immigrants and to protect those who are here from harm.
Even today I am surrounded by many undocumented immigrants whom I love and care for very much. Undocumented immigrants go though so much on a daily basis, whether it is here or in their own country. Many immigrants from Mexico suffer day to day trying to find ways to support their families and stay alive.
Undocumented immigrants decide to migrate to the US to find better lives and to work to support their families. The jobs that undocumented immigrants are known to do include migrant work, custodial work, construction, babysitting and housekeeping. These jobs are all hard labor jobs that provide little pay. Most of the jobs are backbreaking. The problem many of them face is “slavery.” Many businesses and individuals knowingly exploit both these men and women. They think that they can do anything to undocumented immigrants and get away with it because undocumented immigrants think that they do not have any rights or they are too scared to ask for help because they are afraid to get deported. The Southern Poverty Law Center states that over 70% of migrant workers who are women have been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted in the workplace. These women live in constant fear and silence. There is little being done to help protect these women and everyday there are more victims to these senseless crimes.
Undocumented immigrants do not care about the types of jobs they work or how hard the work because they are satisfied with anything as long as they have enough money to support their families and to live day to day. Many of these people are caring loving individuals who mean to do no harm to us or our country. They simply want to be part of the American Dream.
As we have seen throughout history many groups have been denied their basic human rights. It seems today’s focus is on the Mexican immigrants. New reforms can not only help protect these immigrants but can also give them the dignity that every person deserves. In my eyes undocumented immigrants are no different than anyone else. Their differences may be that they are a different color, speak a different language and struggle with the type of poverty many of us in the United States do not understand but no matter what minor differences there are, we are all human and should be treated with humanity.
I have learned to always stand up and be proud of who I am and to follow my dreams no matter how impossible they may seem. We need to look past what we see on the outside of these immigrants and look deep inside of them and that is where we will discover who these people truly are and how much they are like us. I hope to hear back from you. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Amber Molina
Amber Molina is a student at South High School in Pueblo, Colorado. She sent this letter to La Voz de Aztlan as the US House of Representatives is getting ready to debate comprehensive immigration reform.
