Letter: Another view about goals of illegals (Feb. 22)
Re: Jan Soto’s letter to the editor of Feb. 19.
The comment that individuals come to the United States with the intention of depending on public assistance is erroneous.
When a person considers moving to the United States, however the mode, the intention is to come and work, eventually start a family and live off the earnings of a decent job, either working in the fields, or working your way up into school and becoming a professional.
The reality is that in order to gain the privilege to become legal in the United States, an individual must prove to Immigration that he or she has been a law-abiding citizen, obtained and maintained gainful employment, and, more than anything, has not been a burden to society by depending on public assistance to support a family by the mere fact of having a U.S. citizen child.
As you mentioned, Ms. Soto, crossing the border illegally is violating a law, and one pays a fine of $1,000 that goes back to the state economy to support community services such as WIC, First 5, WTW, child-care assistance programs, victim services, after-school programs, substance abuse, in-patient programs, food banks, etc., available to all those eligible regardless of their legal status.
Those who do bring their Latin American children, bring them over with the intention to raise them with their means from employment and not rely on public assistance that they do not qualify for to begin with due to their legal status. These individuals are only eligible for Emergency Medical Services and it exclusively pays for “emergencies.”
I do believe that there are illegal individuals who depend on public assistance through their children to live, and claim that their ability to find employment is nearly impossible due to their status, but it is a matter of pride and responsibility to not raise your children with assistance other than your ability to hold a job. Yes, it is a matter of principle. As a Latina, I find it a shame.
There are those who consider taking a minimum-wage job, or working in the fields as degrading, when in fact an illegal or at times a legal permanent resident, classifies standing in line to request public assistance as degrading.
As far as the school system, I do agree that the U.S. school system is very poor. In Latin America, attending school is a privilege, not a right, as tuition is paid in Latin America from kindergarten to upper level. The level of academics in Latin America is much higher than the U.S. system. The school system at high school level (counselors) are not empowering the youth to attend college if they appear Latino. It seems as if the assumption is that by the mere fact of being Latino, the child does not intend to pursue a higher level of education. I feel I can comment on this as I came to the U.S. at the age of 11, and I was placed in 4th grade, when in fact in my home country, I had completed 6th grade.
I proudly say that I am a Latina that was undocumented, but worked my way up to become a U.S. citizen. I obtained a college degree that helped me to have the position I currently have. Being considered a hard worker, and not only because I am bilingual, is why I am rewarded with more work.
I can say being bilingual is a plus, and living in California is a necessity; this could be the reason why it is an elective in school as one doesn’t realize how it makes you marketable for a job later in life. It is unfortunate how individuals regret not learning the language when, at times, it was their primary language growing up, and now would be an advantage. I proudly say I enforce Spanish to be spoken in my home by my children.
I strongly support an immigration amnesty, as it would not only benefit those living in the shadows, but the economy. Their legal status would allow them to obtain drivers’ licenses, pay auto insurance and legally contribute, and seek the rightful services they are entitled to, such as unemployment benefits, when they are unemployed in the winter season, and be able to claim what belongs to them during tax season as they contribute the remaining part of the year.
Without the legal status, those working are contributing to an economy that does not give them anything in return for their hard labor, but yet they are contributing to pay for the benefits of public assistance to those who choose to claim a disability or inability to maintain a job, although their legal status to work is not an issue.
Additionally, about Madera turning into Mexico, it is impossible. This country is called the melting pot, because there are individuals from Latin America and all nations, not only Mexicans. As a Latina, Salvadorean, it is insulting to read or hear that individuals generalize a population as one.
Veronica Pleitez.
Madera
I have to agree with a great deal of what you have stated in your letter.
The debate about illegal immigration is one that will not just go away, and it shouldn’t.
I applaud the fact that you “became legal”, and received an education, and are now part of the great melting pot…in a few words an American citizen. One that pays taxes and flies the American flag proudly, because they are so grateful to be apart of this great nation.
However, I can attest to the frustration of American people like Ms. Soto over the migration of illegals from other countries.
Granted there are a great many good people that have risked all to come here, but they are far out numbered by the statistics of their counterparts drain on the State’s social programs, legal system, as well as, medical and educational services.
Being from a Latin American country, I can see why you are upset about the generalizations of being lumped in with “others” of the Spanish-Native heritage from Mexico. Just like other races being generalized, many of my “other” Latin American students also expressed the same feelings. Whatever country you are illegal from, being indigent many people want better for their families; others though have an agenda besides the good aspirations of those around them. You can see them in the local jail, in court, victimizing others or dead from their bad choices.
Sadly, those being the most targeted from the ire of others are those women that have more children than they can afford to have. Culture and poverty have little to do with it. It is ignorance and the money /free services they make off their own children. As a woman that does bother me, whether you are Latina, Irish, African, Asian, Native American, whatever ones original heritage is it should bother you too.
You mention the Education system. It is true you pay to go to school in other countries. Even in Mexico. California State testing is geared around English standards, and the whole class gets dummied down with too many ESL students whose illegal parents refuse to learn English in order to assimilate into the American culture. These are facts that teachers and disgruntled parents see every day in our schools. There should be an ESL school for the first five years of illegal immigrants and their children. Yes, separate but equal. To prepare them and educate them in order to assimilate and become legal.
In my opinion, legal or not if you live in an English speaking country, you should learn the language. For that matter any country in which you move to one should make the effort to learn the language and not expect to be catered to just because you don’t. Also, because you can speak two languages should have no bearing on getting a job in California or anywhere else. A plus, yes, but not a preference over others that are equally if not better qualified.
As to immigration amnesty, I do not and cannot support it in its current form.
Like you, this is my opinion on the subject.
Veronica Pleitez seems to be patting herself on the back because she sneaked across the border, apparently with her parents, when she was 11 years old, thereby violating U.S. law (Section 1325, Title 8, U.S. Code).
You “worked your way up to become a U.S. citizen.” Congratulations. What should have happened is you and your family should have been deported for violating the law and sneaking ahead of thousands of people from around the world that would also like to become U.S. citizens but they made application and were waiting their turn. You said “an individual must prove to Immigration that he or she has been a law abiding citizen.” How did you do that when the first thing you did was violate U.S. law.
You strongly support immigration amnesty. I do not. It is not fair to reward someone for “sneaking” into America.
Judicial Watch estimates 15 million people are out of work in America and there are 12 to 20 million illegals in America and illegals occupy 8 million jobs. We could virtually cut our 10 percent unemployment rate in half just by enforcing our immigration laws and sending illegal aliens home. Our government is at fault for much of this because they have not strictly enforced the law.
Frank Bradford,
Madera