Illegal Immigrants Deserve Fair Treatment

There are currently 12 million people residing in the United States with no legal documentation. These people are disgracefully left on the outskirts of society, living in fear that any day they could be deported back to where they came from. Most of these people are hard working, law abiding people seeking to build a better life for not only themselves, but their families as well. A majority of illegal immigrants cross over the Mexican border and accept jobs that most Americans aren't willing to do, which means they are filling a gap in society, and serving an important role that must not be taken for granted.

The hypocrisy on our part should not be overlooked. Many major corporations and chains exploit the vulnerability of these people's illegal status to use and abuse these people, underpaying them and overworking them while denying them the benfits that are to be provided to all Americans by there employers. How can we stand for this? We enjoy walking into a Wal mart and finding great deals at the expense of the unhuman treatment endured by innocent people, yet treat these immigrants as disposable commidities who are a burden to America and need to be dealt with.

By continuing this unjust exploitation we are abandoning the ideals that constitute the fabric of American society. We are a nation of immigrants, and take pride in having such a rich, diverse culture where everyone has an equel opportunity to succeed. People who want to come to this country to make a positive contribution and create a better life for themselves and their families should not be denied this right that is essential for people of any country or culture, nor should these people subsist as second rate human beings and be deprived the fundamental human rights essential for sucess in society. If we are going to utilize the labor of these people than we must insist on their fair treatment and fair compensation, even if, dare I say, we pay the price that we should be paying for t shirts.

Many argue that with an heightened threat of terrorism in the 21st century that we must be more cautious and clamp down on these illegal immigrants. However to punish everyone for the actions of a few is wrong. No I don't people should be hopping fences on the border to get to this country, nor do I believe that they should have to do this to get to this country. The fact that people are willing to go to such drastic lenghts to get to this country indicates two things. How badly people want to be in America, and how badly we don't want them here. This is disgraceful. Their should be an easier more humane route for people seeking work, and decent wages to get to this counrtry. Whether it is a guest worker program or amnesty of those have have already been here for a considerable amount of time, we must accomodate all people who want to come to this country, and make up for the disgraceful manner in which we have exploited these people already merely for our own personal gain.

Although I beleive that the borders should be more strictly enforced in order to protect the security of this country, I don't beleive that the illegal immigrants who migrate into this country should be denied an opportunity to become a part of America society under the umbrella of the threat of terrorism. We must keep in mind that the primary reason that people migrate to this country is not because they hate us, but because they recognize the potential for a better life.

I am a second generation Iranian, who was born and raised in America and take this matter very personally. My parents came to this country over two decades ago, with the intention of reaching a life of freedom, peace and prosperity. After enduring many struggles they were finally able to gain citizenship and my mother went to college and became a pharmacist, her dream. Why we are depreiving American of future pharacists, doctors, lawyers, politicians and much more is dombfounding to me. The least we can do is start by granting those people who have exhibited their willingness to work hard, while simultaneously enduring harsh treatment the chance at obtaining citizenship. It is the least we can do to correct the injustices that we have already committed.