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My family legally immigrated to the U.S. and I am part of the first generation born and raised in the States. So clearly immigration has affected my life positively. Most people with whom I grew up are recent Americans and we are all quite successful. So I'm pro-legal immigration.
As for illegal immigration, I believe that for a time, illegals were allowed to come in and many children were brought with them. I feel those people should be given a chance to prove they have been here for a substantial period and allowed to remain, as long as they are law-abiding. Beyond that, illegal immigrants need to be deported.
On illegal immigration, I believe the bold.
I am not all that sympathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants unless they were brought here as children. If they were, I think they should have an opportunity to become citizens if they so desire. Most of the immigrants I know/knew and grew up with were the children of refugees or legal immigrants.
It is sad to me that so many people lump refugees and illegal immigration together and that does bother me because I have had so much experience living with and assisting refugee communities and they embody the American spirit for the most part IMO. The adults always seem to maintain a love for their home country, but they want the best for their kids and for their kids to become American and take advantage of our country's opportunities and to give back what they can. All of the refugees I grew up with as children are middle class or above today as well and are very high achieving people. Many of their parents also started businesses. Refugees have a high amount of entrepreneurship.
I'll also note that I do believe that immigrants should learn English but IMO it should not be a pre-requisite for admission into our country nor do I believe that those who fail to become fluent are "bad" in any way. It is very hard to learn a new language as an adult. In most instances the children are fluent within a year and they help their parents via translating when they are older.
Also, contrary to what many Americans believe, their own immigrant ancestors, those not from English speaking languages, very rarely became fluent English speakers. Their children did however, just like those today do. It is always harder for an adult to learn a new language versus a child.
Didn't have an option for me. Immigration has broadened my perspectives on different people from various parts of the world. It has taught me that all people basically want the same things - food, shelter, clothing, stability, and that we all have a love for our communities, families, and native nations.
I have been fortunate to have went to school with immigrants, primarily refugees from Asia/the ME. I also knew quite a few Chicano/Chicana immigrants who moved to the city I'm from via them having family already here and being sponsored. I especially learned to enjoy Mexican music due to that influence and Vietnamese and Thai and various Middle Eastern/Mediterranean foods due to my friends I grew up with.
Since I've been an adult, I've worked in housing with a lot of different immigrant groups including Russians (mostly Russian Jews), Cambodians, Laosian/Hmong, Nepalese, Sudanese, Somalians, and various people from West African nations like Cameroon, C'ote D'Ivoire, and Liberia.
They have all primarily been wonderful people and I've learned not to be prejudiced against immigrant groups or overly suspicious of people just because they are from another country.
Seems like one of the first 2 options would've fit you.
Seems like one of the first 2 options would've fit you.
I was thinking the first one, but IMO it didn't fully fit me since it IMO knowing different people from different countries just broadened my own personal perspectives. I think that in today's 24 hour news cycle and the rise of suspcious beliefs against "outsiders" in this nation, that a majority of my community members may not have the same views that I do.
Gonna answer for myself now. I've lived in a few different cities/states now but mostly major cities so I think I've seen the best and "worst" of immigration. I've also learned that it's not always obvious who's legal or illegal, in my experience. I've seen white collar workers who turned out to be illegal and blue collar workers who were like 5th generation Mexican American (legally).
I've gotten lots of benefits from immigration: great friends from many different cultures, which taught me a lot about the world; lots of good international foods; some coworkers who taught me a lot about strong work ethic (working in restaurants); and I'm an immigrant so duh. Also definitely saw the ugly sides: areas of town where it looked like it was straight out of a 3rd world country; ethnic gangs moving in (more pervasive than white or black gangs in my area); some minor frustrations with people not speaking English when I expected them to. Overall the good outweighs the bad but seems like we're at the tipping point for the major cities.
I live in Canada and modern day immigration has totally affected my life.
Most of my friends are children of immigrants, including American immigrants.
Growing up in a neighbourhood full of people from all over was a fantastic way to grow up. Polish ,German, Italian,Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Scottish etc are the main immigrants in my youth. Eating their different foods was heaven. Understanding that not everyone's religious beliefs were not the same and that fact didn't make them any less human or decent. Good lessons for a child.
Today's immigration pattern has changed and I've been introduced to even more cultural pleasures.
In Canada immigrants work hard, contribute, and for the most part succeed as do their children.
It wouldn't be Canada without them.
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