Reply #26: I'm a legal immigrant too [View All]

[pabloseb]

and I support the rights of illegal immigrants. I'm a "legal alien" because I was incredibly fortunate to be born in a middle class family which allowed me to get an excellent education. I can't but sympathize with the plight of those who have been much less fortunate than me, but still are fighting so that their children can have the possibilities they were denied.

You're also wrong that only people who committed (another) crime are deported. There are cases of random deportations. Not many, but enough to create a sense of paranoia among the community. Even the rumor of deportations taking place force scores of illegal immigrants not to live their homes for extended periods and risk losing their jobs.

Now, just opening the doors to everybody simply wouldn't work, and we may agree on partial solutions such as temporary work permits. However, in my view illegal immigrants have done nothing wrong and are not criminals; they are persons who have struggled in life much more than you and me and are working very hard, taking high risks, to improve the situation for them and their families.