Living illegally

All our lives, we've been taught that anything illegal is wrong. But there's one exception to that rule: illegal immigration. \nIt's a hot topic that has no middle ground. Most Latinos sympathize more than any other group because not that long ago their families may have done the same thing.\nI was raised with the mindset that immigration is a good thing. Both of my parents immigrated to this country, so of course, I'm a little biased. Nevertheless, the United States needs to realize the commitment of immigrants and loosen up on immigration laws for Latin Americans wanting work. \nMy opinion puts me at one end of the spectrum. At the other end are those patriotic citizens who want all illegal immigrants to know "this is my country." That's the kind of people I saw on a CNN documentary called "Immigrant Nation: Divided Country." The documentary showed that Mexican immigration, both legal and illegal, is growing in all parts of the United States, and the viewpoints of illegal immigrants living here and the Americans against it are shown. D.A. was one of the men featured who is a hardcore activist against illegal immigration. \nHis main argument was that the United States doesn't need Mexicans to work here. He says all they're doing is taking jobs from working class citizens. But that's not true.\nIllegal immigrants are America's dirty little secret. They're a hidden force that holds this country together. No one else wants the jobs they have. Americans are so egotistical and arrogant as a people that not even our poor want these jobs. They would rather beg for coins on sidewalks than work in fields picking tomatoes for Taco Bell. \nWatching the documentary, it was D.A.'s actions that shocked me more than his words. He went up to Latinos on the street and asked them for a green card or ID. If they didn't have either, he would call Immigration and Naturalization Services and report them. \nNow that's crossing the line. \nPeople like him really make me mad. They rant and rave about how this is their country, but it's really not. They act like they are the law, but they aren't. They're just the ancestors of European immigrants who took this land by force, and now they don't have anything better to do. They yell "go back home," at protests and wear shirts that say "viva la migra ("the INS")." But they're the original intruders.\nHow would they like it if American Indians had rallies telling everyone of European dissent to go back across the Atlantic? \nHistory is repeating itself. Mexican immigrants are the new Irish. In the early 1900s, Irish immigrants came to the U.S. in large numbers in search of work and better lives. And just like the Mexicans, they were met with hatred and discrimination. \nCitizens of that time didn't want the newcomers to ruin their society with foreign language and "low standing." Nowadays citizens fear the same things. \nI believe actions can be illegal. But people? People can't be illegal. They can be criminals, but illegal immigrants are not criminals. If illegally entering the United States in order to support your family is a crime, then it's a victimless crime. Immigrants aren't terrorists.\nMexican immigrants are working hard and spending money in our economy. They may work low-level jobs, but they deserve respect, legal or not. \nHow many of us would have the courage to pick up and go to a strange country and work illegally just so that our family had a better chance at life?