Local Immigrants Keeping Hope Alive For Immigration Reform
By: Vanessa Herring
Updated: March 23, 2013
Dozens
of people rallied Friday afternoon in front of the federal building to
support immigration reform. The U.S. Senate is about to take up a bill
that would provide illegal immigrants a 13 year path to citizenship. It
would also tighten border security, allow more workers to come to the
United States, and toughen standards on businesses who employ
immigrants.
The Rochester area is home to hundreds of families who would be impacted by immigration reform, "we take that risk because we want something better, and we are not criminals like some people say" said an illegal immigrant, he and his wife spoke to News 8 under the condition of anonymity.
The man and his wife immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than 15 years ago. They've been living in fear ever since, and are almost reclusive, "we are not bad people we just come to work and we stay hiding all the time," said the man's wife. He added, "we are afraid, we have no chance to go out and do things that other people do."
The couple's children are United States citizens but they're not. The mother and father are constantly worried about being deported, "what happens when they separate the families, and the kids are still alone here in this country," said the man's wife.
The husband and wife spend at least eight hours a day doing farm work, up to twelve hours in the peak season, but they don't earn state minimum wages because they're illegal immigrants, "it's not fair, it's not enough," explained the man.
They're watching Washington closely as the Senate Gang of Eight works to close an immigration deal. The couple says the reform would literally transform their lives, " we always wanted to buy a house so if we have that chance, we can buy a house," explained the man, "and the other thing we wanted to do is, she likes to cook, and she always wanted to have a restaurant."
The couple says their dreams can only come true with immigration reform and they're asking U.S. citizens for help, "the people that can see this, that we're talking now, they can do something, they can help," explained the woman, "maybe they can send letters to the congress, they can do something."
The Rochester area is home to hundreds of families who would be impacted by immigration reform, "we take that risk because we want something better, and we are not criminals like some people say" said an illegal immigrant, he and his wife spoke to News 8 under the condition of anonymity.
The man and his wife immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than 15 years ago. They've been living in fear ever since, and are almost reclusive, "we are not bad people we just come to work and we stay hiding all the time," said the man's wife. He added, "we are afraid, we have no chance to go out and do things that other people do."
The couple's children are United States citizens but they're not. The mother and father are constantly worried about being deported, "what happens when they separate the families, and the kids are still alone here in this country," said the man's wife.
The husband and wife spend at least eight hours a day doing farm work, up to twelve hours in the peak season, but they don't earn state minimum wages because they're illegal immigrants, "it's not fair, it's not enough," explained the man.
They're watching Washington closely as the Senate Gang of Eight works to close an immigration deal. The couple says the reform would literally transform their lives, " we always wanted to buy a house so if we have that chance, we can buy a house," explained the man, "and the other thing we wanted to do is, she likes to cook, and she always wanted to have a restaurant."
The couple says their dreams can only come true with immigration reform and they're asking U.S. citizens for help, "the people that can see this, that we're talking now, they can do something, they can help," explained the woman, "maybe they can send letters to the congress, they can do something."
Comments
This family represents the issues being discussed. Do we treat people who come to this country out of economic or social need with disdain and anger or do we welcome them? Do we treat them as common criminals or do we treat them with open arms?
Our history says both. We have treated immigrants to this country poorly at best until we come to recognize that xenophobia, nativism, and racism are not in our best interest as a nation. Families like this one are here to make a life for their children, who are our next generation of leaders and responsible citizens.
John G.
March 23, 2013 at 8:45 am
