Amnesty for Immigrants - Sign of Weakness or Sympathy?

The debate over illegal immigration is all over the news recently. This heated, divisive debate has split political parties and riled the immigrant population. The public appears to have a black-or-white stance on this particular issue, believing on one side that illegal immigrants should be deported for breaking our laws and on the other side that they should be given amnesty if they are willing to pay a fine for breaking the law. Which side is right? Which side is just? Though this is purely up to public opinion and the decisions made by our elected officials, we've all got our own views on this issue.

My personal view is that amnesty is the way to go. Why, might you ask? As an American college student, there are illegal immigrants working at jobs I could have been working at this summer to pay for my schooling. There are illegal immigrants paying in-state tuition for this college while my friends from other states are paying twice what I am. My reasoning is simple: compassion.

Unless you're of Native American decent, if you're an American citizen you are the descendant of an immigrant. Those immigrants fought long and hard to get to our shores, and once they got here they were met with animosity much like immigrants today are receiving. At the turn of the century that animosity was turned towards the Irish or Italians, while now in the 21st century we are targeting Mexican immigrants.

This ill-will stems from the simple fact that people don't like what's different and are afraid of change. Many see the flood of Mexican immigrants as a threat to our American way of life. They believe that because so many Mexicans are coming here that somehow our way of life will be Mexicanized. This is simply not the case, for even with their influx of immigrants American-born citizens will outnumber them and we will retain our identity.

Why should we show compassion to those who break our laws? I would like you all to put yourselves in the shoes of an immigrant who is starving or barely able to make ends meat in their home country. They see images of our great country and at last they have a glimmer of hope. That hope is then crushed by the bureaucratic red tape that comes with immigration. They are often put on waiting lists that can put them on a timetable to move here ten years down the road. In many cases, they haven't got that much time. They aren't able to make a living in their own countries and in order for them and their families to survive they must immigrate as soon as possible.

Desperation is why many come to this country. I don't believe anyone would leave their own country to come to a place where they know they'll be treated like second class citizens by the locals unless it were absolutely necessary. This is why we should show some compassion to those who have made the perilous journey to get here. We as a nation should be willing to sacrifice a little in order to help others in need when we are blessed with so much abundance. It is only fair to share that abundance with others in need.

To set the record straight, I don't believe that illegal immigrants should get a free ride. They should be subject to fines and penalties for breaking our laws. This is a given. Even if it was with the best of intentions, a broken law is a broken law and some punishment should be associated as such. Still, deportation is not the answer. It is impossible to deport 12 million people.

Another two pieces to this puzzling dilemma are securing the borders and immigration reform. Making immigration easier for those who are trying to do it legally and offering incentives to those who wait patiently for their turn to enter this country will help to eliminate this problem for future generations. Securing the border will keep undesirables from entering the country and send a message to the world that we are a safe and strong nation. These two elements are key to solving this problem.

Amnesty is not a sign of weakness, in my humble opinion. Rather, it is a sign of understanding and sympathy for those who desire so much to live here that they are willing to risk their lives. If we allow them to stay here, learn our language, work hard, and raise families, their children and children's children will become loyal American citizens. They will "conform" to our culture, therefore helping to retain our identity. We will also show that we are not a nation of self-centered people who wish to keep our wealth all to ourselves. We can be compassionate and kind, and in this case it's time to show that America is not the bad guy the rest of the world views us to be.