Immigration Reform

[Hennry Cuellar-sac]

Immigration Reform

“The United States of America”, the land of the free, the great
country created by people with dreams, people with hopes, people with
great desire to create a better future for their loved ones, but most
importantly, people that immigrated from other countries. Yes, it's
true, the first people to come to this land were “Immigrants” from
Europe.

According to the Bureau of Transportation statistics there are over
200,000,000 legal border crossings from Mexico each year, ~80% by
automobile. The number of illegal immigrants emigrating [leaving] the
U.S. is estimated at about 240,000 per year (~20% of illegal population)

According to the US, 1,954 people died crossing the United
States-Mexico borders between the years 1998-2004.In the fiscal year
ending September 29, 2004. 460 migrants died crossing the U.S.-Mexico
border. In 2005, more than 500 died across the entire U.S.-Mexico
border. Since 1995 the number of yearly border crossing deaths has
doubled. Yet the statistics cited by the media and scholars are merely
the number of known deaths, and do not include those that have never
been found, grossly underestimating the actual number of migrants that
have died attempting unauthorized border crossings.


Henry Cuellar's position on the issue of Immigration Reform
Henry Cuellar believes that there must be a strong border and immigration
reform. Henry states, “We have to address the undocumented immigrants
already living in the United States to obtain legal status and expand
avenues for permanent immigration if workers meet other requirements,
including paying additional fines and back taxes and registering for
selective military service."

Cuellar emphasis that it is necessary to include these issues in the
immigration reform, “Humanitarian concerns, employment needs, and the
ever intensifying realm and scope of our nation's security challenge.”

The statistics declare that there are an estimated 11 million
undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States.
Cuellar said “Many of these immigrants have been in the country for
decades; they have put down roots and have given birth to children who
are U.S. citizens."

Cuellar believes that an immigration reform is necessary, and will
succeed if it encourages citizenship, enhances national security,
promotes economic growth, and protects freedom and liberty. Congressman
Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Budget and Agriculture
committees in the 109th Congress. His priorities are accessibility to
constituents, education, health care and economic development. That is
why Cuellar has my vote.


Works Cited


Minimum wage in Mexico:

m-Wage.php>,

"Comprehensive Immigration Reform." The White House. 10 Aug.-Sept.
2007. 05 Nov.-Dec. 2007 <>.

Cuellar, Henry. "Congressman Henry Cuellar." US House of
Representatives. 28 Mar.-Apr. 2006. 05 Nov.-Dec. 2007 <>.

Barone, Michael, and Richard E. Cohen. Almanac of American Politics.
National Journal Group, 2005. 1659.

“ A Border Becomes a Wall.” Issues and Controversies on File/July 27,
2001. 2001. 283.

“ Skilled Workers Visas.” Issues and Controversies on File/July 13,
2001. 2001. 265

By Angel Barrerra

[Leonor]

I agree with Cuellar. There has to be a friendly reform for immigration. My message for United States citizens is: Do not be afraid of immigrants Americans. We do not come to destroy this country or to ckick you out of here. We, llegal or illegal immigrants, come to this country to have a piece of the American Dream. When you need to support a family and you do not have the resources to do so in your ouwn country, you will do everything for provide to your family; and when one has the necesity to fait for a better life conditions, there are no borders, for more huge, big, and high there are, that can stop us in commig to America to pursue a better life. Regardless to what others believe, we all are the same, human beings, so then do not be unhuman people and give a hand to the brothers who are at the other side of the border.

[Willie]

I Like this issue it is very important and the more we ignore it the worst it gets. I agree that we should find alternative avenues that can help easy the trouble of immigrants that already exsist in the country and that that have been here for a while. Making them legitmate citizens will help others to want to do the correct way. The number figures that were included in this paper hel pyo show that even people who dont make all the way across the boarder face much bigger problems just to get close. Somewhere along the lines I think many Americans forget the fact that the country is based on immigration and that it immgrantion that makes this country like none other. It very well could be consider the back bone of our nation.

[Anna]

I feel you had a good issue, because my grandmother is in the same issue she was brought here with my grandpa when she was 14 years old and has been here since and they still will not like to make her a US citizen and not only does she have 9 kids that were raised and born here. I feel that a lot of Latinos do want to come down here to make a better life than being lazy like those we have here in the US and don't work but live off of our taxes through the government. I also feel that you gave a lot of good information on his position and the things he may do right to help those who are immigrant. I also feel that if there are jobs that need to be filled and they would like to do that job, I feel they should be able to have the opportunity since the others don’t want to work and want to be lazy.

[Hennry Cuellar-sac]

Analysis written by Angel Barrerra
(posted by Lirvin )

As a Latino, I do care how immigration affects my people that are
here illegally in the United States. I think that Henry Cuellar knows
what he really wants out of the 2008 election - a solution for the
immigrants that are here for a better life, many of them Latinos here
to succeed in this great country.

I do know that it is a crime to come here illegally, but when a person
doesn’t have other options, only God can judge their reasons for
breaking the law. In December 2007, the minimum wage in Mexico was
$52.59 pesos a day which roughly exchanged for US dollars today is
$4.07 a day. This means that a worker in Mexico with $20.35 a week has
to feed his family, pay rent, pay gas for transportation, pay for
school supplies for his children including their lunches which are not
free in Mexico, and still, according to the people in the US who so
harshly judge their coming here for a better life, should save money to
be able to get a visa and enter this country legally. These people who
judge the immigrants will one day also answer, in my opinion to a
Judge, for being so cruel and judging a book by it's cover. Not all the
immigrants are lazy or mean or criminals, etc. Many of us just want a
better life. My parents were lucky to be able to immigrate here legally
when I was a child, but I know many are not so fortunate. It is not
their fault they were born poor, and this is a judgment a lot of them
receive. Judged for being poor and not able to afford a visa to enter
legally.

All races have criminals. All races have lazy people, but to say that
Latinos are the only ones that are criminals or lazy is downright
unjust. We all pay for criminal activity. I am not a criminal, yet I
pay taxes and my taxes also pay to keep criminals in jail of all races.
I am not lazy, yet I also pay taxes that support lazy people who would
rather be on welfare than to work. I am an example of hard working
Latino who strives to be a good student, so that in the future, I can
help my family advance, and we can all achieve the American Dream. I,
too, in the future, when I am more financially stable, will also offer
my finances to help anyone I can, to come to this great country, just
like someone helped us.