The Invisible Man

There are always two sides to an argument, and oftentimes we are swayed by the side that we witness the most. I say that so you may know where I come from.

The recent debate over the Mexican border and illegal immigration in the United States has supporters on both sides of the issue—those who are against it, and those who tend to empathize with illegal immigrants. Regardless of the side that you represent, take the time to consider...

In the United States, we pride ourselves on the liberties that we provide to our citizens. We, under the Declaration of Independence state, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”, but this implies only to those who are citizens on our land. So, let me ask you this question—what right does a country have to deny basic rights to those who give back to the country? As a Texan girl, I can with great confidence tell you that my gardeners we illegal, as were my cleaning ladies. They worked tirelessly, sometimes in the torrid Texas sun to trim the lawns, or clean the house until it was up to our standards.

As working individuals in society, they provide to us a great service—and let us not forget that what they do, they do for a price significantly lower than their peers.

I guess it’s also easier to imagine what life must be like for an illegal immigrant once you have met their family. Berna, my cleaning lady, had two young children—both born in the United States. Could you imagine what would happen if their lives were suddenly torn apart? What about basic rights for Berna's children? If they were to get sick, would it be correct to deny them adequate care?

We as citizens won’t understand clearly why these immigrants can’t follow the traditional route to citizenship. Perhaps they are in need of money. Perhaps, like my parents, they come ascertain a better education for their children.

But let us remember this—we pride ourselves on the liberties given to our people. Whether you realize it or not, anyone in the United States is a person who contributes to our society. To treat these individuals of society as undesirables, we are in fact limiting their liberties.

*This article is in response to the debates that have spurred by the new health bill. Under the new bill, illegal immigrants are denied certain rights, such as health care. ("What we are trying to prevent is anyone who is here illegally from getting any federal benefit," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.)