by: Jamie Inferrera, Op-Ed Participant
Over the past year, I have had the unique experience of getting to know a gentleman from Uzbekistan. He has been in the United States for about 14 years. I was intrigued to learn about his journey and his culture, but above all, I wanted to know why he made the tough decision to leave his family (mother, wife, and children) to come to America.
His answer was simple. As I was listening intently, he told me in heavily-accented, broken English tone that life was better here in the United States. He was able to earn a decent living and financially support his family back in Uzbekistan. He worked hard and tirelessly, so that one day his family could hopefully join him in the United States.
He also shared with me about his plans to become a naturalized United States citizen. He asked if I could show him the materials he had to study. I sat with him and explained the answers to questions contained within the civics test section of the naturalization process. He was proud of the knowledge he had already acquired and eager to learn new information about America and its diverse history. Ultimately, becoming a citizen would make it easier for his family to emigrate from Uzbekistan.
Throughout all of this, I was reminded that our great nation is a melting pot of immigrants. Generations of people from all across the globe have come to the United States seeking the “American dream.” Stories like this one are echoed in cities and towns throughout the country. But, one sentiment also rings loud and clear: our immigration system is broken and wrought with bureaucratic red tape.
The “American dream” is limited to a certain number of immigrants on a yearly basis. In 2011, slightly over 1 million individuals immigrated to the United States through obtaining legal permanent residency, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Many were left on the waiting list.
It is disheartening to think that there are people all over the world waiting their turn in line to immigrate to the United States and then there are those who jump the line and cross the our borders illegally. It is estimated that there are upwards of 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States.
However, what troubles me the most is that we have elected officials in Congress who believe we should give the line jumpers a free pass; a path to citizenship with no questions asked, at taxpayer expense. What message is Congress sending to individuals who are making an effort to follow the established laws for immigration into the United States?
I agree that our immigration system is cumbersome and needs to be simplified. I agree that reforms need to be made. I believe that this needs to be a bipartisan undertaking and there is going to have to be some give and take.
But, I also strongly believe that any legislation that includes an amnesty plan is not the answer and will not fix our broken immigration system. We should not be rewarding those who have jumped the line and broken many laws by entering the United States illegally. History tends to repeat itself. Congress has granted mass amnesty numerous times before (most notably in 1986 under the Reagan administration) and it has not solved any of our country’s immigration problems.
It is time for Congress to start thinking outside of the box, instead of rehashing old ideas under the guise of updated rhetoric. The federal government should focus on streamlining the immigration process and cracking down on illegal immigration. It is time to once again make the “American dream” an attainable goal, especially for families in similar situations to my new friend from Uzbekistan.
Jamie Inferrera is a first year evening division student at Duquesne Law. Jamie currently works for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
