People say: I would be happier if they got here legally and then started the correct process of becoming citizens.
But they are ignorant of immigration laws.
The system offers no legal channel for me to become a legal citizen (I know, I've seen countless immigration lawyers), except through marriage, and I don't want to marry unless it's for real with someone I'll love until I die.
BTY I'm white, college educated, speak English, am self-supporting, pay taxes (taxation without representation!), have a real SS card and driver's license (legal tourists can get them, and I got them when I was on my legal tourist Visa), I pay car insurance, I entered the U.S. legally (my parents brought me here when I was a teenager, on a tourist Visa). I attended an American college, and because I was an international student my parents had to pay about $18,000.00 a year in international student tuitions (yes, we contribute to the economy!). I'm middle class, I tithe, I support missionaries, I donate $$ to worthy Christian ministries etc.
I lived my most formative years here, most of my life, and I consider this country my home because I love America, I love Americans (all my friends are American after all). Also I no longer speak the language of my native country well enough to be employable there. But that's beside the point: I want to keep on living here because i love this country and I am contributing to this country positively. I'm not taking anything away. I'm an illegal immigrant who work hard and pay taxes that support American citizens who don't work and are on welfare...
I'm not a drain on the economy. On the contrary I contribute to it with my spending and taxes, yet can't reap all the benefit of a taxpayer because I'm not a legal citizen (yet). I've never used public services I haven't paid for (I'm a taxpayer like you). I'm healthy and never had to go to the hospital. When I go to the doctor or the dentist, I pay the amount in full with my own money.
Yes, I want to correct my status. But as of today, there is no correct process for me to become a legal citizen and the only legal way current immigration laws gives me is through marriage (a real marriage, otherwise that would be fraud). But so far marriage has not happened to me.
Why would it be wrong for the government to change immigration laws to allow someone like me to become a U.S. citizen (without having to get married. I want to get married like most singles do, but haven't found the right person yet)?
I believe the laws that prevent someone with my qualifications to become an American citizen are unjust (taxation without representation, hello?) and need to be changed.
One funny thing: One of my former customers published a newsletter that attacked illegal immigrants (the usual stereotypes: they are uneducated, don't pay taxes, are criminals etc.). He didn't know I was an illegal immigrant. He paid me to print, collate, fold, and mail his newsletter. So he railed against illegal immigrants, yet he was using my services because of my competitive prices. And the reason why my prices were competitive is because I can't get a white collar desk job my college education prepared me for because of my illegal status.
So he was complaining about illegal immigration while enjoying the benefits of it. Typical...
And please don't ask me where I am from. It's irrelevant. What does it matter if I'm Latin, Asian, European, or something else?
Aurelie
PS: I'm not sure if I'll continue posting here. I just thought my real life example could help some of you stop lumping all I.I. together, and help you stop thinking we all neatly fit into the stereotypical mold.
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