The Tale of an Immigrants Grandson :: Immigration Reform, Illegal Immigrants,

â€Å"Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists† was once spoken by Franklin Roosevelt Immigration is a passionate topic for debate across the United States. The influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico and surrounding countries has encouraged politicians to seek immigration reform. They have initiated extreme measures to protect the border. National Guard troops have been mobilized for patrols while vigilante’s have formed organizations such as the Minuteman patrol. Arizona voted to enact Senate Bill 1070 which would grant law enforcement the right to check the immigration status of anyone they deemed suspicious (Stanislowski 36). Immigrants are starting to fight back. They are organizing protests against these reforms. Scores of immigrants feel like their civil rights have been violated. Even the protests have sparked debate among citizens. Do illegal immigrants have the right to protest on American soil? My grandparents immigrated from Ecuador close to 50 years ago. My grandfather saw opportunity in southern California. He brought my father and grandmother. He opened several businesses and immersed himself into the American culture. My life forever changed because of his immigration to the United States. He immigrated legally and he was adamant about that. He believed that with honesty and hard work you could achieve anything. My family was like the countless other families which helped establish this nation. The United States was founded by immigrants. The quote by Theodore Roosevelt that I began this essay reminds us of that. You would believe that since my grandparents were immigrants that I would agree with all the immigration reform but I do not. Star Parker in the essay â€Å"Se Habla Entitlement† writes that these protests hurt immigration reform (Nadell 522). I believe that her essay is extremely valid and thought-provoking. She wrote that there wer e enough people in the United States that feel they are â€Å"entitled† to the life they have here (Nadell 523). Many citizens are already spoiled by society. They take for granted the freedoms and resources they are given as citizens. These benefits should be earned and acquired through legal means. All people wanting to immigrate to the United States are given an opportunity to do so legally.