Consider an immigrant’s potential
I always have been proud of being both an immigrant and an American citizen. However, the pending legislation in Arizona and the sentiment toward legal and undocumented immigrants has made me less proud to be an American.
Fifty years ago, my family and I came through Ellis Island from Sicily. There the Statue of Liberty proudly states “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse from your teeming shores, send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me... ”
This has represented what is great about our country; a welcoming, helpful land. It seems this is changing, and not for the better.
My grandparents came to this country in the late 1800s, before the quota/immigration system. Two of their children were born here, but while expecting my father, they moved their family back to Sicily. My uncle returned to the United States, the land of his birth, at the age of 16. Later he processed papers for his brother, my father, and his family to come to the U.S.
Through the years my family has brought many relatives from Sicily to our country. Because my grandfather came to America, in what now would be considered an undocumented or illegal act, our country now enjoys the labors of an accountant, a banker, four business managers, two clerical workers, two chefs, one dentist, three engineers, six independent business owners, an insurance agent, an inventor, a lawyer, a librarian, an occupational therapist, an orthopedic surgeon, a paralegal, a pharmacist, a principal, two real estate agents, a teacher, and a tool and die maker. Under the current system, and under the proposed Arizona law revoking citizenship to those children born here to undocumented parents, our country would not have all these hard working professionals and taxpaying workers.
I think all Americans need to be aware that the physician or teacher or other professional they depend on might not be here to help them, had we not welcomed their ancestor with open arms.
Providenzia Penny Bonadonna Donehoo
Elgin