Immigrants contribute to country's greatness

I've been reading letters to the editor lately about how immigrants rely on government benefits and drain our economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. I challenge anyone living in the Northwest suburbs to open up their eyes and just look around.

See the hard-working landscapers, note who work as technicians for our internet, fix our furnaces and work at gas stations and car dealerships. Who takes care of the elderly and disabled? Who works at our restaurants, both fast food and fancy? Who works at our stores, as cashiers and salespeople?

Note that many of our highly educated immigrants are educators, scholars, doctors and researchers. We now have legislators who are first-generation Americans or came to America as children.

The first-generation immigrants often work hard and long hours to get ahead and help educate their children. Look to your own family history and be proud of your immigrant ancestors. America flourished because of immigrants and will continue to do so, we need to honor them.

Juli Cicarelli,

Arlington Heights