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IMMIGRANT VOICES — E-MAILS TO THE EDITOR
FAKE GREENCARD, FAKE HUSBAND, REAL TROUBLE
"Awesome!" That was the first word that I blurted out after discovering your Web site. You hit the bull's-eye with your idea of giving a voice to the millions of immigrants in America. I am an American citizen but since my marriage with a Latino a couple of years ago, I have somehow already considered myself very sympathetic with the immigrant cause. The only trouble was the man I married, contrary to his claims, turned out to be a non-American citizen. And as it turned out, his documents were fake. Fake ID, fake green card, fake social security ID. We are now separated, but I don't really know his real name, age or where he is actually from. I suspect he's from the Colombia but I don't know exactly from what city. My marital status is causing me financial and emotional distress. Can you give me some pointers on how to deal with a fraud? Help! — Stacy McLendon, Fontana, California
FIANCÉ VISAS
I had written an e-mail to the USCIS for some information concerning fiancé visas and also information on how pertinent my rate of income would be in getting a fiancé visa. Several friends, however, directed me to your Web site for information. — G. Senecal Sr., Massachusetts
IMMIGRANT? WHO?
Let me share this information to anti-immigrant groups and those who are against immigration: Unless you are a Native American, you are an immigrant or the descendant of immigrants. Freed Black Americans founded the West African country of Liberia, so even American Blacks had the option of leaving the country of their enslavement and returning to their homeland. In short, most of us hardly have the right to complain about the “new immigrants.” What is really at the heart of the anti-immigrant movement is racism, bigotry and fear of the “unknown.” We tend to fear what we perceive as different. The Irish and Italians were once perceived as different because of culture, religion, language and physical characteristics. They redefined America by their presence. The new immigrants will redefine America again. Parts of their cultures will be assimilated by the general culture as their own. Eventually the languages of their ancestors will give way to English, like it or not, it is inevitable. I think that the many varying hues of complexion and facial features may gradually free America from its fixation on skin color and ethnicity. We are a long way from the mind-set of Northern Ireland and Bosnia but we've still got a long way to go. — Gilbert S. Gonzalez, Cerritos, California
FROM RUSSIA TO AMERICA
I came here as an immigrant about three years ago. I am writing you because I would like to find a girlfriend in this country. I would not want a Russian girlfriend because she already knows a lot about who I am. I want something different because it's more interesting. There's a lot I like about America , you can go out everywhere, you can sit everywhere you want. The first time I went to the store it was pretty funny. I walked to the register and said, “Can I take this candy bar?” And she [the cashier] said “Go and take it.' I walk to the candy and try to take it but I can't. I went to her one more time and I say to her in English, “Can I take this?” And she's like, “Go ahead.” So I go to take it but I don't know what to do so I put it back and went home. I was afraid to pick up the candy bar because I think someone might arrest me for that because in Russia you can get arrested for that. America gave me a chance to experience freedom. I can do anything I want. I can go everywhere I want. — Anton, 18, Via e-mail
(Anton, you might want to check our Lonely Hearts Club section, where you can meet new friends)
DRIVING WBB
It is really hard to believe that there are still racists who could not accept the fact that America is a nation of immigrants. By reading history, one would easily discover that most Americans today are descendants of immigrants. I've heard about some “white” people snickering at immigrants they see driving new cars. I can only say this: Stop mistreating those DWBBs (Driving While Black or Brown). Immigrants — Asians or Hispanics or Europeans — should be treated equally. To people who are worried about the future of this country, I can only suggest that you take time to adjust your attitudes, focus on something worthwhile, and learn another language if you wish to remain competitive. — Ricardo Moran, San Jose , California
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SEEKING INFO
Do you plan to have a section about finding immigrant relatives in America (something like tracing back roots)? My great grandfather was a Danish immigrant named Steve Rasmussen. He died around 1912 at a hospital in Illinois and I am trying to trace his steps here in the US . Where do I start? — William Rasmussen, Atlanta , Georgia
HOME ALONE IN NEW YORK
I came to the U.S. more than four years ago from West Africa . I couldn't speak any English and the little English I knew was just how to write it down. Sometimes I didn't know how to pronounce the words or how to speak, so I had to write to express my ideas, my feelings. On my first day in New York City , I was depressed because of the presence of all people from different parts of the world, but I felt I was out of place because I couldn't speak English. There were no newspapers to make me feel I was welcome in America or to help me learn the language. It was really great to find out that there's a new newspaper for immigrants, at least for those who speak English. More power to you. — Mohammed Abdul , New York , New York
IMMIGRATION HELPS THE ECONOMY
To people like me — those who believe that immigrants are generally assets to our economy and our culture — the fact that the gates of opportunity have been inched further open is good news. But even for people who favor a more restrictive policy, recent immigration figures are hardly a cause for alarm. Yet dueling evaluations of immigration raise an important question: how many immigrants are too many? — Steve L. Moore, via e-Mail
LET'S WELCOME MORE SKILLED IMMIGRANTS
Most of the people who come here don't necessarily have to take the low income jobs. There are a lot of computer jobs out there right now that need to be filled. Microsoft and Apple are always looking for people. They're recruiting overseas already anyway, if any of these Latinos have the skills I think they should go for it. We could always use some more technological advancements. There are other areas of employment as well that looks to overseas to fill the gaps. So it really doesn't make too much difference. Do we just not have enough compassion for these people at all anyway? How would you feel if you one day woke up and everything you own is destroyed? What would you do? There's nowhere to get a job, no one can afford to employ you, so you go to another country in hopes of rebuilding your life. What would you do if your only hope, the United States , turned you away? — Julie Merklinhaus, via e-Mail
TIRED OF PEOPLE BASHING IMMIGRANT WORKERS
Immigrants are taking "your jobs" ... It's not your job if you don't go out into the workforce, compete for it, and earn it the hard way. I came to the U.S. when I was 7 years old and today I'm an airline pilot for one the top 3 U.S. major carriers. I get pretty fed-up and insulted when I hear people, who sit around and do nothing but complain, criticize immigrants who come here, some with very little personal possessions to their names, and succeed in the workforce in the face of great adversity despite the existing prejudicial system and not because of it. — Alden Galvez, via e-Mail
THE TYPE OF IMMIGRANTS WHO TAKE AWAY THE JOBS
We are the type of immigrants that take jobs away from "Americans." You know why? Because we have college education! When I graduate from college I too will be taking away your job. So you want to shut out immigrants from this country? Too late buddy, I'm already here. — Juan E. Migrante, San Francisco, via e-Mail
THE 'GREAT UNWASHED'
True, the original English colonizers of this country were wealthy, slave-owning patricians. But the people who built this country were the "great unwashed." In fact, America was long considered by Europeans as a country by and for those very "unwashed." Check out the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, my friend. Emma Lazarus said it best when she wrote about the rest of us "poor huddled masses." — Jagdish Mehta, Atlanta, via e-Mail
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