Controversy about illegal immigration in the United States has been running rampant for some time now.  The most common target of these debates is the Hispanic population, which has risen drastically, even in Ohio, but especially in California’s young population. On March 25, NPR reported that the Hispanic population under the age of 18 is now 23 percent, and formerly Republican-leaning states have become swing states as a result of this rise, which comes not just from immigration, but also the larger birth rate in the Latino population as opposed to the lower birth rate of non-Hispanics American

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Controversy about illegal immigration in the United States has been running rampant for some time now.  The most common target of these debates is the Hispanic population, which has risen drastically, even in Ohio, but especially in California’s young population. On March 25, NPR reported that the Hispanic population under the age of 18 is now 23 percent, and formerly Republican-leaning states have become swing states as a result of this rise, which comes not just from immigration, but also the larger birth rate in the Latino population as opposed to the lower birth rate of non-Hispanics Americans.

Knowing this, it does not surprise me at all that many conservative Republicans would be shaking in their boots at the thought of a great increase in young, illegal immigrants achieving the citizenship they deserve (and therefore, voting rights) for having lived most of their lives as every other American child has. The only difference is they grew up without rights.

The people we are talking about here are not law-breaking individuals, aside from the unfortunate fact that their parents brought them across our borders illegally, seeking a life impossible in countries that are impoverished and therefore have very few opportunities for the poor to rise above their terrible conditions. Of course, I suppose we should expect those five- and six-year-olds to firmly tell their parents that what they are doing is wrong, and that they would much prefer to stay in their countries where some have no hope for a decent future. Their worst crime, I suppose you could say, is their poverty.

The people we are talking about are, however, active and hopeful youth that grew up with the mindset of a young American citizen. One such young man is Rigoberto Padilla, who was interviewed by USA Today. Padilla came to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of six and was on a bright path, joining the honor society and applying for college to become a lawyer. Unfortunately, the lack of a social security number put his dreams of greatness as a United States citizen to a screeching halt.

 If anyone is guilty of committing a crime or wrongdoing against another person, I find the United States government guilty of destroying the hopes and dreams of the many young people who could only hope to make up for their parents’ mistakes. These students, many of whom do not remember their native language, would be far more productive inhabitants of our country as accepted members of society. Many of them already embrace all that is American society; it would be only just to accept them as the citizens they deserve to be.

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” #1.2132925:1851515671.jpg:American Eagle looms over cowering illegal immigrant student :American Eagle looms over cowering illegal immigrant student, holding her degree hostage. Despite some students’ excellence as students, even some valedictorians and others searching for advanced degrees, these students are permitted no special treatment (what they deserve) for having lived most of their lives as American children.:Illustrated by Mahala J Bloom”