The very founding concepts of this country, and the laws establishing such a system, have been established for a couple centuries, since the beginning, were based upon the right for people to immigrate to this country to pursue happiness, amidst the security of freedom and liberty. The United States was conceived as a haven for those yearning for liberty. At that juncture, the people coming to the USA were viewed as a great and valuable resource! Should we not appreciate many of these immigrants that made this country successful, in so many aspects, by welcoming their brainpower, the might of their ideas and their work towards making a better life for all those in this land? What has happened to this structure and our motto, which were the founding pillars of the United States of America, as the land of opportunity and freedom? The United States is, unquestionably, a nation of immigrants. It is as much our identity as anything else we can name. The value of immigration, in our history, is clear and need not be belabored. What must be asked of our politicians and our voting public is, if we are going to claim we welcome immigrants, why do we make it so difficult for them? The current requirements for immigration are staggering. Most Americans seem to feel any hard-working, law-abiding applicants can become citizens, legally, with a minimum of hassle. This is not the case! We ask all Americans to become educated on these issues. It can require tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees alone and even hundreds of thousands of dollars in investments to become a US Citizen, legally. It can take years. But it’s not the same for all nations. A citizen of the UK, for instance, will have a much easier time than someone from a what the government might consider a “less desirable” country, despite how desirable the individual applicant may be. How “desirable” the government considers an immigrant is heavily steeped in politics and the relationship the US Government has with that particular nation at the time. This is grossly unfair and bigoted treatment of individuals, their destinies determined by politics and not their individual merits.It is staggering what is required and asked of those seeking to be US Citizens. The USA purports to welcome immigrants, yet makes legal immigration extremely difficult. We have out the welcome mat – but won’t open the door. This results in a mixed message of hypocrisy. Either we need to welcome immigrants and help them come here legally, or we need to roll up the welcome mat, land mine all the borders and sell the naming rights of the Statue of Liberty to some banal corporation – she might as well become “One of these Corporation’s Harbor Gal”! If we claim to welcome immigrants, then we must make policies which reflect it. Else we need to change the Statue’s inscription to read, “Keep, ancient lands, your yearning people. I extinguish my lamp and close the door”. Immigration reform, making it easier for immigrants to enter the USA legally, is not only in line with our national identity and the message we claim, but it has positive impacts on illegal immigration. How many people, we must wonder, would come here legally if that choice were open to them?

In 2011, over 46,000 parents of at least one U.S. citizen child were part of massive ICE detentions and deportations. During these sweeps many parents were unable to claim or make arrangements for their children to be returned to them, or to be cared for by close family members. As a result, thousands of children have been scattered throughout the nation’s county foster care system – making separation from their parents' love, permanent.

There are many people who has wrong ID. They do not pay for car or other insurances. This misunderstanding of their legal status, have created a numerous fakes ID, unable to identify the individuals and has given to them a excellent, legal way to get free of their share.

* NOTE: As of Dec 2012, Dept of Homeland Security and Transportation (TSA) officials announced that the policy requiring REAL ID standardized identification would be delayed past the January 15, 2013 deadline. NM is only one of 2 states still issuing drivers licenses to illegal (undocumented) aliens. The Real ID Act became law in 2005. The Dept of Homeland of Security has extended the deadline for NM many times already. As of Jan 15, 2013* NMDL's will not be valid as US identification, and domestic travelers will be required to carry US Passports. If the New Mexico State Legislature does not create/repeal legislation during the next legislative session beginning Jan 15, 2013 then you can expect to pay $200/adult for a US Passport to travel within your own country. This insanity must end in Santa Fe in January. Learn more at http://zpr.co/nmdl/realid/

Stop separating the families, I am facing deportation for something that I already paid for. I served 18 months of incarceration. I am a single parent of two daughters and grandfather of a 2 year old boy, and I am the only support and provider for them. My older daughter is in college and she is a single mother, my youngest is still in high school. During my incarceration I started taking classes in college; when I finished my time I continued my studies and in 2006 I graduated as an architect and have worked since then as an architect and as a good citizen. But also I have done everything that is possible to stop my deportation and the separation of my family and the separation of any other family.

It's possibility can change the waiting time for a visa my family wait more the 16 years they are from Mexico other Country it's less time

We all in the Latino community have family that are being affected by the difficult immigration process in effect now.

This petition is asking Congress to take up and pass the DREAM Act, HR 1842. The DREAM Act will give hope for a brighter future for over 1 million young people who were brought to the United States as children (under the age of 15), who have proven good moral character and have achieved a high school education or better. As parents, we take for granted the opportunities afforded to our children in this country. We are asking to extend these rights to children that have always called America home.

If my father had not come to the United States I would not be here. He was a migrant/immigrant. He traveled with the crops and made enough money to keep his family, clothed, housed and schooled as well as churched.

Like all countries, the USA should choose its immigrants by quality and not by race.

The immigration reform proposal currently on the Obama political agenda contains a new Bracero Program, termed "a process for admitting temporary workers." Having a new Bracero Program in something called Immigration Reform is no reform at all, it is a step backwards into indentured servitude, slavery. We must oppose any new 'temporary contract labor program.' Unfortunately, a temporary worker program remains on the Obama version of immigration reform. Let's be firm in our opposition to any new guest worker program and make no deals in order to get justice for the undocumented. On this see Julia Preston, "Obama Expresses Confidence in Early Action on Immigration" (NYT Nov 14, 2012). Among the various actions in the proposed legislation is a new Bracero Program now pegged, or better sanitized as "visas available for farm workers." Gilbert Gonzalez

The Caribbean’s/West Indian’s Americans want to be identifying as who we are. We migrate from our country to the USA to make a better life for ourselves and our children. Our children as well as ourselves service this country in many composites and the country should know that the Caribbean’s or West Indian’s Americans are proud to be American and are willing to defend this country and do play an important role in this country.