American Citizen

American Citizen

        Does being born on American soil or taking an oath of citizenship make you an American?  If it was viewed purely in a legal context it certainly would but being an American means so much more than the legal definition. America is a country built by immigrants for those that were  “ yearning to breathe free” ( Lazarus). Emma Lazarus in her poem Statue of Liberty expresses the need for freedom that immigrants have when they arrive into America. What I think being an American means is being someone that is willing to work hard for their goals and aspiration, someone that is going to take the opportunities given to them and making the best out of it, and someone that is accepting of a divergent population.

        One of the things that made America stand out so much was its openness to immigrants compared to other countries. In a span of  one generation more than “10 million people migrated legally or illegally from Mexico to the U.S.” (Barone 1). Many of those people are trying to make a better living for themselves or their families while going after their American Dream. Those that came here illegally don’t have nearly the number of opportunities to go after the American Dream they risked their lives getting here for. These are people that are striving for the American Dream working as hard as any other american even if they aren’t American by law.

        America is the land of many possibilities that  promises “ equal opportunity, not equal outcomes “ (Paul Ryan). That is the story for americans and illegal immigrants a like. Many illegal immigrants are taking advantage of a loophole in the law that is allowing them to be employed legally.  The federal law prohibits the hiring of illegal immigrants  but does not have a “law prohibiting such a person from starting a business or becoming an independent contractor ” (Carcamo 1). Young and Tech Savvy illegal immigrants are using this opportunity to create internet businesses that are thriving. One such example is a young entrepreneur by the name of Chavarria “who was 7 when she crossed into Arizona from Mexico with her mother” (Carcamo 1). She is now using this loop hoop to run her own graphic design business to go after her dreams while waiting to be legalized.