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Jose Espinosa is a 17-year-old senior at Ridgeway High School who said he was born in Mexico, raised in California and moved to Memphis in 1994.
Jose also said he is an illegal immigrant.
Last month, Jose was one of many Hispanic immigrants who took part in a rally in front of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Similar rallies were held nationwide as thousands of immigrants, primarily Hispanic, mobilized to show their desire to stay and work in the United States. This was in response to immigration bills being considered by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
For Jose and many immigrants like him, their hope is to obtain U.S. citizenship and the rights that go with it.
“People come to America to work, and it is hard when they do not get the freedom this country stands for,” Jose said.
Jose said many of those present at the rallies wore red shirts to represent peace and unity and there were signs with slogans such as, “We share the dream!” or “We love America!”
Jose admitted that many of his friends and their families are here illegally.
“This is very difficult for me because I have many illegal friends,” Jose said.
Although the inscription on the Statue of Liberty says “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” many Americans believe that something needs to be done about illegal immigration into the United States. The U.S. government is considering many options to deal with the immigration issue. One idea that has been proposed is to send all illegal immigrants back to their home countries. Critics of the plan say implementing such a policy would be impossible to enforce. Many business owners say the plan would devastate the economy because many illegal immigrants are employed in industries that depend on them in their workforce, especially in states such as California.
In a talk in Orange County, Calif., on April 24, President Bush spoke out against the mass deportation of immigrants in the country.
“One thing we cannot lose sight of is that we’re talking about human beings, decent human beings that need to be treated with respect,” Bush said, according to The Los Angeles Times.
“Massive deportation of the people here is unrealistic. It’s just not going to work.” Some critics say the president and others supporting his immigration policies are simply looking for ways to keep cheap labor.
This past week, Senate Republicans announced they will ask for $2 billion to aid border security. The Department of Homeland Security recently began an initiative to raid work sites where illegal immigrants are working.
In Tennessee, a bill has been proposed that would require the state driver’s license exam to be given only in English. Its sponsors, Sen. Bill Keton, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Tommy Dubois, R-Columbia, said in The Commercial Appeal that the bill is a response to the number of undocumented workers fraudulently obtaining licenses.
Jose said he understands personally what illegal immigrants are going through. He said they are simply trying to find ways to take care of their families.
“They all are going through hard times in their own countries, so they come to America looking to get out of their tough situation,” Jose said. “I feel no shame for them. That’s life.”