Immigrants Are Hoping For Change, And A Little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
In the wake of the upcoming Immigration reform march near the White House this Sunday, we spoke to a Latina worker, (as we were getting our car washed) who was kind enough to share her thoughts on immigration, and living and working in America.
"Everybody work hard. That's just our people.", said the lady we'll refer to here in this article as "Esolina".
E: "Yes."
"Americans, they think we want to take jobs away from Americans, but that's just not true. Nobody (Americans) want to work in the carwash and vacuum out the cars in the cold weather, in the sun, you know? Look at my sunburn (pointing to the area under her eyes). They say, Oh you been on vacation. No! It's a sunburn."
POP: You have a sunburn under your eyes from washing and vacuuming cars in the sun?
E: Yes.
POP: Do you wear sunglasses while you're out there?
E: Yes, everybody wear sunglasses. But it's hard work.
POP: How long have you worked here?
E: Long time. But I'm happy. I love what I do.
POP: How long. Three years? Five years? Longer?
E: More than ten years. I love it.
Our conversation took a detour about work to something even more interesting after we asked her the following question.
POP: So, if you could talk to President Obama, what would you say to him?
E: "Start the cases. Like if people commit the felony, commit a crime - kick out."
POP: Kick those people out of this country?
E: "Yes!" (Answering emphatically). "And put in the jail. But in the jail for twenty-five years."
POP: Whether legal, or not legal?
E: "Legal, or no legal, okay?" "If illegal, it's more reason. They need to do something. No, catching the people and putting back. No. It should be something more strict, you know? The people come back. The same people. But the good people, that work hard, let them stay. I know a lot of people that pay the taxes, do everything correct, but they're punishment is the same. And it makes the crime hard on the kids. That's unbelievable. The kids, crying for the father that's in Mexico. That's not good.
POP: Where are you from?
E: Peru. Coming to this country from Peru, you need to have a VISA. You can't come here like from Central America. No. For me I have a niece and sister in my country. They need to work. But they not coming here because the United States not giving them a VISA.
POP: Why do you think that is?
E: I don't know why.
Last June, the president assigned Secretary Napolitano to work with both parties and key constituencies around the country to craft a comprehensive approach that president hopes to fix what he called "our broken immigration system".
'E'. offered that she likes being a U.S. citizen, and credits her friends and family (two sons in the military) for working hard to be successful. She told us she is against people who use the government system for personal gain.
E. "I know people who make $600 a week, and they still apply for government help. I come here, and take classes to speak English so I can communicate on this job, and didn't ask for any government help."
"See that right there?" (Proudly pointing across the way to her 2001 Ford Mustang, that she paid for.) "That's my baby. I work hard for that."
Related
Thousands expected for Immigration Reform march.
Copyright 2010. This article may not be copied or redistributed without the expressed written consent of Politics. On Point. For permission (with fee) contact us.
In the wake of the upcoming Immigration reform march near the White House this Sunday, we spoke to a Latina worker, (as we were getting our car washed) who was kind enough to share her thoughts on immigration, and living and working in America.
"Everybody work hard. That's just our people.", said the lady we'll refer to here in this article as "Esolina". 'Esolina' wants badly to attend the march this Sunday but tells us she has to work.
POP: So, you were saying you have to work seven days a week just so you can pay your bills.
"Americans, they think we want to take jobs away from Americans, but that's just not true. Nobody (Americans) want to work in the carwash and vacuum out the cars in the cold weather, in the sun, you know? Look at my sunburn (pointing to the area under her eyes). They say, Oh you been on vacation. No! It's a sunburn."
POP: You have a sunburn under your eyes from washing and vacuuming cars in the sun?
E: Yes.
POP: Do you wear sunglasses while you're out there?
E: Yes, everybody wear sunglasses. But it's hard work.
POP: How long have you worked here?
E: Long time. But I'm happy. I love what I do.
POP: How long. Three years? Five years? Longer?
E: More than ten years. I love it.
Our conversation took a detour about work to something even more interesting after we asked her the following question.
POP: So, if you could talk to President Obama, what would you say to him?
E: "Start the cases. Like if people commit the felony, commit a crime - kick out."
POP: Kick those people out of this country?
E: "Yes!" (Answering emphatically). "And put in the jail. But in the jail for twenty-five years."
POP: Whether legal, or not legal?
E: "Legal, or no legal, okay?" "If illegal, it's more reason. They need to do something. No, catching the people and putting back. No. It should be something more strict, you know? The people come back. The same people. But the good people, that work hard, let them stay. I know a lot of people that pay the taxes, do everything correct, but they're punishment is the same. And it makes the crime hard on the kids. That's unbelievable. The kids, crying for the father that's in Mexico. That's not good.
POP: Where are you from?
E: Peru. Coming to this country from Peru, you need to have a VISA. You can't come here like from Central America. No. For me I have a niece and sister in my country. They need to work. But they not coming here because the United States not giving them a VISA.
POP: Why do you think that is?
E: I don't know why.
Last June, the president assigned Secretary Napolitano to work with both parties and key constituencies around the country to craft a comprehensive approach that president hopes to fix what he called "our broken immigration system".
'E'. offered that she likes being a U.S. citizen, and credits her friends and family (two sons in the military) for working hard to be successful. She told us she is against people who use the government system for personal gain.
E. "I know people who make $600 a week, and they still apply for government help. I come here, and take classes to speak English so I can communicate on this job, and didn't ask for any government help."
"See that right there?" (Proudly pointing across the way to her 2001 Ford Mustang, that she paid for.) "That's my baby. I work hard for that."
Related
Thousands expected for Immigration Reform march.
Copyright 2010. This article may not be copied or redistributed without the expressed written consent of Politics. On Point. For permission (with fee) contact us.
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