Interview

Humanities
Kay
9/11/08

Interviewee: Reyna Forman (Grandmother)

Q: What personal experiences have helped you develop your perspective on immigration?

A:Immigrated to the U.S. when she was 19

• while living in Tijuana, Mexico she met her future husband
• wanted to marry
• never thought she wanted to move to America or marry an American man
• no country like America
• when she reads the newspaper she gains information and gathers her perspective
• America cannot be compared to smaller countries that do not have the same population we have

Q: If you could immigrate anywhere in the world, where would you immigrate and why?

A: She would not immigrate anywhere in the world

• there is no other country that can provide such a great life
• no where better, family and kids are here
• Mexico's government is too corrupt: the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
• in America, if there is any corruption in the government does not affect her

Q: What would you do if you could help and/or change immigration in America?

A: Immigration is a great opportunity

• the immigrants that come to America cannot just come to make money, they need to adapt the culture
• in the long run it would be better for the immigrants if they waited it out and wait it out until they get the proper paperwork
  
• illegal does mean illegal though
• the immigrants can enjoy their culture in private but must embrace the American culture when in public

Q: Do you think immigrants should have any rights? Why or Why not?

A: In emergency the United States can not let illegals suffer. for example, if they broke their hip bone working the hospital has to let them in, but the immigrants an not take advantage

• when the immigrants use the emergency rooms as a way to get a "check up" they are possibly taking time away from a patient that has an urgent condition
• the children of the illegal immigrants had no say in this matter, so in the end they suffer the consequences that the parents may have left behind, such as being deported
• the immigrants wanted to come here, America did not force them, so if they come across problems America is not to blame
• most of the immigrants that come here cross the border to make more money and support their family, but that should not be the only reason, they need to work to become an American

Q: How do you fell about illegal immigrants getting deported?

A: When illegal immigrants come to America they must know that they run the risk of getting deported

• if an illegal immigrant commits a crime, they should be deported immediately, because now they have broken at least two laws, one of them a federal offense
  
• there has to be a remedies for families that have been living in the U.S. for several years and have grown children. how are you going to deport a whole family? a suggestion would be for them to make up for their offense by working for the community
• the American government cannot do much because the Mexican government urges them to go to America; also, their are thousands of illegal immigrants that cannot all be deported

Q: Do you fell everybody is an immigrant? Why?

A: If you go far enough back, yes

• sons and daughters of immigrants would be considered immigrants
• hundreds of years ago there were only Native Americans, so we are all essentially immigrants

Q: If you were an illegal immigrant how would your life be different?

A: There is nothing strong enough for me to commit a crime and immigrate illegally

• knowing that one day could change your life if you were deported, I would no feel comfortable
• I have never done anything in my life that is against the law

Q: What do you think about the border patrol?

A: On the whole, they try to do the best

• their opinion must be torn sometimes when they must deport a whole family, yet they have to do it
• the fact is that their job is to stop illegals from crossing and capture the ones that did
• they swore in to the job and they must fulfill their requirements