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Melting knot

Three views of the immigration issue in America

Rosa Ramirez By Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News Rocky Mountain News Alicia Flores

Published May 19, 2007 at midnight

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The U.S. Senate is poised to debate a sweeping immigration measure, which would extend legal status to millions of immigrants after border control measures and worker identification programs are in place.

After that, illegal immigrants could obtain a renewable "Z visa" that would allow them to stay in the country indefinitely. They could ultimately get on track for permanent residency after paying fees and fines totaling $5,000.

Here are three views of the proposal.

Alicia Flores, an illegal immigrant, thought she and her family had achieved a piece of the American Dream when they moved into their four-bedroom home in April 2003.

But a month later Flores, 33, was fired from her $15-per-hour job as a cashier and office clerk at a supermarket in Denver. In June of the same year, her 35-year-old husband, Antonio, also in the country illegally, lost his construction job.

She said both had been discovered using Social Security numbers that did not match their names.

"I can't believe that for a lack of a number, we've lost everything," Alicia said, sitting in a half-empty two-story home that's now repossessed by the bank. She said she had to sell her furniture, including her children's beds, to buy food and school uniforms for their four U.S.-born children and pay utility bills.

The Floreses represent millions of workers who crossed the border illegally, obtained fake identification, landed jobs and set down roots. They said they worked hard and dutifully paid taxes to Uncle Sam.

"I worked there almost seven years. And it was always (compliments) of what a great worker I am," said Alicia Flores. "After I got fired, I felt really low like a piece of cloth that's used and thrown away."

The news of the new immigration proposal gives a bit of hope to the Floreses, who have managed to stay afloat working part-time jobs. "I'd apply for the visa. I'd do anything to be legal here," Alicia Flores said.

She feels guilty for using a fake Social Security number; it seemed like the only way to get a job, she said. The couple bought the Social Security cards and don't know if the numbers belonged to someone or if the digits were made up.

Antonio crossed the border in 1988 and Alicia a year later. She said she was so traumatized when she made the illegal crossing through neck-high muddy waters that if she were deported, she wouldn't attempt to come back.

She said more border patrols might actually save lives.

"I think it would keep some out from making the dangerous journey."

Andrew Spears

Andrew Spears, 21, didn't think about illegal immigration until he began looking for work.

He said he was denied several jobs at construction companies where the majority of the workers were from Mexico. The reason: He didn't speak Spanish.

Still, he said, "I don't have any problems with immigrants." But, he added, "Maybe it would be better if they did it the right way."

Spears, who lives in Montbello, has since been able to find a construction job and a job at a warehouse.

"I don't think they're here to take jobs because I would not want to work in restaurants. Not that that's a bad job but I don't think I'd apply there," he said, adding that about half of his friends believe illegal immigrants are directly competing with them for jobs.

"I would actually like to learn Spanish. That would be a great skill to have."

He said allowing some immigrants to adjust their legal status would "work a lot better" to help solve the illegal immigration problem.

"That's good because $5,000 is a pretty stiff fee for a visa. That's pretty fair."

As for tighter border controls, he said expanding a fence might help keep some immigrants from entering the country illegally but would not keep terrorists out.

"Most of the terrorists are already here," he said.

Chi Duong

Chi Duong is all for immigration reform as long as illegal immigrants are willing to work.

Chi Duong knows all about work. By his estimate he puts in up to 100 hours a week at a South Federal Boulevard jewelry store.

"If immigrants come here to work, then I say that OK," he said.

"If they come to the U.S. and if you come to support America and do everything to make a better environment, I totally support," he said. "You cannot use your energy on whatever you want to do. You cannot come here to collect a government check and sit on the couch."

Chi Duong is a legal permanent resident from Vietnam, meaning he holds a green card and is eligible to become a U.S. citizen. But he said, he rarely has time to study for the citizenship test and is the only member of his family here who is not an American citizen.

"My family's really mad at me," he said.

In his view, requiring immigrants to learn English and pass a civics test to gain citizenship may lead to the exclusion of many immigrant workers.

"If the government already give people permission to stay here, I don't think they should take a test," he said. "Learning English is very, very difficult. It's very difficult to practice, especially because many immigrants work a lot of hours."

Chi Duong arrived in the United States after his brother-in-law sponsored him and 11 other relatives in 1975.

His brother-in-law worked for the U.S. government and had to flee Vietnam for fear of persecution. Chi Duong's home in Soc Trang in South Vietnam had been raided by the military, leaving them with only the bare necessities.

"They wiped out our house. We only had the bed to sleep. They took the TV and radio," he said. "We had to leave."

The rest of his family immigrated to the U.S. from 1978 to 1983, he said.

When Chi Duong arrived here, he said, he worked 14-hour shifts at a hay farm for $15 per day. He knew one English word: hello.

He's now fluent in English.

In 1999 Chi Duong closed his used furniture business in Denver to take over his brother's jewelry store after his brother was diagnosed with cancer.

"He asked me to take care of his business. He had it for 10 years and I didn't want him to lose it," he said. "I work all the time."

or 303-954-5067. The Associated Press contributed to this report.