February 24th six students from Mark Keppel and Alhambra High Schools competed in the Rotary Club of Monterey Park’s annual speech competition on Rotary’s 4-Way Test as it pertains to this year’s Rotary International President’s theme of “Building Communities – Bridging Continents.” Participants in the contest were Priscilla Alfaro, Kalai Chik, Derek Ing, Jessica Ramos, Rattnak Sokhom and Alan Voung. Priscilla Alfaro, a sophomore at Alhambra High School and a member of the West San Gabriel Boys and Girls Club, was declared the winner with her speech on immigration. Kalai Chik was the runner up with the toboggan gonflable topic of her speech being what she had learned as a member of the Friends of the Monterey Park Library. In winning Alfaro received $100 for school supplies and the right to compete at the group level which was March 23rd in San Gabriel. At the group level she placed third winning $50 for school supplies.

The winner Priscilla Alfaro with Tim Motts, President of Monterey Park Rotary and Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club.

From left to right they are Priscilla Alfaro, Jessica Ramos, Derek Ing, Alan Voung, Rattnak Sokhom and Kalai Chik.

PRISCILLA ALFARO 4 WAY SPEECH

Approximately Twenty Million. Twenty million is the number of illegal immigrants that are currently residing in the United States according to the PEW Center. According to Congressman Forbes approximately 2700 illegal immigrants arrive daily to our country. All these people want to pursue the “American Dream”. A dream, which, for many, can only be obtained by crossing our U.S, borders illegally. These are people just like you and me who are simply trying to provide for their family and secure a future for their children. The United States was founded by immigrants and we should continue to help others and provide them with the opportunities that they are not being given in their own country. I am proposing that all illegal immigrants in the United States should be granted amnesty. This will allow illegal immigrants to apply for legal citizenship without punishment. This amnesty will of course come with requirements such as living in the United States for a period of time and a working knowledge of English.

I will now analyze my proposed solution using the Rotary’s 4 Way Test.

Is it true?

According to USAAmnesty.org,” The proposed immigration amnesty would benefit the 12 to 20 million undocumented aliens (illegal immigrants) currently living in the United States who meet the requirements. A new study has found that legalizing the status of these undocumented immigrants would boost the economy, create jobs and increase wages for native-born workers…”

It is important to keep in mind that when talking about illegal immigration we are not only speaking about Mexicans. Mexicans are not the only ones crossing the border; we have a variety of illegal immigrants in our country. According to the PEW center while 56% of illegal immigrants are Mexican, 3% African Americans, 6% Europeans and Canadians, 13% Asians, and 22% are made up of the other Hispanic races. These immigrants are coming from all over the world; not just one particular area.

Is this issue fair to all concerned?

Granting amnesty is fair to all of those concerned because it not only provides opportunities for the immigrants, but also benefits the rest of America. Through amnesty immigrants are held responsible for their doings. By allowing them an opportunity to have citizenship they will gain responsibilities such as paying for taxes and insurance.

According to the Bakersfield.com website we are able to conclude that about 800,000 jobs are being occupied by illegal immigrant. My proposal for this situation is if so many illegal immigrants are occupying these positions than why not help them, help us. If we grant them their citizenship, the government would be able to deduct taxes from their paychecks. It would be one way our economy would improve in the near future. Many Americans demand justice, let us say that your son or daughter just got into a fatal accident that was caused by an illegal immigrant. Your child just died, but because the convict was illegal than they cannot be processed the same way a citizen would. It takes months even years for the judges to figure out how to process this person, in some cases they just end up deporting the convict. Granting an illegal immigrant the benefit of becoming an American citizen enables them to take responsibility of the actions they commit. Many illegal immigrants are not in the system therefore if our forensic department was to investigate a crime scene and their fingerprints would show up they could get away with that crime.

Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

Allowing illegal immigrants the chance to become citizens will show that the United States is a country that welcomes multiculturalism.

It will create a better discourse among legal and illegal citizens alike. It will also allow immigrants the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones. Children of illegal immigrants will no longer be left behind without parents. These children are ripped apart from their parents and sometimes are left forever. Through amnesty, these immigrants will be able to bring their children over legally because they will have been granted citizenship. The United States will be known as a country that treats citizens equally, breaking down the division of legal verses illegal.

Is it beneficial to all concerned?

Amnesty is beneficial to all concerned as it allows us to welcome everyone and not isolate others creating a class of social pariahs. The word illegal has negative connotations. One automatically assumes anything illegal is bad. By stereotyping immigrants as defiant and abnormal we are discouraging them from taking part in our society. The lack of amnesty discourages immigrants from breaking other laws. They no longer have to drive without a license, be deprived of financial aid, evade taxation, and live without rights. Illegal immigrants should be known as the hard-working, intellectual, human beings they are instead of just foreign people who came illegally. Granting illegal immigrant’s amnesty will show the world America truly is the great country our founding fathers imagined it would be.

As President Obama mentioned in the State of the Union Address, “Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students excelling in our schools who are not American citizens. Some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents. They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet they live every day with the threat of deportation. Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities. But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back to compete against us.

We need to stop sending innocent people away and start opening our doors and hearts to help this nation.

Rotary International is the oldest and largest service organization in the world. For information on serving your local community through the Monterey Park Rotary, check

http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/home/homeA.asp?cid=4711. Monterey Park Rotary usually meets every Thursday at 12:15 P.M. at Capital Seafood, 755 W. Garvey Avenue, Monterey Park. For more information on Rotary International and clubs in other communities see http://www.rotary.org/EN/ABOUTUS/Pages/ridefault.aspx