THE IMMIGRATION RALLIES American kids with illegal parents

On Monday April 10th, at 2:40 p.m., dozens of teenagers — many of them born here to undocumented parents, or raised here — were lining up to get the subway to travel to the “Dignity March” at City Hall.
“We are Americans. In my school, many of us were born in the United States, but our parents have no papers. I’m here to support my parents and the rest of the so-called illegals,” said Carlos, 16, whose parents are from El Salvador.
“I am an American. My parents came here when I was six-months-old. I speak little Spanish, and Ecuador is an alien country for me. I want to finish high school and go to college. I want to be a doctor, the best doctor,” said Elizabeth, 15, who was there with fellow students Yu, 16, from Korea, and Lee, 16, from China. “We came here before we were one-year-old. This is our country,” said Yu.
Also at Roosevelt Avenue subway station were Patricia, 17, from Ireland; Sarah, 18, from Israel; Mohammed, 17, from Pakistan; Lisa, 17, from Ireland; Marissa, 16, and Pedro, 17, from Mexico, all of whom came here at very young ages.
“Our parents are not criminals. They came here looking for a better future for their families, exactly like the grandparents of Congressmen James Sensenbrenner and Tom Tancredo (the co-authors with Congressman Peter King of Long Island, of the House immigration bill, HR4437) did many years ago,” said Patricia who is attending a private school, and is planning become a lawyer.
“We love this country. My brother is in Iraq fighting for this country. We want my parents living here, legally,” said Jorge, 16, whose parents are from Colombia.
“HR4437 would destroy our family. My grandmother has no papers. She has been here for 10 years. We don’t want her to be deported,” said Sarah.
“We didn’t take the big risk of coming through the desert many years ago to go back now. We pay taxes - we work so hard. We don’t deserve to be criminals just because we want the best for our families. Our children are Americans and we want they have the same opportunities that the rest of American children have,” said Gabriel, 38, who has been here for the last 18 years, works in construction, and has his own house in Forest Hills.