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To the Editor of La Prensa,

My name is Yvette N. Villanueva, from the University of Toledo.  HR 4437, proposed by Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner, enrages me profoundly. 

I grew up working in the fields, surrounded by immigrants. My parents were immigrants and, thankfully, they are now residents of the United States.  However, I wonder what Mr. Sensenbrenner would do if his parents were immigrants and this bill was passed—I’m sure he would not have proposed it in the first place. 

I don’t know what he has against immigrants—all that they want is to work worry free and be able to provide for their families.

Yvette N. Villanueva

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I wonder if he has ever watched the 1999 National Headliner Award Winner documentary titled Children of the Harvest, presented by Dateline NBC news (production by Andy Court and Victor Arango).  I was a part of that—I am the little girl falling asleep while working. 

This documentary might make Congressman Sensenbrenner see or understand just a little bit of what immigrants, their families, and friends go thought just to be able to provide a meal and a roof for their loved ones. 

When you think of the immigrant, the first thing that my mind envisions is a person working in the fields.  That is because it is true—immigrants have the worst paying and dirty jobs that there can be.  Yet, they do it for a better future for themselves and their loved ones. 

I worked in the fields from the tender age of ten until I was seventeen years of age.  And every year, my family migrated to Michigan as we picked blueberries or strawberries, and everywhere I looked there were immigrants.  So what would Congressman Sensenbrenner do if his bill became law? Is he going to work in the fields and provide food for U.S.-Americans? 

This statement goes directly to Mr. Sensenbrenner—immigrants don’t just come from México, but from all over the world. Is he also planning on building a wall on the border between Canada and the United States, or a wall on the east and west coast of our country?  I think that Mr. Sensenbrenner is just being racist in proposing this bill.  He should think about the consequences the bill may bring. 

Sincerely,

Yvette N. Villanueva
Toledo, Ohio