Your turn: Steps it takes to become a legal immigrant

By: Tracey Clark

With all the talk about Immigration recently, I want to thank those immigrants who have come to this country legally. My husband, Pastor, and several friends followed the proper steps to either become, or work toward, their citizenship. With every illegal immigrant given free entry or sanctuary, it's a slap in the face to those who are here legally.

Immigration to this country requires many steps and a purpose to be here. Marriage, a particular skill, or persecution are a few of the reasons.  And there should be a corresponding visa to fit the need. A foreign national cannot decide to move to America, or any other country, without a purpose or a cause.

All I ask is that we take the time to educate ourselves on how immigration to this country actually works. I had to sponsor my husband financially, so he would not be a burden on society. He had to pass a medical exam and an extensive background check.

We do a disservice to every legal immigrant and citizen of the USA if we allow illegal immigration to continue. Almost no one is against legal immigration, but all of us should be against those entering our country illegally.

Immigration is possible and should be done according to the laws of the land.  Thank you.