I found Maryann Sinclair Slutsky’s article on Michael Dowling (“An Immigrant Who Hasn’t Forgotten”) very interesting.
My parents also immigrated from Ireland, with an 18-month-old daughter, after waiting two years for permission to come. My mother was nine months pregnant with me at that time, but decided to come anyway.
This was in 1929, and they were here two weeks when I was born. So, you talk about struggle, no job, and then came the start of the Depression.
But they grew to love this country, and were proud to become citizens. They followed the laws and taught their children to always do the same.
Now, I understand Mr. Dowling’s love of finding work here and sending money home to help the family, but he must respect this country and its laws.
The American people aren’t against immigrants because they are Mexican or Haitian, because at one time we were all immigrants.
People are concerned because they don’t obey the laws, they go to our schools and do not pay taxes.
They say there are 11 million here, but there must be more than that by now. Many of our states are struggling, and the border crossings, like Arizona and California, are bankrupt.
America is the country that always helped the “struggling”—look around the world and see what we do.
We never cut off immigration—people take advantage of our good nature and illegally enter our country. Instead of waiting for permission, as in other countries.
Winifred Larkin
