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�"i�s� �� Clara Miliotis �, $�� Grade � RAMS � Mr. Andrea � Human Rights Essay To some people, the word immigration signifies hope and a fresh start to life. For others, the word immigration strikes fear into the center of the heart. Some are reminded of a painful past, and others wonder what immigration does to help America. With immigration comes an endless wave of questions and quarrels, yet answers are rarely reached. I believe the main question people will often fmd crossing their mind is this: How greatly does immigrationreally benefit the U.S.? Our nation wouldn't be what it is today without the influence of immigrants. Therefore, it is somewhat ironic that the issue of immigration is raising such controversy. After all, only 1.5 percent of the U.S. population today has original Native American roots (U,�. Census Bureau News, June 9,2005). Even so, did Native Americans not also have to migrate here from other lands? In theory, not a single soul on this earth is eligible to call themselves 100% American, because no one truly is. I have lived here in the U.S. all my life, as have my parents and their parents. But that does nothing to change the fact that at a point in our family history my great grandparents passed through Ellis Island. One came here to escape communism in Yugoslavia, and another came for better job opportunities and a chance to own his own land. At what point can someone call him or herself an American? There are many ways that immigrants enhance our country. They contribute to the rich diversity of our nation. I�nrnigrar�ts give our citizensnew ideas and perspectives of how to do things, and in some ways they bring different groups of people together. America is known for all of our different ethnic groups, and immigrants help keep the different ethnicities flowing. We could all learn a lot from immigrants.