Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. His twice weekly column appears in more than 175 newspapers. The second-generation Mexican-American is one of fewer than 10 Latino syndicated columnists in the United States, and one of the country's youngest syndicated columnists overall.

Dear Rubben,

I am an illegal alien from Colombia living in the USA for more than a decade. I do not find Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Scientists, Economists, Harvard Graduates, MIT Graduates or other professionals crossing the USA - Mexico border illegally. The Mexican professional do not come to the USA illegally, they rather stay there, the same is for the majority of professionals from Latin America.

Living here illegally makes my life a little difficult, especially when a deportation order is after me, I had been escaping la "Migra" for the last 12 years. I love this country, and I hope that some day I may become a US citizen.

The people that I see every day from Latin America are most illiterate in their native language. How can we make a better society with such high level of ignorance? The politicians on the left seem them as another vote, they do not care about making them better persons, conversely is more convenient for them keeping them ignorant.

I could be protesting in the street of Los Angeles for another amnesty, but inside me I feel it will be very irresponsible. An amnesty will make my deportation to go away and I will be another US citizen this way. But it will create a moral controversy inside me, something that I do not know how to handle. I came here because my country is a mess and I did not find jobs there, I do not think is the USA fault. I was very apathetic of the political arena for many years; we sell our vote for a lunch or dinner and do not care about the consequences. The same is Mexico, the politicians are corrupted and the people like me do not want to stay and fight, rather we escape to the north.

My sister and brother moved last year to Canada, there the immigration is open to those who can bring money, knowledge and will make the Canadians better. The cost was about $15,000. The head of the family must pass the TOEFL exam before they can be considered for an application. Also they must prove that had enough money to sustain themselves for a year before getting any help from the Canadian government. I do not see the crowds protesting for the “radical and racist way” of Canada enforcing immigration laws.

When I came here I was 29 years old, I had been pushing my self very hard for all these years to improve in all aspects. I did not speak a word of English back there, I was afraid to go to school due to the fact I am an illegal with a deportation order . I could remain living inside the Spanish speaking community, but I decided to live the American dream. Since I was afraid to attend any public school due to the fact I am illegally here and the deportation order is alive, I found ways to learn the language. I thought :If I can read and speak one language, how hard is going to be to learn a second one? Very Hard! I am not a quitter, so for many years I worked making minimum wages and studding on my own after work and weekends, until one day I was able to understand, speak, and write English, of course it will never be perfect. People get amazed how well I speak English until the point that I can tell them I came when was 12 years old.

My own friends now look at me like a renegade, just because I was able to achieve something that they did not care for. I found this very sad, because I think this is the best country in the world, it is not perfect but the people that form it will make it better. When I ask them, what is best country in the world? They answer Mexico, Colombia or the country of origin. This is disturbing! Or maybe is me? I have a conflict inside me; I do not think that is my neighbor’s responsibilities to take care for my own responsibilities. Since I am a fluent English speaker, I am always willing to give my time to teach English to my coworkers or friends, they do not want to sacrifice for a better future, they are content, this comfort zone is were the majority of Latino migrants are. This kind of mentality is not what once made the USA a driving force. If we keep at the same peace of mediocrity, the USA will become another Latin America, I do not want the USA to be another Colombia!

The subject of immigration is very hot topic and nobody knows how to fix it. The laws are in the books but no one enforces them. I do not agree with the massive importation of brute labor that on top of that have on average of 4 children, that for 20 years are going to drain the system, education, health care and more. Los Angeles and California are the great example of this failure, city and state are broken. We as Latinos have to come to our senses, we need to fix the problem at the root, our own countries. I do not see the Latino activist reproaching the Mexican government and asking them for accountability of their own nationals. I think Mexico is accountable for their nationals and getting rid of them is very convenient for Mexico. Mexico is very rich but is very corrupted and no one talks about it.

I for once escaped from Colombia, but I am not going to run away from California the second time. I think it is immoral to punish the US citizens and the legal residents on favor of the illegal aliens. I know they are human beings but also the US citizens and legal residents.

Ok Rubben

Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. His twice weekly column appears in more than 175 newspapers. The second-generation Mexican-American is one of fewer than 10 Latino syndicated columnists in the United States, and one of the country's youngest syndicated columnists overall.

Dear Rubben,

I am an illegal alien from Colombia living in the USA for more than a decade. I do not find Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Scientists, Economists, Harvard Graduates, MIT Graduates or other professionals crossing the USA - Mexico border illegally. The Mexican professional do not come to the USA illegally, they rather stay there, the same is for the majority of professionals from Latin America.

Living here illegally makes my life a little difficult, especially when a deportation order is after me, I had been escaping la "Migra" for the last 12 years. I love this country, and I hope that some day I may become a US citizen.

The people that I see every day from Latin America are most illiterate in their native language. How can we make a better society with such high level of ignorance? The politicians on the left seem them as another vote, they do not care about making them better persons, conversely is more convenient for them keeping them ignorant.

I could be protesting in the street of Los Angeles for another amnesty, but inside me I feel it will be very irresponsible. An amnesty will make my deportation to go away and I will be another US citizen this way. But it will create a moral controversy inside me, something that I do not know how to handle. I came here because my country is a mess and I did not find jobs there, I do not think is the USA fault. I was very apathetic of the political arena for many years; we sell our vote for a lunch or dinner and do not care about the consequences. The same is Mexico, the politicians are corrupted and the people like me do not want to stay and fight, rather we escape to the north.

My sister and brother moved last year to Canada, there the immigration is open to those who can bring money, knowledge and will make the Canadians better. The cost was about $15,000. The head of the family must pass the TOEFL exam before they can be considered for an application. Also they must prove that had enough money to sustain themselves for a year before getting any help from the Canadian government. I do not see the crowds protesting for the “radical and racist way” of Canada enforcing immigration laws.

When I came here I was 29 years old, I had been pushing my self very hard for all these years to improve in all aspects. I did not speak a word of English back there, I was afraid to go to school due to the fact I am an illegal with a deportation order . I could remain living inside the Spanish speaking community, but I decided to live the American dream. Since I was afraid to attend any public school due to the fact I am illegally here and the deportation order is alive, I found ways to learn the language. I thought :If I can read and speak one language, how hard is going to be to learn a second one? Very Hard! I am not a quitter, so for many years I worked making minimum wages and studding on my own after work and weekends, until one day I was able to understand, speak, and write English, of course it will never be perfect. People get amazed how well I speak English until the point that I can tell them I came when was 12 years old.

My own friends now look at me like a renegade, just because I was able to achieve something that they did not care for. I found this very sad, because I think this is the best country in the world, it is not perfect but the people that form it will make it better. When I ask them, what is best country in the world? They answer Mexico, Colombia or the country of origin. This is disturbing! Or maybe is me? I have a conflict inside me; I do not think that is my neighbor’s responsibilities to take care for my own responsibilities. Since I am a fluent English speaker, I am always willing to give my time to teach English to my coworkers or friends, they do not want to sacrifice for a better future, they are content, this comfort zone is were the majority of Latino migrants are. This kind of mentality is not what once made the USA a driving force. If we keep at the same peace of mediocrity, the USA will become another Latin America, I do not want the USA to be another Colombia!

The subject of immigration is very hot topic and nobody knows how to fix it. The laws are in the books but no one enforces them. I do not agree with the massive importation of brute labor that on top of that have on average of 4 children, that for 20 years are going to drain the system, education, health care and more. Los Angeles and California are the great example of this failure, city and state are broken. We as Latinos have to come to our senses, we need to fix the problem at the root, our own countries. I do not see the Latino activist reproaching the Mexican government and asking them for accountability of their own nationals. I think Mexico is accountable for their nationals and getting rid of them is very convenient for Mexico. Mexico is very rich but is very corrupted and no one talks about it.

I for once escaped from Colombia, but I am not going to run away from California the second time. I think it is immoral to punish the US citizens and the legal residents on favor of the illegal aliens. I know they are human beings but also the US citizens and legal residents.

Ok Rubben