I have recently had thoughts about what it means to be a part of the experience we call America. We who are lucky enough to be born as natural citizens can reap the benefits and opportunities of our society. There are people from all over the world who would gladly give up the citizenship of their birth country to live and work here even as a second-class citizens. America cannot save the world from itself. The country of Mexico depends greatly on funds transferred from those who live and work in this country doing jobs that our citizens will not do at the wages offered.

There are veterans who risked their lives for this country who are now deported to their native countries around the world. They at some point in time broke the laws of this country went to prison served their sentences and then were deported. They have no access to healthcare from the Veterans Administration because of their deportation status.

As a veteran who served in the Army, I met a lot of fellow soldiers from different countries around the world. I never thought of them being foreigners because they were willing to put their lives on the line for this country. Deportations of those who came to this country for a chance of a better life will continue to increase under the current leadership of this country. The reality is that America is greying. We need others from all across the globe to revitalize our society because this is a country that was built on and will not survive on an outdated policy of isolation. We are at the least a country founded by immigrants. Lest we forget.