Immigrants need roadmap to citizenship

Wild fires are raging in the Western United States during this, another dry summer. We are facing several challenges this August including debates on how to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.

How we choose to address these challenges will serve to define us during rough times. Out of many cultures, our country’s strength continues to be grounded in our ability to work together as fellow Americans.

As wild fires rage, all hands are on deck including large numbers of immigrants and some aspiring Americans.

Together, these fire fighters are risking their lives helping to protect families and homes. There are also those who cook the food that we eat and who create innovative businesses.

New immigrants realize the value of working hard and doing their part in exchange for the blessings of liberty.

As Americans, we all do our part to contribute, and we’re all better off for having hardworking new immigrants as contributing members of our communities by being customers in our stores, paying payroll taxes, and giving to local churches and charities.

It’s important to remember and give credit to the hard-working, life-risking aspiring Americans living and working in our communities who, like us, are committed to the country we all call home.

America works best when we all do our part and work together as one nation, indivisible and strong.

It’s time for Congress to act and provide a road map to citizenship for these new Americans as part of immigration reform.

Jennifer Horner is a Red Oak resident