The Statue of Liberty promises a better life for immigrants to America.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” The words inscribed below the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of the “American Dream” for many around the world, were intended to welcome new immigrants into America, but new state laws are doing just the opposite. In fact for some, this “dream” has turned into a nightmare.

America was built on the idea of accepting people from all backgrounds who want to come and “breathe free,” but this open door policy has not been consistently followed throughout U.S. history.

In the late 19^th century, Americans wanted to seclude immigrants because they felt the immigrants were taking their jobs. Today some states, including Arizona and Alabama, hold similar opinions, as shown by their laws affecting immigrants.

Arizona requires law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of every person “where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States.” This law interferes with the privacy of the people.

Alabama requires schools to check the legal status of incoming students and allows police to keep anyone suspected of being in the country illegally in custody indefinitely. The law denies some kids of a good education, in some cases takes their parents away, and ultimately prevents the family from living the “American Dream.”

Many immigrants, though illegal, work hard to be upstanding citizens. It is outrageous that the only thing standing between them and the “American Dream” is documentation, which is not easy to get.

Making these documents easier to acquire would allow the immigrants to stay with their families and work without the constant fear of being deported.