Imagine yourself in a life of poverty. No health care, earning low wages in poor working conditions. This is, surprisingly, the life of an illegal immigrant in the United States of America. What exactly is an immigrant? According to the World Almanac of US Politics 1997, “Without any numerical limitation, immigrants [are] classified as immediate relatives (spouses, parents, or natural children) of United States citizens; returning permanent resident foreigners; certain former U.S. citizens; and certain longtime U.S. government employees” (Wagman). The fear comes from being caught as an illegal immigrant who hinders every decision regarding their livelihood, from education to employment – ​​their entire life is negatively affected. No one needs to live this way. The solution, however, is not simply to freely accept any willing immigrant, but to give all foreigners a more fair and reasonable chance to become citizens of "the land of the free and the land of the brave." Strict enforcement of a more streamlined government vetting process to oversee legal immigration is necessary to continue America's cultural and economic evolution with the addition of individuals from foreign countries attempting to enter properly in the United States of America. Currently, America's immigration process is quite imperfect, requiring years of waiting and a large increase in money. From early in U.S. history, President Thomas Jefferson saw the benefits of large-scale immigration; as it offered cheap labor, provided renovation technologies and connections to commerce at the time (Martin). Many years and many events have happened since then, including the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in Manhattan, New York...... middle of paper ...... the same: being able to live a better life . The chance to live the American dream, a dream different for each individual, is here and awaits people around the world. However, the opportunity to fully live your dream is only possible through a fast and secure legal immigration process. It must be modified to allow others to join the “melting pot” family. As President Obama said at an American university: "And then there are the countless names and quiet acts that never made it into the history books but nonetheless had an impact on the building of this country, the generations who braved hardships and great risks to reach our shores in search of a better life for themselves and their families, the ancestors of most of them; us, who believed that there was a place where they could finally be free to work, worship and live their lives in peace (Obama.)