Reading this thread is a trip.....No immigrant thesis to add, just a real American story;
My pop was an illegal who became legal....His 1st born, was a punk ass teenager who had he not been born in the US, would no doubt have been deported.
The illegal, who-became-legal immigrant, 1st US born grandchild now attends the university of subject.
If that illegal did not take the 1st step....the pre-mentioned would not be true. But it is, and he did.
Thank you pops, aka, Mr former illegal.....Thank you for taking the risk w/the law. Then working your ass off to make it right