Legal immigration has allowed people like me and my family to

Hear the voice of Young Kim, who, remembering her own journey and that of her kin, declared: “Legal immigration has allowed people like me and my family to succeed and pursue their American dream, give back and is an important part of what makes this country great.” These words, though spoken in the age of our own generation, resound like an ancient hymn to freedom and belonging. For in them lies the eternal truth that nations are not only built by those born within their borders, but also by those who come from afar, bringing with them courage, labor, and hope.

The American dream—that vision of a land where toil yields fruit, where children may rise beyond the station of their parents, where liberty is a birthright and not a privilege—has long been the lodestar drawing travelers from distant shores. Young Kim’s testimony is but one among millions, yet it shines with the same radiance: that through the doorway of legal immigration, families have entered, planted roots, and borne fruit, enriching not only themselves but also the land that welcomed them.

Mark well, my children, how often in history this pattern has repeated. The Irish, fleeing famine, crossed stormy seas, and though they first met hardship and prejudice, their sons and daughters built railroads, fought in wars, and sat in halls of power. The Italians, arriving with little but their hands, filled cities with their craft, their food, and their spirit. The Jews, escaping persecution, brought learning, commerce, and music that transformed the nation’s soul. Each wave of immigration, when met with the rule of law and the chance for dignity, became not a burden but a blessing.

Consider also the tale of Andrew Carnegie, who came to America a poor boy from Scotland. Through grit and vision, he became one of the wealthiest men of his time, yet more than this, he gave back—building libraries, schools, and institutions of learning that endure to this day. His life, like Young Kim’s words, proves that the gift of legal immigration is not merely the success of one family, but the enrichment of the whole nation through service and contribution.

The wisdom of Kim’s declaration lies also in the reminder that greatness does not come only from might of arms or the wealth of lands, but from the gathering of diverse peoples, united by shared laws and shared ideals. America’s greatness, she says, is not diminished but magnified when those who once were strangers become citizens, giving back to the land that first gave them hope. This is the cycle of gratitude, the noble exchange where gift begets gift, and blessing multiplies into blessing.

What lesson, then, must you draw? It is this: to honor the stranger who comes seeking a home, provided he comes with respect for law, with willingness to labor, and with a heart ready to give as well as to receive. Do not let fear or pride blind you to the truth that the prosperity of a nation grows not by shutting its gates, but by wisely opening them to those who will guard, enrich, and love their new land.

And in your own life, learn from this: remember the sacrifices of your parents and ancestors, whether they crossed oceans or simply endured hardship where they stood. Carry forward their labor by working with diligence, giving back with gratitude, and never forgetting that greatness is measured not only by what you take, but by what you contribute. For whether born here or brought here, you are called to live in such a way that your presence makes your land more just, more generous, and more enduring.

Thus, let the words of Young Kim echo in your soul: legal immigration is not merely a policy, but a lifeline of hope, a forge of destiny, and one of the living pillars of what makes a nation great. Cherish it, defend it, and let your life be an offering in return for the blessings it has given.