We are a country of immigrants who have built this great nation

“We are a country of immigrants who have built this great nation, but it is legal immigration that we should be recognizing and encouraging.” Thus spoke Mercedes Schlapp, a daughter of immigrants and a voice of conviction in modern America. In these words lies a reflection not only of her heritage but of the very heartbeat of the American experiment. For this nation, unique among the empires of history, was not born from a single bloodline or tribe—it was forged from many peoples, drawn from distant lands, united by courage and hope. Yet Schlapp’s wisdom carries a deeper truth: that the strength of a nation is not built on chaos or defiance, but on order, respect, and the rule of law.

Her words remind us that immigration, in its truest form, is not merely movement—it is renewal. Every generation of newcomers has breathed new life into America’s promise, adding color to its culture, labor to its industries, and genius to its progress. The Irish who dug the canals, the Italians who built the railroads, the Chinese who bridged the West, the Africans who endured slavery and rose to greatness—all have laid stones upon the foundation of this republic. But Schlapp’s insight is a call to preserve this legacy with integrity—to ensure that the pathways to citizenship are respected, that the laws which govern entry are not seen as obstacles, but as gateways to belonging.

Mercedes Schlapp, herself born to a Cuban father who fled tyranny, speaks from the memory of those who sought freedom through lawful means. Her father, like countless others, escaped oppression not to defy another system of order, but to embrace one built upon justice. In her quote, we hear not condemnation of immigrants, but reverence for the principle of lawful entry—the belief that to be part of a nation is not merely to live within its borders, but to join in its covenant of citizenship. To recognize and encourage legal immigration, then, is to honor both the sacrifices of those who waited and the values that hold the nation together.

In the ancient days, wise philosophers spoke of law as the backbone of civilization. Without it, they said, liberty becomes an illusion, and freedom collapses into disorder. So too in this modern age does Schlapp’s statement echo that ancient truth: a people can remain free only when they uphold the laws that bind them in fairness. For the rule of law is not meant to exclude—it is meant to protect. It is the guardian of both citizen and stranger, ensuring that compassion walks hand in hand with justice. When the law is respected, mercy can be given meaning; when it is ignored, even mercy loses its virtue.

Consider the story of Ellis Island, that gateway of hope that once welcomed millions to America’s shores. There, amid tears and trembling, families waited, were questioned, and were processed—not to be humiliated, but to be recognized as new citizens, ready to join in the building of a new world. Each name recorded in those great ledgers became a testament to order and belonging. Those who passed through did so under the banner of law, and in so doing, became part of the story of America. Their descendants, today, live as proof that lawful immigration does not divide a nation—it defines it.

Schlapp’s words remind us that true patriotism does not lie in closing the door to the foreigner, nor in flinging it open without guidance. It lies in keeping the door honorably open—to those who seek not only opportunity, but responsibility. For to enter a nation is to enter a moral contract: to cherish its freedoms, to respect its rules, to contribute to its well-being. A nation that forgets this balance risks losing both compassion and control. But a nation that honors lawful immigration honors its own founding spirit—the belief that all who strive with honesty and faith can earn a place beneath the same flag.

The lesson, then, is clear: law and compassion must walk together. Let us celebrate our heritage as a nation of immigrants, but let us also defend the sanctity of the law that allows freedom to flourish. Welcome the stranger who comes with open hands, but guide them with the same justice that protects your own. Teach your children that belonging is not given, but earned—that every right carries a duty, and every freedom a responsibility. Only then will the nation remain strong, just, and free.

So remember, children of tomorrow, the wisdom of Mercedes Schlapp: we are a nation built by immigrants, but it is lawful immigration that keeps our dream alive. Let us open our hearts, but not abandon our order. Let us extend our hands, but not forget our boundaries. For when compassion and law dwell together, a nation stands eternal—not as a fortress of exclusion, nor as a field of chaos, but as a beacon of freedom, steady and radiant, for all who seek to join its light.