I enjoy engaging taxi drivers.

I normally walk everywhere when I am residing in New York City.

Since I am on Injured Reserve I have taken more taxis of late to go to the hospital and doctor appointments.

I finally broke out on Saturday and actually took my cane and pillow and met my daughter in Chelsea for lunch.

I had the nicest taxi driver who was from Senegal. We started talking and he told me he works 7 days a week so that he can support his family back home.

He started out in America driving long haul trucks from his home base in Mississippi.

He would sleep in his truck and only eat fast food to save money. It was a rigorous existence.

Immigrants frequently take on jobs in the U.S. that no Americans every apply for.

I just watched a news report featuring a Wisconsin farmer who is fighting to get an amendment passed in Congress to provide visas for immigrant farm workers so that they are not always looking over their shoulder, anticipating immigration officers coming after them.

The farmer said they are diligent, trustworthy workers who are hardworking and always show up to do their job.

He commented that in all the many, many years his family has owned their farm an American born citizen had never applied for the day laborer job.

This brings me to the ignorant and derogatory attitude towards immigrants.

I am not talking gang members or drug  dealers which many politicians label all those attempting to cross the border.

I am referencing immigrants who want to earn an honest living so that they can support their families both in America and abroad as well as escaping authoritarian rule and, ultimately, experience a better life.

What about the hospitality industry where so many immigrants are the backbone of that field?

These blanket, unsubstantiated, ignorant statements regarding immigrants are discriminatory, overinflated unhumanitarian, hot button political issues.

We are all descendants of immigrants so relax and embrace what is great and productive about America.