Opinion: Give undocumented immigrants the right to vote

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Workshop for Bay Area high school students, a two-week intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.

Several cities throughout the country have given undocumented residents the right to vote in local elections. This is a right that should also be given to undocumented residents in San Jose, the Bay Area, California and throughout the country.

The largest city in America, New York City, already lets them vote. Maryland has done it in several cities, including Takoma Park and Chevy Chase. San Francisco and Chicago allow the undocumented to vote only in school elections.

In San Jose, a group of advocates proposed it last year, but after a study session in August, the coalition decided to take a pause from this campaign, and the city council never voted on whether to send the matter to voters. The coalition was made up of several nonprofits and community groups including Somos Mayfair, Amigos de Guadalupe, Si Se Puede Collective, Sacred Heart, Human Agenda, Papeles para Todos and Luna.

It’s time we try again. With the right to vote, undocumented residents will be able to express their needs and make sure all communities in San Jose are able to thrive.

Now, some of you are going to say undocumented people should have stayed at the border and waited in line to legally enter the United States, or that they should apply for legal residency first and then citizenship. You might argue that not having a vote is a consequence for their decision to cross the border illegally.

However, undocumented people deserve to have a voice in local politics because they make valuable contributions to their cities.

In 2018, immigrants in San Jose paid $12.9 billion in federal taxes and $5.3 billion in state and local taxes, according to research from New American Economy. Since then, the amount has only increased. The money goes to cities, schools, counties, state and federal projects and services. They should get a vote to decide how that money will be spent.

Undocumented immigrants are the majority of agricultural workers and landscapers in the country. These jobs may seem very simple, but there wouldn’t be enough food for everyone. They are hard jobs that require long hours under the sun. They are risking their health and are underpaid.

Immigrants increase productivity and innovation development in the United States because the more people you have working in all fields, the faster it is to get the work done and move on to a different project. Immigrant people contribute to this process.

Undocumented people don’t wake up one day and plan to move to a different country just because they feel like it. Most of them go through situations that endanger their lives, or there aren’t enough opportunities for them in their home countries. They travel a long road with many strangers looking for a better life. They suffer terrible conditions on the way and face hunger and bad weather.

Once they arrive, some people may have family here to support them, but others don’t have anyone. Everyday they miss their families and how much they want to be with them, yet they can’t go back. This country becomes their new home. Some raise kids here and help build supportive communities. Some have lived here for the majority of their lives.

Although they may not have been born here, this has become the place they call home. They should have a voice in how their communities will be shaped. Immigrants have contributed a lot to our society with a value that cannot be measured.

Although the city council has supported the undocumented community in other ways, they don’t have enough representation in local government. Everyone in San Jose should have the right to vote no matter their legal status.

Yunery Ramon Reyes is a student at Cristo Rey San José Jesuit High School in San Jose.