Min Choi:

"Similar to other ethnic immigrant groups, Korean immigrants in the United States come from all walks of life-from the affluent corporate leader seeking investment opportunities to the young mother working from a cramped corner of a dry cleaner to provide a better life for her children. For those without legal status in the U.S., life may be much more difficult. These immigrants are often exploited in the workplace and may be unable to seek legal redress due to their unfamiliarity with U.S. laws and their cultural and linguistic isolation. Despite such obstacles, many early generation Korean immigrants succeed in integrating into the American society, contributing to the country's economy and social diversity.

In this regard, the imperative role of the government in providing an environment where existing undocumented immigrants can make maximum contributions to society cannot be overstated. California's AB 540, which provides undocumented immigrant children with access to state colleges and universities at resident tuition rates, is a concrete example of how the state government enables undocumented immigrants to become productive members of society. The opportunity for affordable higher education encourages undocumented schoolchildren to excel in their studies. In turn, beneficiaries of AB 540 may pursue successful professional careers. The state's endeavor to incorporate undocumented immigrants into the community not only gives a new generation of immigrant children a chance to pursue their dreams, but also enriches the state's economy and diversity. Thus, when considering immigration reform proposals aimed at reducing unauthorized migration, it is equally important to provide opportunities to undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. to effectively function as contributing members of the American society."

Jayne Kum:

"Being born with a mother who received a working visa as a nurse and permanent legal residency in Hawaii and a father who received a green card in the mail by family extension, I never had issues or concerns regarding my citizenship. For most of my peers whose parents immigrated in the late 1960s and 70s, citizenship was never an issue. Thus, I can honestly admit that I never thought twice of the privileges and opportunities afforded by my citizenship status. But one needs only to look closely around Koreatown in Los Angeles to see that this is not necessarily the case for everyone else.

According to the DHS Yearbook on Immigration Statistics, as of January 2008, there are about 240,000 unauthorized Korean immigrants living in the United States. Based on the 2007 American Community Survey, about 42% of the Koreans living in Los Angeles are not U.S. citizens. Many of these non-citizens face tremendous economic hardship due to their lack of legal resident status. For example, Korean women working as waitresses are often paid lower than the federal standards of minimum wage. The elderly cannot receive Social Security benefits and those in poverty cannot apply for federal aid and are denied public benefits.

Korean Americans who have been fortunate enough to be offered the opportunities that come with legal status can work to alleviate this by advocating for policy reforms that diminish the marginalization of the Korean immigrant community."