Like every individual in the United States, the desire to provide a better life for one's family is a driving force for the Latin American population. Latin American immigrants not only face discrimination upon arrival, but also face the emotions of being away from their home country, the safety of their family, their friends, their culture and their traditions. The welcome they receive upon arrival is far from welcoming. “Negativity toward immigration, whether justified or not, is not good for our country. This fuels segregation, racism, prejudice and discrimination” (Lopez, 2010). Illegal immigration has become such a hot topic for many that even when immigrants arrive legally, they still arouse suspicion. I think one of the most offensive titles given to a group of people is illegal “aliens.” These individuals are not extraterrestrials; they are human beings who dream of a better life, like everyone else. Today, Latinos are proud of their culture and heritage and even as they try to assimilate into American culture, through pluralism, they also maintain their own. They continue to converse in their native language within their family, listen to music and watch Spanish television programs. While in the past the melting pot theory led many people to abandon their native language and culture to fit in, many today adhere to these ideals, which could be a contributing factor to the persistence of discrimination (Lopez, 2010). African Americans have mostly suffered the highest unemployment, but Latinos are not far behind. Many are paid much less than others for the same work. There are few Latinos in management positions and many feel there is very little chance for career advancement. Latinos are one...... middle of paper ...... Latino presence leads to greater political representation and the needs of their communities can no longer be ignored. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have come to recognize the growing involvement of the Latino community due to assimilation and pluralism (Schaefer, 2012). Although many improvements have been made in education, health care, political representation and employment opportunities, there is a long way to go to close the gaps so apparent in our society. Works Cited Cardenas, V., Kerby, S. (2012). The State of Latinos in the United States. Retrieved from www.americanprogress.org Lopez, R. (2010). A collection of Latin American opinions. Retrieved from www.latinoopinion.com/category/prejudice-and-discrimination Schaefer, R. (Ed.). (2012). Racial and ethnic groups. (13th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education