After 12 years of perfecting the American accent, paying taxes, and attending public school, after 12 years of being taught American principles and ideals, after 12 years of developing an American mentality, I have finally been informed of my true status in this nation halfway through my first semester in college: alien.When I think of the word “alien” the first thing that comes to mind is the movie “E.T.” I think of the scene when E.T. returns back to his planet and how I cannot relate that to myself. “Home is where the heart is,” and my heart is America. I want to live here, but here, I hold the same status as an extraterrestrial.So, being an alien, I do not have the rights of a citizen. I do not have the right to sue for $20 or more. If I am hit by a car crossing Highland Road, I do not have the right to sue for medical damages. Rights such as this which are guaranteed to all taxpaying, American-born and naturalized citizens are denied to me by the mere fact that I was not born here—and America’s immigration system is not efficient enough to grant me my residency permit a.k.a. “green-card” to be able to apply for naturalization.Naturalization, the process in which one can acquire the rights of a citizen, is a long, tortuous process that optimistic foreigners take to become Americans. The application eligibility requirements are being at least 18 years of age, holding a residency permit for five years prior to the application and being a “moral person.”According to “A Guide to Naturalization,” the pathway to American citizenship is, then, simply submitting an application, getting fingerprinted, being interviewed and taking the oath after passing everything.In reality, the process takes approximately 10-12 years to finish. In an age where we abhor the wastage of time, resources and efforts, any process that takes 10-12 years to finish seems not only tedious, but also archaic. We need what people have been talking about for decades now: immigration reform.When Americans think of the phrase ‘Immigration Reform,’ it often leads to discussions about building the next Great Wall of China across the American-Mexican border and how to mitigate problems of illegal immigration. But such discussions about illegal immigration do not answer the question on the minds of many legal aliens waiting to become citizens: Who is willing to fix the sluggish naturalization process?According to the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 20 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, but this number is trumped by the 37.5 million legal immigrants.In light of these numbers, growing concern for illegal immigration seems inconsequential. Our efforts ought to be redirected to the 37.5 million that legally followed the correct procedures to enter the United States .The U.S. inconvertibly needs Immigration Reform in all aspects, not just illegal immigration. But as of now, no efforts are being made by the U.S. legislative branch for legal immigration reform or amending the process to citizenship. Instead all thoughts are now being placed on border control. Legal immigration to permanent residency status to naturalization should not take 10-12 years to complete.We should not forget that America is a “melting-pot” of cultures. The faster we melt the cultures together, the more diversified taste everyone can enjoy. After 12 years of living in America , I no longer resemble a foreigner in any aspect, yet my status remains the same as at the beginning of this article.  I do not want to feel estranged in a country I recognize as my own. I want to feel assimiliated into the culture as politically and technically as possible. I want to enjoy the rights of an American.Is this too much to ask? These thoughts and feelings echo in the hearts of everyone in my position. E.T. could phone home—I can’t even file a lawsuit? And what is more American than that?—-Contact Dini Parayitam at [email protected]