Immigration took center stage on May 1, when thousands across the United States walked out in protest against an immigration bill that would not be in support of those who are here illegally. However, I believe that there is another issue that should be addressed, them being those within the Spanish-speaking-only population.

Last week, a telemarketer called and wanted to know who was in charge of the phone bill, and the most disturbing part was that she had to ask me in Spanish.

Just because my family has a Spanish last name doesn’t necessarily mean that the people in the house only speak Spanish.

Honestly what does that say about the Latino population and those who know English?

Earlier this year an article which appeared in the Los Angeles Times quoted a professor from the University of El Salvador who said, “People who come from El Salvador to the United States are uneducated when they arrive.”

As soon as I saw that, I was angered because, having parents who are from El Salvador and who have learned English, it was a slap in the face not only to my parents, but to anyone who is from a Central or South American country.

If someone who is seemingly from one of these Spanish speaking countries has the audacity to degrade his own population of Latinos what does that say about those who have strived for a better life, to have an education?

According to the Office of Immigration Statistics in the Department of Homeland Security there are about 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and Mexico is the largest contributing country with nearly 6 million within its population.

El Salvador, Guatemala, India and China followed with a combined contribution of about 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants. The greatest increase in illegal immigrants in the country was among Mexicans, a jump of 260,000 from 2000 to 2005.

The greatest percentage increase in the immigrant population in those years was among people from India, 133 percent, and Brazil, 70 percent.

California had the largest illegal immigrant population, with 2.8 million in January 2005, followed by Texas with 1.4 million and Florida with 850,000. With this professor’s personal point of view about those who are uneducated, it’s no wonder what would make everyone who is from this country dislike anyone who wants to begin to understand the English language.

If you are one of those people who continue to speak Spanish just remember what this professor had to say and there are classes, also known as ESL classes.