SAN DIEGO -- With each protest and cry for equality, the fiery debate on immigration heats up and fuels the question of what it means to be an American.

One woman told 10News, “For me, being American means that you can live here, be of any ethnicity and speak any language.”

Another man said he believed being an American meant having a choice. “Freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion,” he said.

Those are core American values protected by the U.S. Constitution. These values allow Americans to worship as they please and voice their opinions even if others may disagree.

One person said, “I think the American people as a whole are tremendously hard-working people.”

Americans may be hard-working, but what kind of work is done is also part of this debate, especially when it comes to the estimated 11 million undocumented workers in the country.

Racial tensions are at a boiling point in some communities where English is the second language of choice.

On one side, citizens feel the nation’s identity and safety are at stake.

“We’re trying to save our country from the anti-Americans, basically,” said one person.

Others argue that legal or illegal, Americans value human dignity.

One supporter said, “Immigrants contribute a lot in our society, and I don’t think they get enough respect.”

These arguments have been around for a long time and are studied by sociologists like University of California, San Diego professor John Skretny.

"Freaking out about immigration is as American as the Founding Fathers," said Skretny.

In fact, 200 years ago, Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay in reaction to the influx of German immigrants.

"He was worried about multiculturalism, language, American national identity, and he has a great quote in that essay where he says, ‘Are the Germans going to Germanize us, before we Americanize them?’" said Skretny.

Skretny added, “A large percentage of the immigrants are from one source. They are from Mexico or, more largely, from Latin America."

Power in numbers provoked an unprecedented national demonstration on May 1, where Latinos across the U.S. sent a message to Washington.

“They take their inspiration from the black civil rights movement,” said Skretny. “The problem for most Americans is, that unlike black civil rights leaders, the folks who are protesting now are protesting on behalf of or they are themselves undocumented. So, for many Americans, they look at this and say, ‘You’re not even supposed to be here legally.’”

So, while the country wrestles with immigration and Washington is paralyzed with political posturing, it has fallen to local communities to act, right or wrong.

Vista now requires businesses that hire day laborers to get a permit from the city. In Escondido, council members are seeking to punish landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.

One person told 10News, “I think it really has polarized Americans and those who may be here, whether legal or illegal. That isn’t my call. My call is we’re all here, and we have to make it work somehow.”