Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 | Thank you for your article in this morning’s voiceofsandiego.org about the unfortunate consequences of illegal immigration; i.e., deaths along the border due to stepped up enforcement at the San Diego border.
I note with concern that you did not mention the recent dramatic decrease in violent border crime against legal American citizens (including murder and rape) which has followed stepped up enforcement.
Ms. Velasquez, mentioned in your piece, is correct that border deaths would decrease if we also stepped up enforcement against the employers of illegal immigrants. We should certainly do so.
It is also true that border deaths would decrease if Ms. Velasquez and other proponents of illegal immigration would stop promoting and condoning illegal immigration.
All of us – including the illegal immigrants themselves and especially their children – would benefit greatly if we focused our efforts on those things upon which we should all agree: holding everyone including employers to the highest standards of obeying the law, improving the processes for legal immigration of all kinds, assisting in the assimilation of those who are here legally, nurturing an effective educational system, and making sure not to screw up our free enterprise economy.
We should furthermore provide an immigration solution in the best interests of the United States and our highest traditions, and not with a racist bias in favor of a particular ethnic group, as is now espoused by the illegal immigration lobby.
The thoughtless demonization of those who oppose illegal immigration, far too common on the pages of voiceofsandiego.org and other media outlets, debases the entire immigration argument, avoids a meaningful discussion of a viable long term solution, and overlooks any discussion of the severe short term and long term consequences of illegal immigration to the United States and the people who live here.
Welcome to all the legal visitors and legal immigrants who follow all the same laws as the rest of us and are here either as legal guests or to become legal and loyal citizens of the United States.