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FROM OUR READERS
We must fix immigration
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To the editor:
My job as a legislator and as Nevada's senator is to help solve our nation's problems, not ignore them. But it seems that this newspaper's editorial board would prefer we put our heads in the sand rather than put our heads together to find solutions that fix our broken immigration system ("Reid for amnesty," Tuesday editorial).
Regardless of this newspaper's opinion or agenda, nobody who thinks seriously about this issue believes it is fiscally or physically possible to deport the estimated 12 million people in this country who are undocumented. One recent report estimated that doing so would cost a staggering $200 billion, or more than the combined budgets for the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Justice, Energy, Education, Commerce, and Agriculture. Mass deportation is unrealistic.
If we truly want to fix our broken immigration system, and not just score political points, we need comprehensive immigration reform that is tough on lawbreakers, fair to taxpayers and practical to implement. I do not support amnesty, and I reject your editorial's factual inaccuracies and false characterizations of the reform I support.
I believe immigrants here without legal status must be required to register with the government, learn English, pay their taxes, pass criminal background checks and pay fines and penalties for being here unlawfully -- or face deportation. Far from getting on an "expedited path to citizenship," they must go to the back of the line, behind those who have waited lawfully for years to join family or begin a new job in the United States.
Reform must also include strong and effective enforcement of our northern and southern borders; tough sanctions against employers who hire undocumented immigrants; and more understandable channels for legal immigration where necessary. Right now we have a system where our back door is broken and our front door is shuttered. We need to keep out criminals and those who will not contribute meaningfully to our society, and welcome the best and the brightest and those who will work hard to help our economy to grow.
Finally, reform should include the DREAM Act, which would enable children brought here years ago through no fault of their own to legalize their immigration status and go on to college to become valuable members of our community.
Immigration reform will help us safeguard the rights and wages of American workers and force unscrupulous employers to get on the right side of the law. So long as immigrants working illegally are afraid to report being underpaid, exploited and abused for fear of deportation, American workers will be undercut. We need to require these workers to apply for legal status and become hard-working taxpayers.
Reform will also help us get control of a crucial national security problem. We need to know who is in our country and crossing our borders, so that we can focus our resources on criminals, terrorists and those who wish to do us harm.
Last weekend, I reiterated my commitment to enacting comprehensive reform of our broken immigration system as soon as possible and fulfilling the promise of a nation built by immigrants. I believe this is the right way forward for Nevada and for our country because it will make our country safer, strengthen our economy and honor American values.
Harry Reid
Washington, D.C.
The writer, a Democrat, is majority leader of the U.S. Senate.
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So legal Nevada citizens are losing jobs and houses left and right, and this is your priority?
Really? Really, Sen. Reid, you're more concerned about illegal aliens than your own constituency?
No doubt you feel this will get you re-elected. You have the experience to test the winds and play the legal games, so you may be right. For me, you 100% clinched me not voting for you after reading this letter.
And do you expect us to believe that it LEGITIMATELY costs THOUSANDS per illegal immigrant for deportation? And that it doesn't cost even more to raise illegal immigrants' children?
I agree with everything Reid proposes, but I lack the faith that it would be enforced. Perhaps if he and his party were more enthusiastic about enforcing the current law and deporting at least some of the illegal immigrants now, the American people could get behind them. I really don't see why it should cost so much money to deport illegal immigrants. In fact, we could bill their native country for the expense.
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people in this forum who lie and spread hate, and don't have the guts to sign their names to the lies and hatred they are spreading.
A few questions:
Q1. How much will this comprehensive reform cost to implement?
A1. About $200 billion with irrelavent earmarks that self serving politicians will invariably attach.
Q2. Where exactly will these registered illegals wait to get to the back of the line?
A2. Right where they are of course, we don't want them to leave the exploitative jobs at the corporations that lobby and donate so much money to the political parties.
Q3. What happens if they simply do not choose to register and pay fines and learn English?
A3. Nothing, probably.
Senator Harry Reid is a senator from Nevada. His job is to uphold the U.S. Constitution of the United States of America, not to figure out how to change the illegal status of people who gained illegal access to America.
I have appathy for the plite of illegal; however, what comes with being illegal goes with being illegal.
Try doing what Harry retiring this election Ried in any other country on this planet and the result would be deportation without exception.
People need to start at the beginning of the lawful immigration process. For those who did it would be a great injustice to jump the line for anyone.
Enforce the current laws of the land. President Obama knows of the laws of the land as he quotes them offen.
Sounds great but with politicians rarely is the outcome anywhere near what was said.
As well as what was listed above they really need to address the "anchor baby" situation as well. The current law turns what should be a simple deportation (if someone breaks the law for example) into a huge fiasco if their children are US citizens.
Immigration reform is about 30 years overdue and something needs to be done. The question is will the members of Congress do what is right for the country or what is most beneficial ro themselves?
It sounds like Mark Schaffer needs to visit the same proctologist as Harry. There are already viable, legal immigration laws in this country and those here who have not followed them are criminals. There are no ifs, ands or buts. This country has immigration laws that millions in the past have followed and become Legal American citizens. The illegal aliens have not followed these laws so they are criminals and should not be rewarded with anything approaching amnesty or some "fast track" to citizenship. You do not reward someone for criminal behavior.
I find it amazing that you would vote on laws that are then enforced upon be with guns and jails, but will then pander to criminals.
I have the inalienable right to decide who can enter my house, deny entry to those I don't want to let in, and use reasonable force to stop those who try to come in without my permission. Why doesn't this right extend to the borders of my country?
Your hypocrisy knows no bounds, and you have done nothing but use the Constitution as toilet paper since you became majority leader, if not sooner. First, you vote to make us a socialist country with the health care debacle, now you want to let in swarms of the Third World to cement the process.
I'll truly enjoy seeing you get tossed in November, or I'll know the Republic is truly dead.