Immigration policy

Dear Editor:According to what I am hearing on the news, 11 million people that are here illegally will be given the opportunity to become citizens of the country assuming they meet the criteria as announced on the news.

My question is what if they don't comply? What happens in 10 years when another few million are here, do we repeat this same process again? Reagan tried it in 1985 and it didn't work, so why do elected officials think it will work now? How are additional illegals going to be prevented from coming into this country illegally in the future?

So far, the government is unable to stop all the illegal trafficking of drugs, money and /or illegals so why would anyone think the government is going to stop future illegal aliens from coming to this country?

A condition of this new program is the illegal must pay a fine. I was under the impression from everything I have heard or read that the majority of these people come to this county because they are poor and seek a better life. Where are they going to get the money to pay these fines and what are the fines based upon?

All illegals must also pay past federal taxes. That will be interesting. Does anyone really think a lot of these folks are going to admit to owing an amount of money for taxes? Yeah right. I do like the part that says each applicant must learn English. Wouldn't this be a great time to include in this bill, "English" shall be the recognized and official language of the United States of America?

I would also like to see the provisions and / or penalties included is this bill for those that do not comply with these regulations in their entirety Finally, what do you tell all the folks that have waited in lines for years to enter this country legally? David Abney Downey

Dear Editor: I could not help but smile after reading Ms. Rosa Velarde's letter ("California DREAMers," 1/31/13). I wonder where she could have found the information that Hispanics spend more money than any other immigrant group since many of them have lower wage jobs.

I also don't recall any articles written in the Patriot or any other paper that preceded the Patriot to be racist or demeaning.

If a person is born in the United States, they are an American with a Spanish surname, not a Mexican-American, Latino, Latina or Hispanic. There is no such thing as the Hispanic race. The individuals that colonized what is now Mexico were Spanish. People from Spain are Caucasian.

When I go to Stonewood or Downey Landing to shop or eat the predominate language spoken is Spanish, not English. Why is that? America is being divided because of political correctness and the failure of many immigrant people not wanting to assimilate. If the remittances that immigrants send back to Mexico stopped tomorrow, Mexico would be bankrupt since they are the second largest source of money to the Mexican economy behind oil.

When immigrants flocked to this country in the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century, they left all their worldly possessions behind never to return and came to this country to be Americans.

Let's not be divisive. Let's work together for a better America. George J. Hofstetter Downey

Dear Editor: Re the three editorial letters under "California DREAMers", I disagree specifically with Alec Dominguez' assertion that the stories about Melissa Nunez, Claudia Retamoza, and other DREAMers were 'refreshingly needed' for me to hear. In fact, to my ear, these stories are like fingernails on a chalkboard.

In his letter, Mr. Dominguez states, "Too many people ignore the fact that this country was founded on the ideals and sacrifices of immigrants." While I couldn't even begin to quantify 'too many' with respect to this statement, I think I understand his point. I agree that the founders of this country made huge sacrifices. The original settlers (both immigrants and their descendants) have indeed made their share of sacrifices, presumably in the hope of improving their lives and the lives of their offspring. I would propose, however, that using the word 'choices' instead of 'sacrifices' is a much clearer, less emotional way to look at it.

Here's what I mean: The parents/guardians of the young people in question made a choice to illegally enter the United States. Whatever their reasons, whatever their hopes and dreams, whatever they gave up to come to America, and from wherever in the world they came, these parents made a choice. They made that choice, knowing (1) they were breaking the law, and (2) there was no guarantee that they or their children would be allowed to stay here indefinitely. They were probably hopeful that something, someday would work out for them in that regard-another amnesty program, maybe? They chose to risk whether that would ever come to pass and they were willing to live in fear of being found out in the meantime.

But, in the meantime, their kids were afforded the advantages of growing up here: access to public education, first-world healthcare, information, technology, transportation, etc. Mr. Dominguez admits, "We cannot have an open border." Agreed. However, I completely disagree with his assertion that "We as a country need to extend citizenship to those who have been here long enough to know and love no other country." That is utterly faulty logic. Would that mean any law-breaker should be extended a reward (and I think everyone would agree that U.S. citizenship is a HUGE reward) simply because they've been otherwise well-behaved, long enough, while not getting caught doing something illegal, and it's the only life they've known and loved?

While it's regrettable that the so-called DREAMers find themselves in such a predicament, it's time to admit they're in this situation as a direct result of their parents' choices (well-intentioned as those choices may have been). This problem is not a result of flawed immigration law (although, perhaps, flaws in enforcing the laws), nor is it the responsibility of the U.S. government to rescue them at further taxpayer expense. I would encourage these young people to use the advantages they've been blessed with by growing up here to figure out how to legally find their own way.

They have my sympathy as to their predicament. They do not, however, have my political support in the form of the DREAM Act or other legislation that would grant them special favors. This does not make me hateful, a racist, ignorant, or intolerant. I'm just saying perhaps it's the DREAMers' turn to make some tough choices just as every generation has before them. Judy Wyhowanec Downey

********** Published: Febuary 7, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 43