OPINION

A path to citizenship already exists for immigrants

I am compelled to challenge the assertions in the second-to-last paragraph of USA TODAY's editorial on Arizona's illegal immigration law. The editorial claims that most Americans support a balanced approach that includes a path to legal status for illegal immigrants. Show me the data that support this statement ("Suing Arizona hurts chances for immigration overhaul," Our view, Immigration debate, Wednesday).

The reason the so-called balanced law failed a few years ago was because outraged Americans protested. Most Americans believe illegal immigrants already have a path to legal status. That path is to return to their home country and go through the legal process of immigration set forth in our laws.

In the 1980s, we bought the con that amnesty would lead to secure borders. We are not buying it again.

Phil Hunt; Phoenix
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Hooray for Arizona

Since our last shot at "immigration reform" in the mid-1980s, when Washington granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants and then ignored its side of the bargain to prevent more, Congress has adopted a policy equivalent to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which basically is "don't make a stink, and we'll pretend you're not there."

This way, Republicans get cheap labor for their corporate contributors, and Democrats get their voting bloc. Both parties could get away with this policy as long as no one made a stink about it. Well, now someone has, and the voters they have taken for granted are saying, "Enough is enough."

Our representatives are showing more concern for the citizens of another nation than they are their own.

Civil rights groups tell us the law is unfair because it targets Latinos. Well, of course it will target Latinos. They are the ones illegally crossing the border each year. To violate a country's laws, exploit its welfare, educational and medical systems, and then to complain of unfair treatment is a little hypocritical, don't you think?

I say "Hooray!" for Arizona. At least the people of one state have grown tired of waiting for Washington to do what it was created to do — serve America.

Greg Huskey; Escondido, Calif.
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