Letter: Base immigration policy on facts, not emotions


Cokie and Steven Roberts witnessed a naturalization ceremony at Ellis Island and wrote a sentimental op-ed ("Visit to Ellis Island recalls Americans' immigrant heritage," July 11) about the event. They concluded that opposition to immigration is "mean-spirited" and evidences a "take-up-the-drawbridge mentality."

But sentiment is not a sound basis for public policy. Instead, we should recall that the purpose of the U.S. - including its immigration laws - is to benefit American citizens, as it says in the Constitution's preamble: " ... to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." And today's mass immigration doesn't benefit us. In fact, it is a great detriment, as I witnessed in detail before I escaped Southern California:

The flood of immigrants drives wages and living conditions in our central cities toward those of the Third World.

The influx imposes both sprawl and gridlock on our metropolitan areas.

Immigrant families needing services overwhelm our schools, taxpayer-funded health care facilities and other public agencies.

Those requiring services don't assimilate and, instead, expect to be served in their native languages.

American civic culture frays as each ethnic group establishes its own grievance lobby and pushes for preferences.

Illegal aliens bring us fearsome diseases such as tuberculosis (new, drug-resistant strains) and Chagas.

Shortages of water and other resources loom.

The Robertses have it exactly backwards: It's time to end mass immigration. To better understand what's at stake, check out www.MontanaMILE.org.

Paul Nachman, MT
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